News
New York Foster Parents Face a ‘Back to School’ Like No Other
July 19th, 2020 Foster and adoptive parents like Briaddy are struggling to reassure their kids and create a sense of normalcy in a frightening and unprecedented time. But they are doing so knowing the children they are caring for have already experienced significant disruption and loss. Full article here.
Lawmakers Aim To Address Problems of Aging Out of Foster Care During a Pandemic
July 8th, 2020 Aging out of the foster care system can be a challenge under normal circumstances, but during a pandemic, it can be even harder. Now with COVID-19, hundreds of young adults who are aging out of the system and still struggling to find a job or a place to live, are now also […]
New York City Foster Care Cancels Some Reform Efforts Due To Pandemic Funding Hit
July 3rd, 2020 This week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council approved a budget of just over $88 billion for the coming fiscal year, nearly four months into a coronavirus pandemic that created a $9 billion revenue shortage. The city’s foster care and juvenile justice agency, the Administration for Children’s […]
Support Young People in Foster Care Beyond 21
Chronicle of Social Change June 19, 2020 Op-ed by New York City Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner David A. Hansell shares below what New York City has been doing to support youth through extended foster care. “No city or state across the U.S. should allow a young person to leave foster care, at any age, […]
Prevention Services Can Help NYC Avoid a Feared Foster-Care Surge
June 10, 2020 City Limits Headlines in New York and nationally echo a theme: “Child advocates fear uptick in child abuse cases,” “Coronavirus lockdown shields abused kids from watchful eyes,” “Prepare for surge of child abuse cases after quarantine.” Calls to the child abuse hotline are significantly lower, likely due to mandated reporters like teachers […]
Foster Care Extension Proposed
Post-Journal – June 10, 2020 Legislation introduced recently in the state Assembly would establish a six-month moratorium on aging out of foster care. Assemblywoman Didi Barrett, D-Poughkeepsie, introduced A.10510 to add a new paragraph in the state’s Unconsolidated Law to require the state to continue providing the same care to youth and caregivers that would […]
‘I just miss him:’ Coronavirus pandemic prolongs NYC mom’s fight to regain custody of toddler in foster care
June 1, 2020 New York Daily News After more than a year apart, a New York City mom was finally on the verge of regaining custody of her 20-month-old son who’d been removed by children’s services as an infant and placed in a foster home. Then coronavirus hit, shuttering the family courts, delaying a long-awaited […]
Coronavirus pandemic increasing need for foster parents
May 26th, 2020 ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The coronavirus pandemic has created an uncertain environment for foster care parents and children. Due to the risk of COVID-19, fewer foster parents are willing to take kids in fear for they have the virus. “I just would strongly encourage anyone who has ever had the thought of […]
Youth in Care Need More Help Now (New York)
New York Daily News Bronx: I am a 22-year-old honor roll college junior. I was on track to being one of the success stories of young people who leave foster care. Now, I’m not so sure. I entered foster care for a year when I was two and re-entered at 13. At 17, my grandmother […]
Child Welfare Limbo: Covid-19 Puts Family Reunifications On ‘Indefinite’ Hold
March 30, 2020 The Center for New York City Affairs at the New School In response to the spreading coronavirus, the City’s Family Courts have closed their buildings and dramatically reduced their caseloads. Judges are now holding hearings by phone and video, only on “essential/emergency” matters, according to a statement from the New York State […]
COVID-19 Creates Deep Uncertainty in NYC’s Child-Welfare System
March 30, 2020 CityLimits “New York City’s family courts went virtual last week but they are operating in triage mode with currently only one virtual court and a very limited number of judges. All but a tiny fraction of hearings have been officially adjourned for at least three months, but advocates for children and parents […]
Advocacy
New York organizations urge Congress to act swiftly to address impacts on children and families caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
New York organizations are among more than 570 national, state and local organizations that are urging Congress for emergency child welfare support to address the COVID-19 crisis. Read letter here. Assemblyman Andrew D. Hevesi, 28th A.D.Berkshire Farm Center and Services for YouthBridge Builders Community PartnershipChildren’s Defense Fund – New YorkCitizens’ Committee for Children of NYCouncil of […]
NY Advocates and Service Providers Urge State Leaders to Address Child and Family Well-being
Advocates and service providers working with families impacted by the child welfare system write to Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Poole and urge the following action steps: Enact a temporary moratorium on “aging out” of foster care Provide COVID-19 Emergency Response Pay for foster parents, frontline staff and reunified families Provide technology and support to ensure […]