204 BROOKLYN NEWS WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
The STRONGEST START
Family Friendly Brooklyn, an initiative
launched by Borough President
Adams in early 2015, is committed to
caring for Brooklynites from cradle to
college and beyond, supporting young
families from the moment of childbirth
with the tools to provide a path to a
bright and healthy future. In addition to
his groundbreaking work to advance
breastfeeding, his administration has
focused deeply on the factors surrounding
early childhood development.
“To end the tale of two cities, we
need to start at the very beginning,” said
Borough President Adams. “The critical
first moments of life are where the lasting
divides between the haves and the
have nots already begin. For example,
New York City has made great strides in
enrolling children in pre-k, but to ensure
the success of that program, we need
to engage parents before their kids are
born and through the formative years.”
In neighborhoods across the borough,
many children face difficulties
developing their emotional, intellectual,
and social capabilities to excel in school,
get along with their peers, and become
successful adults in modern society. Oftentimes,
this is because parents lack
the mentorship and resources they
need to be strong role models for their
kids. These challenges are particularly
visible in low-income households, in
parts of Brooklyn that have faced decades
of failing schools, joblessness,
and systemic poverty affecting not only
the child and their parents, but also their
extended families, teachers, and community
members.
With turning the tide in mind, Borough
President Adams partnered with
State Senator Daniel Squadron to form
the Early Childhood Development Task
Force in September 2015, made up of
evidence-based practitioners as well
as advocates, community stakeholders,
and local hospitals. The group conducted
an extensive investigation into
the services available for Brooklyn’s
children and their parents, as well as
focused on policies that address family
risk factors for impaired early childhood
development, such as illiteracy, mental
illness, and poverty.
This February, their findings were
unveiled in a report that showcased
statistical evidence for greater financial
investment in early childhood
development, in particular on
growth between ages birth and three
years. Specific policy recommendations
included increasing funding for
evidence-based early childhood development
programs; expanding access
to evidence-based early childhood development
programs by empowering
communities through increased information,
Borough President Adams met a toddler coloring at Magical Years Early Childhood Development Center in Sunset Park,
as he and State Senator Daniel Squadron presented a report from the Early Childhood Development Task Force.
and forming partnerships with
community-based networks and organizations
to increase awareness about
the importance of early childhood interventions
and services.
The task force has committed to
creating and disseminating a resource
guide of early childhood services
available in Brooklyn. Additional recommendations
include the City and
State creating online maps providing
data on early childhood programs, including
seat availability, a workshop
specifically for Brooklyn clergy members
to engage and educate leaders,
and lobbying the Brooklyn Public Library
(BPL) to create lending institutions
for books, educational materials,
puzzles, and toys for early childhood
development programs.
On top of these efforts, Borough
President Adams has built partnerships
with a variety of organizations
to educate and empower families. For
instance, in teaming up with Legal Information
for Families Today (LIFT), he
hosted a 12-week parenting course at
Brooklyn Borough Hall this winter that
covered a range of issues including
Photo Credit: Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Benefits of Early
Childhood Development
• 70 percent increase in likelihood of scoring above grade level in first
grade on three behaviors that promote learning
• 67 percent reduction in behavioral/intellectual problems in children
communication and parenting styles,
money management, emotional management,
and positive discipline. The 25
graduates of the inaugural class completed
their studies in late March.
“Parenting is hard and there is no
handbook,” said Borough President
Adams. “Understanding how to manage
your emotions, your wallet, and the
ways you interact with others helps with
more than just your children — it can
help with loved ones, family members,
and co-workers.”
Evidence shows that the strongest
start for a new life comes from a dedicated
investment in early childhood
development. Borough President Adams
wants to begin every Brooklynite’s
young life with the benefits of that support.
at age six
• 67 percent reduction in 12-year-old children’s use of alcohol, cigarettes,
or marijuana
• 59 percent reduction in arrests of children at age 15
• 39 percent fewer health care encounters for injuries or ingestions in
the first two years
Early Childhood Development Task Force (February 2017), Brooklyn
Borough President Eric L. Adams and State Senator Daniel Squadron