Sarah Wilner testifies on reaching families in housing instability

Good afternoon, Chair Gutierrez and members of the Council.

Thank you so much for allowing me to speak today.

My name is Sarah Wilner and I'm the Executive Director of Early Starters USA.

At Early Starters, we work closely with families who live in housing instability, the majority of whom are new New Yorkers who have recently arrived to New York City.

provide early childhood safe spaces and programming for these families who up until recently have had very little access to any sort of early childhood programming.

We believe that it is the right of every child to have access to quality early childhood programming, and we are very encouraged and hopeful by the city's commitment to expand 2K.

I do want to make sure that there are three points that I'd like to highlight.

First, reaching families through trusted community relationships, as we've all spoken about.

Multilingual families and families experiencing housing instability may need additional support to learn about programs and navigate enrollment.

Community organizations working with these families can help the city reach them.

As we spoke about in last week's discussion on multilingual learners, we highlighted the need for access to information and support in different languages, as well as trained staff on culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care.

Second, building the workforce, as many of the council members and panelists have spoken about.

Many people that we work in our communities have the interest, the language skills, and lived experience to become excellent early childhood educators,

but I think that they do need a bridge before entering college or an apprenticeship, especially with the multitude of barriers that they're facing daily.

We have a pre-apprenticeship partnership with Bank Street College of Education.

We have 33 mothers who have already graduated the program on emotionally responsive practice and early childhood development.

Five of those are now pursuing their CDA through Q&ESPS and PDI, and we ourselves have hired 19 mothers from the participating group to facilitate our programs.

Another 22 women have now just enrolled in our third cohort.

Thanks.

I'm almost done.

Another two women have now enrolled in our third cohort and are excited to be part of the future workforce.

Third, ensuring the expansion means quality and not just more seats.

Two-year-olds need developmentally appropriate, relationship-based programs with educators who understand early childhood, who understand their culture, their language, their individual needs.

And we would be glad to share what we have learned from creating responsive, trauma-informed early childhood spaces for very young children and families living in housing instability.

Thank you very much.

Thank you all.

Laura, I had one question.

Also, for those who have not submitted their testimony, if you can just share when you can the written testimony with the committee.