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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 09 March 2022

Could prekindergarten classes for four year-olds be available in Scarsdale? Over 30 Assembly Members from across the State, joined by school officials and advocates, rallied in Albany to support full funding for universal full-day pre-K in the State budget and address the inequities between New York City and the outer districts on Tuesday March 8.

Since 2014, NYC has received $300M annually under the Statewide Universal Full-Day Pre-K (SUFDPK) program. The SUFDPK program, which allocates $10,000 per child, has allowed NYC to offer universal pre-K to all children. As a result, if you live in NYC, whether you are rich or poor, your child can go to pre-K for free just as they can with public school.

Districts outside of NYC however, which enroll more than half of the public students in the State, are only allocated $40M in annual funding under the SUFDPK program, and for FY 2022 an additional $15M in available grants, which similarly gives $10,000 per child for full day pre-K, was provided. This allotment is largely insufficient to provide pre-K for the vast majority of districts in NYS, and the lack of funding for these schools has resulted in the majority of the districts being unable to operate pre-K programs. These schools also ended up having to apply and compete for the SUFDPK funds, and the majority do not receive funding. The inequity between schools in New York City and districts outside of the city needs to be remedied.

NYS’ “UPK” Funding Program

Districts outside of New York City, can also receive funding from the state for universal pre-K, from a pool that is simply called state “UPK” funding. Prior to 2021, out of the total of $515 million in UPK funds, approximately $250 million was allocated to districts outside of New York City. Although $90M was added in last year’s budget, the amount needed for districts outside of New York City is still wholly insufficient. The formula for receiving these funds is based on property values, which for Westchester and Rockland only generates $2700/child for a ½ day program and $5400/child for a full day program. $5400/child is not enough for Westchester, Rockland, Long Island, and most counties in New York State, to provide full-day pre-K services.

Benefits of Pre-K

High-quality pre-K has significant benefits for children as it provides them with valuable skills to succeed in school and beyond. Studies show that children who arrive at kindergarten prepared to learn perform better throughout school and complete more years of education.

Research shows that brain development in the years prior to kindergarten builds “school readiness” which is the foundation for success in school, at work, and throughout life. Pre-K aids in giving children the four key dimensions of school readiness -- language and literacy, thinking skills, self-control and self-confidence. When these four foundations are strong, a child is ready to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.

Public pre-K also enables parents of young children to return to the workforce. A study of Washington DC’s universal pre-K program shows that it has resulted in more mothers in the workforce, helping women, families, and the economy.

“School superintendents and children’s advocates from across the state have made it clear they are willing to create new Pre-K programs or expand their existing half-day Pre-K programs, but simply lack the funding. The time has come for the state to deliver on the promise of truly universal Pre-K by providing adequate state funding for all of New York’s children,” said Assembly Member Amy Paulin.

“The benefits of universal full-day pre-K are well documented, and it is critical that the state fully funds these programs across the state. Last year’s additional funding was a step forward, however far too many children were still unable to access full-day programs. We urge Gov. Hochul and the legislative leaders to make this funding a priority and include it in this year’s budget,” said Assembly Member Ken Zebrowski.

“The Statewide Universal Full-Day Pre-K (SUFDPK) program is not just an issue of education and childcare, but an issue of equity as well. The families in all regions of this state should have the same opportunity to enroll their children in the SUFDPK program. Children who attend pre-K are better prepared for kindergarten and have improved academic outcomes. This funding is essential for the future of our children,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson.

“Pre-K provides our kids with a nurturing environment to build a meaningful foundation for their future K-12 education. We must secure this funding so that all students, regardless of where they live, have equal access to this program,” said Assemblymember Fred W. Thiele, Jr.

School officials and advocates joined the rally in support.

“Assemblywoman Paulin continues to be a champion for all of New York’s children, including our youngest New Yorkers. While we lead the effort to provide Pre-K opportunities to our children throughout the state in 2014, the time has come to reinvest in our commitment and increase the resources available to ensure that every Pre-K aged child, no matter their zip code, has access to high quality Pre-K opportunities. By investing in our youngest, we know that we will continue to create a solid educational foundation that will support the future of our great state. Let’s appropriately increase the funding allotment now, so that all PreK aged children can start PreK in September on the right foot,” said Joseph L. Ricca, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, White Plains Public Schools.

“We know that universal pre-kindergarten is one of the best ways to provide a firm educational foundation for our children. Having additional resources to continue to provide a quality program to our district’s youngest scholars will go a long way to assure their success as they develop into life-long learners,” said Raymond Sanchez, Superintendent, Ossining Union Free School District.

"We all know the facts: preschool attendance has been shown to improve children’s academic and socio-emotional skills, preparing them for kindergarten and beyond. We also know that quality preschool programs benefit children from disadvantaged families the most, providing those children with a safe and nurturing environment for healthy development. Greater funding for additional UPK slots would only build on New York's progress and its important place in leading the nation on the equitable delivery of high-quality Universal Pre-K programs,” said Kris Felicello, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, North Rockland Central School District.

“By providing a UPK program, we not only support the child, we support the family. Every day we see incredible growth in these children as they develop skills in the classroom. Their ability to communicate and work with others is remarkable. Full funding for UPK must be supported; there is no better investment in the future of education,” said Cynthia Delfino, President/CEO · YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 24 March 2022

Patients often ask me, “What are the newest treatments in colorectal cancer?” Happily, I can respond with encouraging news. Recent discoveries are promising to improve the outcomes of those at risk for and currently battling this disease. This is especially heartening as colorectal cancer is no longer a disease exclusive to our older population; it is now on the rise in younger people as well.

As the only hospital in the New York City metropolitan area to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer, White Plains Hospital is committed to ensuring our patients with colorectal cancer receive the highest level of advanced care using evidence-based medicine and strategies, such as the following exciting developments:

Earlier Detection

Diagnosing colorectal cancer as early as possible is the key to better outcomes and longer life. The lowering of the recommended age for colorectal screening to age 45 (from 50) will catch thousands more cases at earlier stages, allowing for more simple and successful treatment.
In addition, the use of “circulating tumor DNA” is showing promise as a novel means of finding colorectal cancer earlier than previously possible. This up-and-coming technology identifies and measures microscopic fragments of tumor DNA from the blood and will help physicians get a step ahead of the disease.

More Precise Treatment

A new trend in colorectal cancer treatment is the development of “precision cancer medicines.” Not only are they easier to administer, these agents work better than chemotherapy by targeting specific molecular features (such as HER2, BRAF, and MSI). About 25% of people with advanced colorectal cancer have appropriate genetic targets for precision medicine or immunotherapy.

Shorter Chemo

When chemotherapy is the best option, the good news is that medical advances are making the processes easier and shorter for many patients dealing with stage 3 colon cancer. Recent data from a large international study has suggested shortening the current chemotherapy duration from six months to three months. In addition, the three-month regimen uses a chemo pill instead of an infusion pump, improving quality of life without sacrificing the benefits.

Despite all these exciting developments, it’s important to remember that prevention is still priority number one. Eat well, get exercise, and follow guidelines for regular screening via colonoscopy. If you are 45 or older, or have a family history of cancer, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to discuss your risks and a screening plan.

Dr. Joshua Raff is a medical oncologist and Director of the Digestive Cancer Program at White Plains Hospital, as well as the Leader of the Hospital’s GI Cancer Program Conference. To make an appointment, call 914-849-7600.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 23 February 2022

Hearing aids have undeniably been a boon for many patients over the years. But as many of those patients will attest, hearing aids do a very good job making things louder – but they can fall short in making things clearer.

A common complaint about using hearing aids is that it can be difficult to separate speech from the ambient background “noise,” such as in a movie theater. This was the situation faced by one of my older patients who used a hearing aid. He is a practicing attorney who was beginning to feel he could no longer do his job as effectively as he had in the courtroom, due to other people talking and other background sounds. As a result, he tended to work primarily from his office, feeling that he was being pushed into retirement by his loss of hearing.

Fortunately he was the right candidate for a cochlear implantation surgery. The difference his cochlear implant made was huge – at work, at home, at restaurants, and so on. He thanked me profusely in what proved to be a very emotional moment for both of us.

To rewind a bit: the cochlea is a part of the inner ear that is involved with hearing. The implant itself is a small electronic device that electrically stimulates the cochlear nerve; its external part sits behind the ear and picks up sounds with a microphone. Those sounds are then processed and transmitted to the implant’s internal part.
That part, placed under the skin behind the ear, includes a thin wire and small electrodes that lead to the cochlea in the inner ear. The wire sends signals to the cochlear nerve, which in turn sends sound information to the brain to produce a hearing sensation, essentially duplicating what a person’s cochlea normally does.

It is important to note that this procedure, which typically takes about two hours, does not “recover” lost hearing, but it can improve the patient’s hearing experience. And one should not expect to immediately return to hearing things as well as they did earlier in life. Some retraining of the brain is required to make sense of the sounds that are suddenly detectable again. This can take weeks, even months, but ultimately the clarity of speech that can be detected will be much better.

Cochlear Implant Candidacy

The ideal cochlear implantation candidate is one with significant – that is, moderate to profound – hearing loss, and who, having used hearing aids in the past, no longer derives benefit from them. And while many of us may associate such hearing loss with age, which can definitely be a factor, you may be surprised to learn that patients as young as eight months old can benefit from the procedure.

To determine the severity of a patient’s hearing loss, a series of tests are conducted. These include a pure tone audiogram – familiar to most of us as the “when you hear the tone, raise your hand” exercise – and a pair of audiometry tests. The first of those involves your being asked to repeat a list of words to determine the lowest volume at which you can hear speech.
The second audiometry test is conducted in a similar fashion, but is used to determine how well you can understand speech at a certain level. Typically, someone with significant hearing loss will have difficulty hearing sibilant, high-frequency sounds like “s,” “sh,” “ch” and “j.”

As research continues into addressing hearing loss, so too will forward strides be made in auditory-related surgery. But for countless individuals, cochlear implantation procedures have made all the difference. If you have concerns about your own hearing, get in touch with an audiologist, or consult with your physician about your options.

Dr. Brian D. Nicholas is the Director of Hearing and Balance at White Plains Hospital and sees patients at 122 Maple Avenue in White Plains and at 21 Laurel Avenue, Suite 290, in Cornwall. To make an appointment, call 914-849-3755.