More than 50 Chautauqua County partners working together to help children thrive.
Support for children and families, prenatally through age 5
Contact Us Today
info@strongstartschaut.com
716-359-1417
Our Goals
- Educate our community on the importance of early life experiences as a foundation for lifelong health, well-being, and achievement.
- Enhance our county’s ability to assist with life challenges faced by pregnant women, children aged birth-5, and their families.
- Support our county’s families and caregivers by improving access to resources and services that help all young children thrive.
- Create a strong local support system for organizations working with young children and their families using national, proven strategies.
Why Strong Starts Chautauqua Matters
Did you know?

Early Brain Gains Impact Later Life
"Early experiences affect the development of brain architecture, which provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. Just as a weak foundation compromises the quality and strength of a house, adverse experiences early in life can impair brain architecture, with negative effects lasting into adulthood."

Many Chautauqua Children Are at Risk
- 4th highest child poverty rate in NYS
- Rate of children born affected by mothers’ substance use during pregnancy 5 times higher than the NYS rate and growing
- Number of child abuse and maltreatment cases more than double that of NYS counties
- Chautauqua County students show comparatively low academic achievement. (NYSED)
Supported By
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Chautauqua County Government
City of Jamestown
Health Foundation for Western and Central New York
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Fund
In-kind Support from Strong Starts Chautauqua Leadership Members
John R. Oishei Foundation
Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation
Reginald & Elizabeth S. Lenna Foundation
The Children’s Guild Foundation
WNY COVID-19 Response Fund Moving Forward Together Initiative
What Experts Are Saying About Strong Starts Chautauqua
"Young children are our future citizens. The earlier we prevent, identify and help with challenges, the better outcomes are for Chautauqua County.”
-Tariq Khan, MD, Founder, Southern Tier Pediatrics
"If we develop this type of maternal/early childhood system, we're going to save lives. In this time of the pandemic, the need for Strong Starts Chautauqua is greater than ever."
-Ira J. Chasnoff, MD, National Child Development Expert and Strong Starts Chautauqua Medical Advisor
“Our hope with Strong Starts is that we will see reduction rates of fetal death, pre-term delivery, low birth weight, NICU stays—and stronger family stability.”
-Leanna Luka Conley, Chautauqua County Deputy Commissioner of Child, Adult & Family Services
"I have rarely worked with such a committed group as Strong Starts Chautauqua. It is a sight to behold seeing barriers, competition and silo work melt away by people coming together to try their hardest to make Chautauqua County a better and healthier place to live."
-Dr. Lillian Vitanza Ney, Former Medical Director and VP of Medical Affairs, WCA Hospital
Partner Spotlight
Pictured from left to right are: Elizabeth Witherspoon, Steven Cobb, Dorothy Carlson, Allison Murphy, Bethany Vanderburg, Jessica Crooks