Families Task Force  
BOL Meeting Minutes -  
Published Draft  
800 Michaelian Office Bldg.  
148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor  
White Plains, NY 10601  
Task Force Co-Chairs:  
WestchesterLegislatorsNY.gov  
Nancy Barr & Kathy Halas  
Thursday, July 9, 2026  
10:00 AM  
Committee Room  
CALL TO ORDER  
Please note: Meetings of the Board of Legislators and its committees are held at the  
Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains, New York, 10601,  
and livestreamed via the WebEx video conferencing system. Legislators may participate in  
person or via Webex. Members of the public may attend meetings in person at any of its  
locations, or view the meeting and its video recording online on the Westchester County  
Legislature’s website: https://westchestercountyny.legistar.com/. This website also provides  
the links to documents to be discussed at a given meeting.  
Committee Co-Chair Legislator Nancy Barr called the meeting to order.  
MINUTES APPROVAL  
I.  
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION  
'Delay the Scroll': A Youth-Led Program Encouraging Younger Children to Postpone  
Smart Phone and Social Media Use  
Guests: Rye High Students Present  
Childcare Wage Enhancement Initiative:  
Guests: The New York Community Trust  
Laura Rossi, Vice President, Westchester Office,The New York Community Trust  
Nupur Chaudhury Goldson - Program Director, Westchester Office,The New York  
Community Trust  
Lauren Perkins, Program Director, Westchester Office,The New York Community Trust  
Dawn Meyerski, Executive Director , Mount Kisco Child Care Center  
The meeting began with introductions of individuals from the task force who introduced  
themselves and their organizations. The Families Task Force meeting focused on the impact  
of technology on youth and the challenges of childcare accessibility, emphasizing the need for  
collaboration and innovative solutions.  
After introductions, 'Delay the Scroll': A Youth-Led Program started by Rye High School  
Students was presented. The presentation spoke to the effects of cell phones and social  
Families Task Force  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Published Draft  
July 9, 2026  
media on youth, with students sharing personal experiences to encourage younger peers to  
delay phone ownership. Presenters highlighted the negative impact of screens on sleep,  
focus, and mental health, and stressed the importance of alternatives to phone use that  
promote healthier engagement in real-life activities. The discussion also noted the ongoing  
challenge of engaging young men in conversations about social media and mental health,  
while recognizing that parents’ own screen habits influence children’s behavior and attitudes  
toward technology. Participants also observed that social media affects youth differently, with  
girls often more affected than boys, who are more influenced by video games. Safety  
concerns continue to drive many parents to prioritize constant communication through phones,  
which complicates efforts to limit device use.  
The Westchester Office of The New York Community Trust addressed the critical importance  
of childcare quality and affordability. Childcare was described as essential to child  
development and workforce reliability, especially for women, and affordable childcare was  
noted as a key factor in workforce participation and overall business performance. Small  
daycare providers continue to face financial pressure because of strict regulations and low  
margins, while innovative programs in Westchester are working to improve childcare  
accessibility and support local families.  
The group emphasized that collaboration among stakeholders is necessary to address the  
complex challenges within the childcare system, including the need for better communication  
and coordination between state agencies and school districts to ensure effective funding.  
Participants also raised concerns that community-based childcare is at risk as more families  
move toward school-based programs that may not always reflect developmentally appropriate  
practices. The sustainability of the early childhood workforce was identified as critical to  
maintaining stable classrooms and supporting families, and the meeting concluded with  
recognition that investments in childcare benefit children, families, employers, and the broader  
economy.  
II.  
OTHER BUSINESS  
RECEIVE & FILE  
III.  
ADJOURNMENT  
This meeting was adjourned