Local leaders look to UAlbany's School of Social Welfare to create a plan to ensure every child's healthy growth and development. Our Erin Vannella reports.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- Carolyn McLaughlin said, "There's over 23 percent of our population in the City of Albany under the age of 19..."

And they all deserve our attention. That's the message state and local leaders delivered Monday at UAlbany.

"We're beginning to take collective responsibility to prevent adverse childhood experiences and the high cost to humans, social and economic consequences that affect all of us," said Deborah Benson, Executive Director of the New York State Council on Children and Families.

They call it a Movement for Children, a public forum held nationally to brainstorm ways to combat child abuse...and put the words into action in the community

"What I see as the greatest needs for children here in the City of Albany is the need for that full day kindergarten," McLaughlin said.

"That three prong stool of full day kindergarten, mandatory pre-k and smaller class sizes evidence from an evidence based point of view worked miracles. It was cost effective, reduced exposure to the criminal justice system, increased the level of education and quality of jobs ultimately," said State Senator Neil Breslin.

But as much as they are solutions to consequences like mental health issues and substance abuse behaviors, the real solution is prevention, say experts, and it doesn't have to cost a thing.

McLaughlin said, "They just want to know somebody cares, that young man that's on the street, involved in a gang. Somebody has told him his buddies have told him we care about you. How easy it would be if we did that. If they had someone at home who would do that for them. It would prevent them for looking for it somewhere else."