20 BROOKLYN NEWS WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
Keying into the importance of making
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Brooklyn a safe place to raise
healthy children and families, Borough
President Eric Adams has spearheaded
several programs in 2015 to make the
borough more family-friendly as part of
his One Brooklyn initiative.
A key to his efforts is focusing on
the crucial early stages of a child’s life,
as well as engaging and empowering
parents to take action.
Borough President Adams is the
driving force behind expanding breastfeeding
zones throughout Brooklyn. To
kick off the initiative, he celebrated the
opening of a lactation lounge inside
Brooklyn Borough Hall, in time for this
Mother’s Day, that includes a hospitalgrade
pump, rocking chairs, a changing
table, a small refrigerator, as well
as educational posters and literature
for the room. Partnering organizations
include Delta Children, WellCare, and
Worksites for Wellness.
“Breastfeeding is the best feeding
for our youngest Brooklynites,” he said.
“Science shows the essential health
value of breastfeeding, but society has
not quite gotten past the stigma of nursing
a child in public. The public lactation
room we are establishing in Brooklyn
Borough Hall will serve as a maternal
sanctuary, supporting mother and child
alike. It is my goal to see spaces such
as these available for families in every
corner of our city and our state.”
On another front, in April, Borough
President Adams, alongside State
Senator Jesse Hamilton and Assembly
Member Walter Mosley, announced a
legislative effort that would encourage
parents of children in pre-K programs
to run for Community Education Council
(CEC) seats. CECs throughout New York
City are designed to allow parents an
earlier opportunity to engage with the
Department of Education and to have
FAMILY FIRST
Borough President Adams spent some time with local pre-kindergarten
students at the Inner Force Tots Student Leadership Institute in
Brownsville on their fi rst day of school.
a stronger voice in the city’s education
policy.
“Our CECs advance the ABCs of our
children’s education, and it is time to
bring our Pre-K parents into the fold,”
said Borough President Adams. “Pre-K
parents deserve a real voice in shaping
the educational priorities of our city
and having a positive impact on their
community’s future. This legislation will
open up a whole new pool of applicants
for CEC elections, enriching the process
Photos: Kathryn Kirk/BP’s Office
and resulting in more effective advocacy
for our students. When parents and
communities are accurately informed
on their schools’ issues, they can make
better decisions, which ultimately lead
to better outcomes.”
The Senate unanimously passed the
legislation in June, something that he
said was important because the city’s
education system is stronger when parents
that speak for every type of student
have their voices heard.”
In addition, Borough President
Adams continues to stand behind his
Family Friendly Brooklyn initiative
by calling for funding mental health
screenings for new mothers, addressing
any complications that arise as a result
of postpartum depression, and supporting
the Paid Family Leave Act – a bill that
he has rallied for in the past and which is
currently pending in the state legislature
Family Friendly Brooklyn was built
on the foundation of Borough President
Adams’ Safe Sleep initiative, which he
launched last year by distributing 400
free cribs and play yards to families in
need while working with the Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene on an
informational video to teach parents of
young children about key safety tips.
This year, Mayor de Blasio mirrored this
effort with the city’s own awareness
campaign.
“Our continuing goal is to educate on
simple items that can potentially harm a
child,” said Borough President Adams. “A
safe clean crib leads to a safe household
and a clear pathway to raising a healthy
child. I appreciate Mayor de Blasio for
amplifying the call for safe sleep to
reach every young New Yorker and their
family.”
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