Lindsay press conference - Childhood Development

Mayor John V. Lindsay press conference on the Early Childhood Development Taskforce and their new report to the Mayor. Daycare. Preschool. Headstart. Early Childhood Recreation Programs.

Trude Lash - Chair of the taskforce speaks. She says the report is being printed and will soon be widely available. Children who live at home but require care. Early childhood services. The report's main recommendation is a call for the establishment of an early childhood services department as part of the City's agency for human resources. Daycare services should be streamlined and placed into this department. The difference between this report and earlier ones is that the recommendations here have been tested by community groups. A lot of pressure is coming from the community for these recommendations in providing care for children who do not now have it. It would put NYC into the national leadership for these programs.

Mayor Lindsay says they are reviewing the report and they are committed to creating this department within HRA. Commissioner Sugarman, Lindsay says, will make it easier to get federal funds.

Commissioner Sugarman calls it a splendid report and remarkable document. The basic work has been done for us. Programs for young children and some school-age children of low-income families and those being served by social services. Sugarman says this report anticipates what he expects to see on the federal level. Congress will go further.

Q&A
14 agencies have received the report. Half of them deal with children.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 151417
Municipal archives id: T7586