Ground Truthing

Welcome our third episode of Ground Truthing, a Westchester Children’s Association podcast where we offer policy insights from the ground up. For the month of March, we are joined by Cheryl Hunter-Grant. Ms. Cheryl Hunter-Grant, is a lifelong child advocate who has worked in the field of Maternal, Child and Family Services for more than 35 years. Cheryl earned a Masters of Social Work degree from Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. Presently she serves as the Executive Director of the Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network and Vice President of Perinatal Programs for the Children’s Health and Research Foundation, the parent company of the Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network. Through advocacy and education, with a life course perspective, the Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network works with its partners to achieve health equity in birth outcomes striving to ensure all babies within the region are born healthy.

We are joined by author and Raise the Age advocate Jim St. Germain on the latest episode of Ground Truthing. At the age of 15, Jim found himself in trouble with the law, just months away from his 16th birthday. Had he been a few month older, he would not have received the rehabilitative services that he did. Today, Jim is a college-graduate, father, author and chairperson of a nonprofit organization called Preparing Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT). On this episode, Jim tells his story and why he continues to advocate for court-involved youth. Ground Truthing is a Westchester Children's Association production. The show is edited by Eloise Sherrid. Original music is composed by Al Saniuk.

Welcome to the first episode of Ground Truthing, a Westchester Children’s Association podcast where we offer policy insights from the ground up. This month, we will discuss the state of early childhood education through the perspective of Carol Robinson of the Greyston Early Learning Center. Robinson began as the Director, Early Education at Greyston in 2015. During her time, she expanded their infant program and formed new partnerships and enhanced curriculum. Recently, it was announced that Greyston will close the Early Childhood Center where Robinson is the director. According to Greyston, the center will be closing due to a consistent lack of sufficient funding to cover operating costs associated with running the center. After our interview with Carol, we will be joined by Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Westchester, Kathy Halas, to discuss the impact of the Greyston Early Childcare Center closing and where the county stands on providing adequate access to quality, affordable early ed