Western NY Funders for Early Childhood retained CGR in 2019 to study how organizations across Western New York collaborate to improve outcomes for the region’s youngest residents. Liftoff, a group of more than two dozen funders, asked CGR to gather and analyze information about coalitions, councils and other collaborative groups...
The City engaged CGR to facilitate a strategic planning process for the Bureau of Recreational Services. CGR worked with bureau and department staff to articulate community expectations for Recreation Services in the city, through community surveys, focus groups and stakeholder interviews. We fed this information back to the department and...
The availability of child care subsidies in the Mid-Hudson Valley has increased somewhat over the past 7 years, but only 1 in 10 children who could benefit are being served, a new CGR study reports. This is the second in a series of reports on child care
The availability of child care subsidies in Monroe County has declined over the past 7 years and meets about one-fifth of the potential need, but Monroe outpaces similar counties in providing this support to low-income working families, a new CGR study reports. CGR and the League of Women Voters of...
CGR was engaged by the City of Rochester to provide an inventory and resource analysis of its Department of Recreation and Youth Service (DRYS), compile information on similar programs and services offered by local nonprofits and governments, and benchmark the department’s operations to other cities. CGR found that, compared to...
CGR was engaged by the Rochester Area Community Foundation to assess the Summer Meals program providing free meals to eligible Rochester youth at sites throughout the city. Our analysis found that less than a quarter of children who would benefit from the program are currently being served, leaving a gap...
To support the launch in Rochester NY of a “cradle to career” initiative called ROC the Future, CGR documented the community supports that contribute to children reading on grade level by Grade 3, which the initiative targets as a critical indicator of children’s success in life. With funding from...
Rochester NY engaged CGR to review its Summer of Opportunity (youth jobs) Program. Key issues explored included overall cost, administrative expenses, how impact is measured, and whether the city should continue its own program. CGR identified benchmark programs in New York City, Buffalo, Hartford, and Oneida County NY, and made...
To support the launch in Rochester NY of a “cradle to career” initiative called ROC the Future, CGR documented the community supports that contribute to children reading on grade level by Grade 3, which the initiative targets as a critical indicator of children’s success in life. With funding from...
In the midst of a major financial crisis facing Nassau County, the Rauch Foundation engaged CGR to assess the impacts the crisis and resulting proposed cuts would have on the County Youth Board’s ability to support a wide range of community-based youth services. CGR developed a three-phase blueprint to strategically...
CGR conducted a study of the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program for participants graduating in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Inquiries about CGR’s report should be directed to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection at (585) 654-1600.
In late 2009, The Children’s Agenda, a nonprofit advocate for Rochester NY children, released its Community Action Plan for Greater Rochester’s Children. After the report’s release, local government and community leaders asked CGR and the Children’s Agenda to provide baseline measures so they could better understand how well the community...
The Greater Rochester (NY) Health Foundation has a 10-year plan to combat childhood obesity and its Mini-Grant Initiative is part of this plan. Under the iniitiative, 129 community organizations (e.g., daycare centers, faith-based groups, schools and neighborhood programs) were awarded funding to increase physical activity and improve nutrition...
Between 2001 and early 2007 the average number of child care slots per month filled by Monroe County (NY) children receiving child care subsidies declined by about 38%, from about 13,575 to 8,400. The decline was fueled primarily by three factors: 1) Monroe County lowered the income eligibility rate from...
The Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, established in 1987, works with at-risk students in the Rochester and Syracuse NY public school districts, with the goal of keeping students in school through graduation. Recently, with support from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, CGR completed its third assessment of the program. In the latest...
CGR has recently worked with the City and County of Schenectady to thoroughly analyze and assess juvenile delinquency issues and risk factors and to help develop recommended directions to reduce juvenile crime. Prepared for the Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition, this study reveals substantial risk factors for and a growing incidence...
RochesterWorks and the MC Youth Council are in the process of redesigning job training and employment services to youth ages 14-21. They wanted to obtain input directly from youth on what they feel they need in terms of training--what type of training, where do they want to go to...
Rochester Safe Start, a federal demonstration project, hired CGR to update a 2000 report on violence affecting young children. CGR found data on crime, police service calls, domestic violence calls to Lifeline, and reports of child abuse and neglect offered a conflicting and unclear picture of the trends in violence...
CGR evaluated the Work-Scholarship Connection, which was established to help youth at risk of dropping out of school succeed academically. The program provides its students with youth advocates, a range of support services, enrichment workshops and, for some, part-time job opportunities and worksite mentors. The Work-Scholarship Connection currently...
CGR assisted Monroe County Department of Human Services, the Monroe County Office of Probation-Community Corrections, Family Court, the education system, and other Monroe County stakeholders in an eight-month process to extend its efforts to reduce out of home placements to all youth involved in the Juvenile Justice system. ...
This was a three year evaluation of the Livingston County Even Start program. The evaluation involved surveys and interviews with staff, enrolled families and partner agencies, a focus group with the advisory board, and evaluation of performance indicators. Additional information on the program operations and the process evaluation is...
The Rochester/Monroe County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and its Welfare to Work subcommittee engaged CGR to conduct a study of child care in Monroe County. This study provides a “snapshot” of child care in Monroe County in terms of workforce participation. While CGR and the Welfare to Work committee believe...
CGR facilitated a roundtable discussion of 17 experts in the field of children's emotional health services from across the nation for North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center in Nassau County NY. North Shore, a not-for-profit agency providing comprehensive mental health, alcoholism, and drug abuse treatment services to children and...
CGR conducted a one year evaluation of the City of Hudson Even Start program.
CGR coordinated a year-long research and community-based planning process which resulted in 2002 in a detailed action plan to expand and improve mental health and related services to children and adolescents, and their families, in Broome County. The primary focus of the county and state Office of Mental Health-funded...
This was a three year evaluation of the Livingston County Even Start program. The evaluation involved surveys and interviews with staff, enrolled families and partner agencies, a focus group with the advisory board, and evaluation of performance indicators. Additional information on the program operations and the process evaluation is...
Intrigued by Albany County’s decision to form a new Department for Children, Youth, and Families, Tioga County secured the assistance of Meridian Consulting Services and now CGR to help the County review its current operations and develop a new organizational structure for children and families. Our staff is now...
CGR completed a comprehensive analysis of the extent to which childcare providers were being asked to serve children with severe behavioral problems. Prepared for the Children & Youth Services Intervention Council of Monroe County (NY) and the Children & Youth Services Development Initiative, the study concluded that childcare providers...
This was a three year evaluation of the Livingston County Even Start program. The evaluation involved surveys and interviews with staff, enrolled families and partner agencies, a focus group with the advisory board, and evaluation of performance indicators. Additional information on the program operations and the process evaluation is...
CGR was hired by the City of Rochester to conduct a nationwide literature search on anti-violence programs and assist the City in selecting one that would have the greatest potential to work locally. This report contains nine models that have been tested and found effective in other communities as...
This was a three year evaluation of the Livingston County Even Start program. The evaluation involved surveys and interviews with staff, enrolled families and partner agencies, a focus group with the advisory board, and evaluation of performance indicators. Additional information on the program operations and the process evaluation is...