Children's Aid Blog

Across the country, educators, government leaders and psychologists laud the value of an arts education. The arts are a great vessel for tapping into a child’s creative energy and boosting their self-confidence. Studies show that visual and performing arts play an important role in the child’s cognitive ability to read, write and do mathematics.

A recent paper published in the Psychology of Music concluded that when elementary school children were enrolled in a music curriculum, they tend to perform better in terms of language and literacy in comparison to children not routinely trained in music. Additionally, students incorporating keyboard instruction as part of their music program demonstrated a notable improvement in their vocabulary and verbal sequencing, as they progressed to advanced (and more complex) levels in keyboard theory and practice.

Research indicates that students exposed to arts programs tend to do better on standardized tests than their non-arts peers. For those kids living in troubled homes, who may be subject to experiencing emotions of anger or grief, the arts provide a cathartic release. Art therapy is an excellent outlet for troubled teens who otherwise may not have an outlet to vent their innermost emotions and fears.

Art presents an opportunity for the overstressed child to express his or her thoughts in a non-verbal way. At–risk children tend to flourish in arts studies, making them less likely to cut classes or quit school altogether. Thanks to community-based programs and other advocates and benefactors, the arts have found their way back to the educational stage!

Marjorie Caparosa, Arts & Leadership Coordinator, East Harlem Center, Children’s Aid, weighs in on the topic:

Providing programs that encourage children to express themselves through the arts is perhaps the most valuable gift we can offer our youth. Here at East Harlem Center our curriculum is designed to inspire creativity while allowing children to articulate their feelings in a safe and supportive environment. With our multidisciplinary approach to programming, participants flourish as they learn about different cultures, holidays, artists, literature, etc. through the arts. Visual arts, dance, music and drama promote teamwork and leadership skills as well providing an outlet for our youth to express themselves. East Harlem Center’s young artists celebrate their creativity and build self-esteem through their participation in arts programs at our site.

March is National Talk with Your Teen about Sex Month. Though any month is the right time to have “the talk,” the purpose of this commemoration is to remind and encourage parents to open the lines of communication with their children regarding this subject.

The Guttmacher Institute reports that nearly half of teens between the ages of 15-19 have had sex at least once and according to the Center for Disease Control, teen pregnancies are on the rise once again. The United States still has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in the industrialized world; NOW is the time to start talking to your teens about sex.

Important tips for parents to remember:

• START EARLY. Talk with your children early, using age-appropriate language and examples. Waiting until adolescence may be too late.
• Be honest about your own feelings of difficulty discussing such a sensitive and intimate topic.
• Be realistic about the disadvantages of engaging in sexual activity too early, including sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and the possibility of becoming a single parent. Equally as important are the advantages of waiting to have sex, such as being able to finish school and meeting career goals.
• Reassure your children that you will be available whenever they need to talk. Expect them to come to you with follow-up questions.

Dr. Michael A. Carrera, Director, Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, Children’s Aid Society says, “Parents are the primary sexuality educators of their own children, they have no choice about it; their only choice is how well or poorly they do it.” Dr. Carrera  recommends the following books:

It’s Perfectly Normal by Robbie Harris What’s Happening to my Body: Book for Boys and What’s Happening to my Body: Book for Girls by Lynda Madaras, What’s Happening to Me? and Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle.

Dozens of youngsters, from tiny preschoolers to shy teens, walked cautiously into the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park on the evening of February 24th. Keeping close to their parents, some still wearing their iPod earplugs, they entered the main gallery and found black walls and spotlights highlighting artwork of all techniques, from watercolors to dominoes.

Once the children located their pieces, they stayed close, eager to show them off to anyone who walked by. The walls looked dull, if only for a moment, compared to the young faces glowing with excitement, accomplishment and pride throughout the room.

The 9th Annual Children’s Art Show showcased over 150 pieces of art by children ages 3-18 and was open to the public from February 23rd – 28th. The show featured artwork  of students from Children’s Aid Society from this fall and winter programs. For the first time, the reception featured a fashion show from the Eco-Fashion and Green Design club at the Mirabal Sisters community school campus in Washington Heights.

“Wait until the art show, wait until the art show” said Mr. Richard R. Buery, Jr., President and CEO of The Children’s Aid Society, repeating words he heard regularly since joining the agency. “I was blown away!”

Photos by Lily Kesselman

Pictured (from left to right): Aaron Ackerman, Amber Weiss, Alexandra Gold, and Toy Drive Committee co-chair Annabelle Torgman

During the holiday season, more than 125 people came together for an evening of fun and camaraderie, raising both money and toys benefiting New York City children and families in need of a helping hand. The 13th Annual Children’s Aid Society Toy Drive Party is the continuation of a strong tradition that began more than a decade ago by caring volunteers and young professionals committed towards our mission of helping those youth become healthy and productive adults. This year, guests, friends, and supporters raised more than $6,700 and donated over 100 toys and gifts towards making the holidays a little brighter for our kids.

Hosted at the fabulous Joshua Tree, guests attended the “Party with a Purpose” and enjoyed a wide selection of appetizer favorites and drinks like the Christmas Kiss and Snow on the Beach while dancing to classic 80’s tunes. They also purchased raffle tickets and participated in a party staple, the Triple Chance Raffle. This year’s raffle saw the largest and most eclectic assortment of prizes in recent years, with a list of more than 25 items up for grabs including, two roundtrip JetBlue tickets from New York to any US city; two tickets to the Lion King with Backstage Passes; a $600 Lela Rose Cashmere Sweater; and a Victoria’s Secret Mega Gift Basket.

While guests laughed, danced, and even belted out a song or two during the night, the purpose for the party was never far from their thoughts. The crowd listened intently as comments by Children’s Aid Chief Operating Officer, William Weisberg and Associates Council President Amy Kohn reinforced the need for ongoing support to keep quality programs and services like academic tutoring, mentoring, college prep, and medical and dental services from being eliminated due to inadequate funding.

Despite the serious undertone of the party, everyone remained optimistic and energized throughout the evening as they did their part to make a lasting impact on the lives of families and children in need. This year’s event was truly one to remember.

On behalf of our children and families, we would like to give thanks to all of the wonderful guests, donors, sponsors, and contributors that made this event such an overwhelming success.

Scott McLeod
Director, Office of Volunteer Services
The Children’s Aid Society

Pictured (from left to right) Rosemarie Taglione, Executive Director of NECO, Nasser J. Kazeminy, Chairman, Richard R. Buery, Jr., President and CEO of The Children’s Aid Society and Marvin Scott, Senior Correspondent, WPIX News at Ten

On February 2, The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) announced the first group of recipients of the 24th Annual Ellis Island Medals of Honor at The Children’s Aid Society headquarters in New York City.

This award honors those who exemplify a life dedicated to hard work, self-improvement, community service and who preserve and celebrate the history, traditions, and values of his or her ancestors.

Richard R. Buery, Jr. is one of 95 individuals who will receive this prestigious award at an Annual Gala Awards Dinner on Ellis Island on Saturday, May 8th, 2010. He is the son of Panamanian immigrants. Much to our CEO’s delight, Michael J. Piazza, former catcher for the New York Mets, is among the recipients.

In the March 1st issue of Education Week, an essay by Isabel Sawhill of the Brookings Institution and Jon Baron of the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy about Head Start points to several examples of research-proven social interventions that work, and includes The Children’s Aid Society’s Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program as a shining example!

The article mentions the program’s amazing results: “40 percent to 50 percent reductions in teenage girls’ pregnancies and births” to make the point of the program’s effectiveness. The article also notes that “such instances of proven effectiveness are rare … because rigorous evaluations are still uncommon in most areas of social policy, including education.” The authors also note that “evidence-based reforms could help [federal social programs] evolve to become much more effective.”

The fact that our teen pregnancy prevention program is proven-effective helped it meet Top Tier evidence of effectiveness standards by The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy late last year. This designation means that the Children’s Aid Carrera program could potentially receive public funding for the first time in its existence; the program could thus expand greatly in coming years.

I’m proud that our program was mentioned in the Ed Week commentary as proven-effective and even more proud that the program meets Top Tier evidence of effectiveness. Certainly, there will be more news about this program to come!

Richard R. Buery, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Children’s Aid Society

Over the past 8 weeks parents in the Frederick Douglass early childhood Head Start program have been participating in the Go! Healthy curriculum sponsored by the Children’s Aid Society. Parents delight as they come to our center for 2-3 hours to learn how to cook healthy meals that they can prepare quickly for themselves and their families. From pesto pasta salad, vegetable dumplings with a ginger soy sauce and pizza to granola, frittatas and burritos, all parents agreed that the meals were easy to make and delicious. Amazingly, all recipes are made from scratch and only take 20-30 minutes to cook on a make-shift portable stove top.

After each meal is complete, our parents come together to share in the savory dishes and talk about cooking strategies. For example, we talk about ways to save money on ingredients. We also discuss how to engage children in the cooking process. This might entail reading labels or talking about mathematical quantities such as half and quarter cup. Mothers also agreed that this is a great way to get children to try new foods.

Everyone who participated felt that this was the best cooking class they’ve ever participated in. Thanks to Naxielly Dominguez for facilitating the course! As she always says, “Cooking is an art and the meal is your masterpiece”.

Margaret Caspe, The Children’s Aid Society in New York

No one will debate the importance of physical activity to our health and emotional well-being. And sports are a great way for kids to let all that excess energy out, keep physically fit, increase their concentration level and build self-esteem. All this, while developing teamwork, cooperation and discipline, and having fun to boot. Research from the Center of Disease Control (CDC) suggests that physically active children and adolescents also flourish academically.

According to Mayo Clinic research, encouraging young children to engage in sports will give them a “head start on lifelong fitness” and helps to prevent obesity. To avoid injury and to be sensitive to the child’s physical ability and maturity level, it is advisable to enroll them in age-appropriate sporting activities.

The Mayo Clinic classifies this demographic into 3 age groups: ages 2-5, 6-7 and 8+. The preschoolers and kindergarteners, with their limited attention span, should do unstructured exercise like running, climbing, playing catch and tricycle riding. The 6-7 year olds are more coordinated and can take direction well, so sports like softball, martial arts, gymnastics, track and soccer are ideal. For the 8 and over crowd, most organized sports – including contact sports – work well.

American youths take their sports seriously: there are 30 to 45 million kids aged 6-18 participating in one or more school and/or community-based athletic programs.  And sports provide a positive psychological effect on children – they are less likely to be depressed or anxious.  An old adage is well in play here: a fit body begets a fit mind!

Additional quote from Kelsey Stevens, Director, Fitness & Recreation Programs, Children’s Aid:

These avenues are challenged through basketball, baseball, tumbling, sports management, swimming and a host of other activities. These activities provide a wide range of developmental processes such as hand-eye coordination and the social atmosphere.  Many of our youth strive on being competitive but with the understanding of doing your personal best. Though the aforementioned caters to our extramural teams, our intramural activities add to our focus of sports and fitness.

Some of those activities are flag football, dodge ball, kickball, color call, volleyball and a host of other interactive games. Through these avenues we continue to develop their social interaction, sportsmanship, academic awareness, cardio, stamina, flexibility and a desire to accomplish a goal.

Some of the methods we use to approach, recruit, involve and engage kids in sports are the benefits of social interaction, intramural and extramural games, a friendly and caring atmosphere, informative and knowledgeable staff as well as providing  the opportunity to engage them in discussions about being a student athlete and what it takes to be successful in any objective.

A new book based on 15 years of data from public elementary schools in Chicago verifies the approach used by The Children’s Aid Society in its community schools in New York City since March of 1992. Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago (University of Chicago Press, 2010) outlines five critical ingredients of effective school reform:

• Strong principal leadership that is focused on instruction and inclusive of others;
• A welcoming attitude toward parents and formation of positive connections with the community;
• Development of professional capacity, such as teacher professional development and fostering of collaboration;
• A learning climate that is safe, welcoming, stimulating and nurturing to all students; and
• Strong instructional guidance and materials.

This formulation mirrors The Children’s Aid Society’s “developmental triangle,” published in our 2005 book, Community Schools in Action: Lessons from a Decade of Practice (Oxford University Press), which calls for a strong instructional program, expanded learning opportunities through enrichment and services designed to remove barriers to children’s learning and healthy development. Children’s Aid conceptualized the triangle after reviewing scores of existing research studies from multiple disciplines, concluding that effective educational reform strategies needed to address both teaching (excellent instruction, rigorous curriculum, timely assessments aligned with instruction) and learning (student health, wellness and engagement; plentiful opportunities to apply academic knowledge through challenging enrichment activities; support and encouragement from parents).

The community schools strategy applies this research through a comprehensive, integrated approach to education that extends the hours, services and partnerships of traditional public schools. Community schools are open all day and well into the evening, six and even seven days per week, year-round. They offer before- and after-school programs, summer camps, adult education, parent involvement and leadership, early childhood, medical, dental, mental health and social services. Many supports, services and opportunities are available to community residents, including adult education and community-wide celebrations and special events. The results from the work of The Children’s Aid Society and our colleagues across the country are powerful—improved achievement, better student and teach attendance, increased parent engagement, decreased community violence. Why isn’t every school a community school?

Jane Quinn
Assistant Executive Director for Community Schools
Director, National Center for Community Schools
The Children’s Aid Society

Throughout the city, The Children’s Aid Society is celebrating Black History Month. Children and staff are honoring Black heroes and she-roes and learning about their contributions to science, art, politics and technology.

The youth at the Hope Leadership Academy in Harlem are studying Marcus Garvey’s life story and have created a bulletin board in honor of Black History Month. They also held a Trivia Night, a fun way to test their memory skills.

At the Drew Hamilton Learning Center, classrooms and an entire corridor have been decorated for Black History month. A bulletin board in one of the classrooms features photos of African American leaders alongside photos of the center’s two- and three-year-olds dressed up as future versions of themselves (pictured at right) – among them a police officer, president and animal doctor. These famous role models help the children envision a bright future full of big plans.

Many sites are also taking their creativity to the stage. Youth at the Frederick Douglass Center have created exhibits throughout the building and will put on a short play for friends and family. The East Harlem Center will close out the month with a “Colors of Our History” performance.

Photos by: James Powell and Casper Lassiter for The Children’s Aid Society

Over 150 years ago, Charles Loring Brace, the founder of The Children’s Aid Society, worked to find safe homes and caring families for the thousands of homeless, abused and orphaned children living on the streets of New York City. That program, called the Orphan Train Movement, is recognized as the foundation of the United States’ modern-day foster care system.

Adoption and Foster Care remains one of Children’s Aid’s highest priorities as we find nurturing homes for some of New York’s neediest children each year. In addition to offering Family Foster Care, our program also provides specialized services including Medical and Therapeutic Foster Care. For teens, we have foster care staff and services providing independent living skills with a focus on those “aging out” of foster care.

In 2009, we placed 75 children in permanent adoptive homes, and provided safety to more than 600 others via foster care. The need for safe homes continues to rise, especially for teenagers, large sibling groups and teen mother-child placements. The Children’s Aid Society is recruiting additional foster parents to offer homes to children needing support and care that their birth families aren’t able to provide. Foster Parenting is a challenging and rewarding way to make a difference in the life of a child.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please call us at 212.949.4962 for more information.

Basic requirements for foster parents include:

1. Applicants must be over the age of 21. They can be single, married, or in a domestic partnership.

2. Applicant must be self-sufficient. Applicant’s income can be from employment, pension, or social security.

3. Applicant must complete a state screening/background check.

4. Applicant must complete 30 hours of Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP) training, basic training for all foster parent applicants.

5. Applicant must be in good physical and mental health and have completed physical exams for every household member.

6. Applicant must be the lease holder to his or her own apartment or home.

7. Applicant must identify an emergency child care person.

Please consider making an incredible difference in the life of a child in need of a home by providing critical support and care that would otherwise be missing from his or her life.

President and CEO of The Children’s Aid Society Says Agency’s Programs in Line with First Lady’s Objectives

Many of us have watched with deep concern as the children in our communities have become overweight or obese seemingly overnight. The problem is national, affecting one in three children in the U.S. And according to First Lady Michelle Obama the problem is worse in African-American and Latino communities, affecting one in two children.

The First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative to tackle childhood obesity, announced on February 9, could not come at a more opportune time. Childhood obesity is known to contribute to high blood pressure in children and type 2 diabetes; these are illnesses that we used to see only in adults and that can affect children for their entire lives.

As Ms. Obama stated, it’s about how children feel, not how they look. When children eat healthfully and move more they will feel better and have more energy. Vulnerable children are constantly barraged with messages encouraging them to eat heavily processed foods. Let’s Move seeks to give parents the tools they need to help children get and stay healthy.

At The Children’s Aid Society, we are working to combat childhood obesity. Our Go!Healthy initiative educates children about wellness and the joys of healthful cooking and eating from birth through adolescence and beyond. Our health providers have even been able to measure BMI in almost 90% of their young patients – well over the national norm. (For more information about Children’s Aid’s Go!Healthy initiatives, please visit our nutrition pages.

Children’s Aid emphasizes healthful eating, relaxation techniques and movement (including yoga) for children and their parents. We introduce youth to the pleasures of preparing and enjoying “real food” that is both nutritious and delicious: an essential step toward health and well-being. We have an innovative foodservice program in which meals for children in our community centers are cooked from scratch and based on whole and fresh foods, especially fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And we advocate for policy changes that enable parents to make healthy choices in their neighborhoods.

I envision a world where affordable and healthy fruit and vegetables are as easily available to children as potato chips and soda. In our programs, we have shown parents that achieving better health for their children and themselves can be fun! As the First Lady said when she described her initiative, small changes add up, and incremental changes can start making us all feel better right now. Let’s Move!

Richard R. Buery, Jr.
President & Chief Executive Officer
The Children’s Aid Society

The East Harlem Center was crawling with cops on the night of January 27th, and the community could not have been happier. The East Harlem Head Start hosted an informational forum titled, “Know Your Rights – Know Your Precinct.” The forum was held in response to some neighborhood safety concerns. Over the last few years, the East Harlem Head Start program has been working on building better relationships between their immigrant families and the local police officers. There have been neighborhood safety concerns around the fact that many serious crimes have gone unreported by immigrant families due to fear of deportation, misinformation and a general lack of knowledge of available resources.

In collaboration with the 23rd Precinct, NYPD administration, the District Attorney’s Office and Senator Serrano, the Forum addressed many of the families concerns and aimed at clearing up confusion. Topics included:  distinction between NYPD and Immigration, Executive Order 41, 311 vs. 911, acceptable forms of ID, resources throughout the police department, and general public safety tips. A representative from the 2010 Census also spoke about the importance of being counted in the upcoming Census.

A strong panel of presenters were able to provide a significant amount of information and answers to the audience’s questions. Presenters included:

Senator Jose M. Serrano (New York State Senator for the 28th District); Chief Philip Banks III (Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan North); Deputy Inspector William Pla (Commanding Officer of the 23rd Precinct); Captain Santana (Executive Officer – 23rd Precinct); Sgt. Gary Giersbach (Commanding Officer of the Youth Office – 23rd Precinct); Officer Oliver Matos (Youth Officer -23rd Precinct); Officer Frank Galindo (Community Affairs Officer-23rd Precinct); Officer Miguel Murphy (Community Affairs Officer 23rd Precinct); Officer Rios (Domestic Violence – 23rd Precinct); Sgt.  Lizbeth Villafane (Commanding Officer of the New Immigrant Outreach Unit); Chief Coppuchi (PSA5 Housing); Maria De La Rosa (Deputy Director of Community Affairs for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office); Cesar Vasquez:  (23rd Precinct’s Community Council President); Andres Mares Muro (U.S. Census Bureau).

Head Start parents Nicole McClammy and Brenda Colon introduced the panelists and Maria Diaz shared a success story from working with the Precinct.

The audience appreciated the strong NYPD presence and the beginning of an important on-going dialogue about how to build more trusting relationships throughout the community. A follow-up forum, focusing specifically on immigration issues, is being planned for March.

Pictured: Pio Schunker, Senior Vice President of Creative Excellence, Coca-Cola North America, addresses teens about Coke's Super Bowl ads. Looking on at left is Evan McElroy, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

A week before the big game, approximately 50 teens were among the first in the nation to preview Coca-Cola’s Super Bowl XLIV ads at The Children’s Aid Society’s Dunlevy Milbank Boys & Girls Club in Harlem.

The teens listened to presentations from Coca-Cola and Facebook executives and learned about a tie-in program that allows Facebook users to join Coca-Cola in making a positive difference in their communities by benefitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The new Facebook initiative will allow Coca-Cola fans to give a virtual gift to their friends on Facebook. For every gift, Coca-Cola will donate $1 to the Boys & Girls Club of America with a goal of $250,000.

As the chief executive of one of New York’s largest children’s services organizations, I found a lot to applaud in President Obama’s State of the Union address before Congress. The domestic initiatives he announced, including doubling the child care tax credit, passing a job-creation bill, revitalizing community colleges, creating a college tuition tax credit and expansion of the Pell grant program can make a profound difference for the nation’s children and families.

We share the President’s central vision — that children’s success should not depend on where they live, but on their potential. Early in his speech, he described reading letters from children asking “Why do I have to move away from my home?” or “When will my parents find jobs?” As the President and Congress move forward on health reform, education reform, and job creation, we hope that they will continue to pay attention to the voices of those children. As we work to improve access to higher education and create jobs with living wages, we cannot forget the particular challenges faced by teens aging out of foster care or those being released from juvenile detention facilities. As we strive to reform public education, we must remember that the most successful educational program cannot serve a child who is too sick to attend school regularly, too hungry to focus when they get there, and too stressed because of an unstable home environment.

Reflecting on the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens Union v. FEC, the President accurately bemoaned the power of money in politics. Too often, our laws fail to take account of the needs of poor and vulnerable children who do not lobby, donate to elected officials, or vote. We hope that Congress heeds the President’s call to do business differently. We must stand for the needs of vulnerable children who cannot stand for themselves. We at The Children’s Aid Society are ready to work with this administration to fulfill our mission: to bridge the gap between what children have and what they need to thrive.

Richard R. Buery, Jr.
CEO and President
The Children’s Aid Society

Photo Courtesy of The Census Bureau

The Children’s Aid Society encourages all the residents of its communities in New York City to participate in the 2010 Census. “It’s important that everyone be counted,” said Richard Buery, President and CEO of The Children’s Aid Society. Every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds are awarded to states and communities for new hospitals, schools, better transportation and social services based on the Census’ population count, which is taken every 10 years.

“It’s completely safe to respond to every Census question,” said Mr. Buery. “By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your individual answers with anyone, including federal, state and local agencies of any kind. That means, regardless of immigration status, employment status or housing situation, you should respond to the Census because your information is completely confidential.”

Children’s Aid will host several information nights so that community members can learn more about the 2010 Census. The first is Wednesday, February 17th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Dunlevy Milbank Center, 14-32 West 118th Street in Harlem. (For more information please call 212-996-1716 or download this flyer.) Also, teens from several Children’s Aid programs will be trained to convey accurate information about the 2010 Census to members of their communities, and will engage in various activities to encourage participation.

The number of uninsured Americans has increased exponentially in the last few years. According to the United States Census Bureau‘s most recent report, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008, approximately 46.3 million people in this country are uninsured. While Medicaid, Medicare and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program report the number of uninsured children has decreased by by 800,000, there are still 7.3 million children nationwide without insurance.

The public programs serving these children are very much in demand. In fact, enrollment in Medicaid has gone through the roof largely because of the distressed economy, giving birth to a whole new generation of enrollees who previously did not qualify for access to public healthcare. It is no surprise to learn that the American poverty level reached 13.2% in 2008, the highest level in over ten years. Now, more than ever, economically disadvantaged communities and families need guidance with navigating the public healthcare system.

The state of New York offers government-sponsored health insurance programs: Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus.  Additionally, New York Governor David A. Paterson recently signed legislation to make health insurance more affordable and to improve health care access for New Yorkers. Likewise, the Children’s Aid Society is committed to helping reduce the percentage of uninsured in New York City, so that no one is left behind.

Additional quote from Lorraine Gonzalez, Director, Health Care Access Program, Children’s Aid:

In the decade since New York State acted to reduce/eliminate the number of uninsured but eligible residents of the state with a program of facilitated enrollment, there have been substantive successes. As a state, we have expanded Child Health Plus eligibility to 400% of poverty; created a single statewide eligibility standard for Medicaid; eliminated resource thresholds for Medicaid; and allowed residents to self-declare income and residency in the renewal process.

New York State has been a pioneer in modeling systems that help make health insurance an affordable reality for all. Governor Paterson demonstrated a commitment to help reduce/eliminate the uninsured rate in New York State for all children by expanding the federal poverty level for Child Health Plus to 400% in September 2008.  While recognizing that acclaim for the work of those invested in this cause is due, we must build upon our successes and progress in our efforts to eliminate the remaining obstacles: gaps in coverage, the need for support for navigating the health care system, and discrimination and disparities in the quality of health care for those who are publicly insured.

When it comes to health care, we know that the current federal administration acknowledges the fundamental right of all individuals to have appropriate coverage and access to health care. We are at a pivotal moment when we can make health care a reality for all with our new political capital and effective strategic planning. The Children’s Aid Society is dedicated to this effort and invites you to remain a committed partner.

The Children’s Aid Society extends our deepest sympathies to the people of Haiti. Our hearts go out to the children and families struggling to survive in the wake of the devastating earthquake. The pain and suffering we see chronicled in the news each day is almost unimaginable. Children’s Aid Society has a proud tradition of providing assistance to families in need, whether in the aftermath of September 11th or Hurricane Katrina.

The people of Haiti will need help for a long time to come. Children’s Aid staff and families are responding to the crisis in Haiti through individual financial and in-kind donations, such as clothing and personal hygiene kits. If you would like to make a financial donation to the Haiti relief efforts, Charity Navigator, which monitors nonprofit agencies, offers a list of suggestions.

At this time no imminent airlifts of children from Haiti to New York are planned. However, should the opportunity arise, The Children’s Aid Society stands ready to help place orphaned Haitian children in loving and supportive homes in New York City. If you, or someone you know, might be willing to care for a Haitian child we want to hear from you. Please contact us at fosteradopt@childrensaidsociety.org with your name and the best way to reach you. We will keep you informed if there is an opportunity for volunteers to care for children escaping the devastation of the earthquake.

Children’s Aid also partners with the City Bar Justice Center to assist Haitian nationals to gain Temporary Protected Status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. For more information about how to file an application, contact our Office of Public Policy & Client Advocacy at (212) 358-8930 or email sharonev@childrenaidsociety.org.

Richard R. Buery, Jr.
CEO and President
The Children’s Aid Society

Approached by a loan seller, Theodora Roach agreed to what turned out to be a balloon loan. Later, she got help through a government program and the Neediest Cases Fund.

The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund recently featured this Children’s Aid story, written by Jennifer Mascia, about Theodora Roach and how she received help after unknowingly entering into a balloon loan. Below is an excerpt from the original article:

Theodora Roach’s subprime journey started with a knock at the door.

In 2004, the Fidelity Group sent sales representatives to her block in Flatlands, Brooklyn, where, in 1997, she and a cousin had bought a three-bedroom home for $169,000. The sales agents were offering a refinancing and loan package they said could lower her mortgage payments.

Ms. Roach had already borrowed $25,000 against the equity in her home — first to finish the basement, then to help cover her payments because her cousin, a correction officer, disappeared, along with her half of the $1,500-a-month mortgage.

Behind on her first mortgage, and to avoid a lien on the home, which she shared with her mother and adult daughter, Ms. Roach, 58, accepted the offer.

It turned out to be the biggest mistake of her life.

Read more…

To learn how you can make a difference for this family and many others, please link over to The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund or contact:

The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund
230 West 41st Street
Suite 1300
New York, NY 10036
(800) 381-0075

Photo courtesy of Raymond McCrea Jones for The New York Times

Raising a family in New York City isn’t an easy task to accomplish. It takes hard work, a lot of love, and a lot of planning. At The Children’s Aid Society we have created a groundbreaking new program to help parents with the task of planning – for themselves, for their family, and for their future.

Families with a Future is a unique new program which addresses this often daunting challenge, by acknowledging that sometimes we may need a Life Coach. The Life Coach is a key component of the Families with a Future program, providing assistance to parents in order to help them succeed and prosper in a long term, sustainable way.

Working with parents both one-on-one and in group settings, the Life Coach helps parents identify long term goals and ways to achieve them, while building a support network that parents can turn to for guidance. The Families with a Future program is geared towards motivated, creative, self-sufficient individuals, who will work hard to implement the plans they make with their Life Coach.

This Children’s Aid Life Coach can also assist parents in making tough decisions regarding health insurance, housing, and other services. In addition, the program offers grants for qualifying individuals, to help themselves build a better future. In the past, participants have used the money to attend highly regarded New York institutions such as the City University of New York.

Children’s Aid is committed to helping families through mentorship. Whether it’s with our Families with a Future program designed for parents or through various youth development programs – aimed at helping children grow to successful independence – our goal is the same: a bright, prosperous future for New York City families.

Neil Palansky