The uncomfortable truth is that as a city, we are still allowing too many children involved in the child welfare system to reach adulthood without an adequate education. It is becoming clearer that we have to address how we can better support our students who have faced significant trauma and disruption at home.

I am heartened that NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services is doing more to focus on the holistic well-being of children. But at Children’s Aid—because of your support—we believe that no serious discussion of well-being can take place unless education is at the forefront of the conversation.

Keeping our child welfare system and our educational system in silos has produced abysmal results. Only half of youth in care will graduate from high school and of the 10 percent who make it to college, few will graduate. One in five will become homeless. One in four of these children will eventually be incarcerated. They will experience poverty at soaring rates.

Many of these children will leave the child welfare system and, through no fault of their own, find themselves at a loss of how to live normal and healthy lives, never mind realize their full potential. Education must be the answer.

You make it possible for us to leverage our resources and expertise to make sure children and youth are attending school every day, graduating from high school, and are always one step closer towards obtaining their college degree.

Through our Fostering Youth Success Alliance, along with our own internal collaboration between our foster care services and our educational programs for youth in care (and with the support of ACS), we are bridging these two key parts of our work to improve the outcomes for children and youth.

However, these educational initiatives are just the beginning. We need to continue to integrate educational services within our child welfare system. This work will not be easy, but we need to start the conversation. And, I’m glad we are.

 

 

Strengthening Families Program
Strong Families, Healthy Communities

Recently, six families who had never met each other before gathered in the basement of a homeless shelter in the Bronx to talk about their problems and vulnerabilities as well as their hopes for better, sturdier relationships.

They were brought together by Children’s Aid staff for Strengthening Families, an evidence-based program that offers parents and youth, ages 2-17, who experience difficult relationships and present as at risk of substance abuse the tools and space to improve communications. The results are incredible. Studies have shown that students that complete the nationally recognized program with their parents are significantly less likely to have tried alcohol, gotten drunk, or smoked cigarettes.

Eugene Heard leads Strengthening Families for Children’s Aid through our P.O.W.E.R. (Providing Opportunities, Wellness, Education, and Resources) program. “I see something really organic and authentic,” he said. “In the beginning there’s some push back. You’re building a relationship. It’s more of a bonding and trust issue. They’re not sure what the class is. Some have been misled into thinking this is a typical parenting class, but it’s more. By the end, they don’t want the classes to end.”

To their immense credit, our staff creates a safe environment for families that includes discussing initial thoughts and feelings over a shared meal. Then, the parents and kids split into two groups to focus on specific issues and run through activities that build communication skills.

“Before this program, we didn’t know how to communicate,” said Elizabeth, a parent with her husband, Jose, of two boys. “We argued every single day. Now we talk it out.”

 

The Garden of Dreams Foundation,
The Madison Square Garden Company,
and MSG Networks, Inc.
Champions for Kids

The Garden of Dreams Foundation, with help from the Rockettes, made for happy holidays for dozens of our families.

For 12 years, the Garden of Dreams Foundation has been an extraordinary partner of Children’s Aid. As the philanthropic organization of The Madison Square Garden Company and MSG Networks, Inc., Garden of Dreams has provided our children, youth, and their families with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that bring joy into their lives and cultivate new talents and skill-sets. These opportunities have included:

• attending New York Knicks, Liberty, and Rangers games;
• participating in MSG Classroom, a career exploration program for high school students through MSG Networks;
• performing in the annual Garden of Dreams Talent Show at Radio City Music Hall;
• attending the annual Garden of Dreams Prom including a shopping experience;
• receiving thoughtful gifts at the holidays; and,
• benefiting from critical college scholarships, among others.

Most recently, Children’s Aid received a tremendously generous gift of $1 million, which will support the significant refurbishment of our Frederick Douglass Center. The capital improvement grant will ensure our children and families continue to receive much needed high-quality services in a safe, secure, and healthy environment for years to come.

We are humbled by the extraordinary support and generosity of these committed partners, and thank their team for their relentless advocacy and championship.

 

 

 

JAM Peers Program
Our Youth Speak Out

Our JAM Peers connect with hundreds of fellow students every year on issues connected to sexuality education.

Teen pregnancy rates have plummeted over the last decade, a trend that has overlapped with increased funding for Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) programs. However in an unprecedented move last summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump Administration abruptly ended federal funding two years early for more than 80 organizations, including Children’s Aid. Comprehensive sex education for 580,000 young people was at risk of being lost before a federal judge stepped in and put a halt to this misguided action. Nothing is certain in this area right now, but we are hopeful that we can continue to provide sex education to our young people.

TPP programs are a critical part of our adolescent health services. A great part of this work is also carried out by our 15 Just Ask Me (JAM) Peers—youth sexual health mentors who are trained by our expert teen health staff.

Through workshops and community engagement events, the JAM Peers teach teens in their communities about consent, healthy dating behaviors, and safe sex.

Many of this year’s peers, like Zahiry Tiburcio, were previous participants in the JAM Peer “Making Proud Choices” workshops. Now they’re committed to paying the knowledge forward.

“The main purpose I became a JAM Peer was to help protect my friends, myself, and other teens,” said Zahiry. “If they cut TPP, then how are we teens going to protect ourselves and others?"

Client Profile
Yannick Peña

Yannick Peña, 19, was disappointed when he learned that his homeschooling credits would no longer be accepted by New York State. Luckily, his mother’s curiosity drew her and Yannick into the center on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx that always seemed to be filled with young people. At the Next Generation Center (NGC), they met instructor Angel Romero, who helped Yannick ace the High School Equivalency exam on his first try with just two months of preparation.

“Angel changes his teaching style for each student,” Yannick said. “He really goes above and beyond.”

At NGC, Yannick also received work training support which helped him secure employment opportunities at Yankee Stadium and the center’s catering program. A quick learner, with an aptitude for helping others, Yannick soon earned a new position at NGC to officially help his peers format their résumés and prepare for job interviews.

“It definitely made me feel happy that I was doing something that was significant,” he said.

Now Yannick works in administrative payroll at Times Square Alliance, which promotes local businesses and encourages economic development in midtown. He’s learning a lot and taking plenty of notes.

“I want to own a business in the future,” he said. “I’m learning managerial skills and how to support and invest in people.”

 

 

New York Life
An Enduring Partnership

Since 1983, New York Life has been an invaluable supporter of Children’s Aid. Through its foundation, New York Life has invested more than $1 million into our community centers and services. In addition to their financial support, New York Life’s employee engagement program, Volunteers for Good, has made an enduring impact on the lives of our children, youth, and their families. Our programs have benefited from the time, energy, and commitment of New York Life employees, whether contributing to our annual Halloween Party at the Dunlevy Milbank Center, adopting families during the holiday season, or completing beautification projects. Most recently, four Children’s Aid community centers received benches built and decorated by volunteers, providing a brighter and more welcoming gathering space. We look forward to continuing our relationship with New York Life and seeing what the next 35 years brings!

 

Chalkbeat:

This Bronx School Threw A Party for Its African Families. Now It’s Grown into Something Much More

Norwood News (Page 10):

The Bronx Food Fight: The Lesson On Healthy Eating

Teen Vogue:

I Teach My Peers About Safe Sex in a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program