Special Initiatives

In 2007, Children's Aid launched The African American Male Initiative, with the support of The Charles Hayden Foundation, to help young males receive all the support needed to achieve success. It started with the Steps to Success Initiative, in which groups of young Black males beginning in second grade receive life coaching, a cultural academy, academic support, and exposure to Everyday Heroes (role models). So far, in its third year, the boys' scholastic progress has been remarkable.

EXCEL in Writing, Thinking and Inquiry is designed to prepare talented but underprivileged high school students in the South Bronx for high academic achievement and college success. It builds upon The Children’s Aid Society’s longstanding college prep EXCEL (Educational Excellence Creating Empowered Leaders) model, and represents an innovative collaboration between Children’s Aid, New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development, The Teagle Foundation and The Squire Family Foundation.

The objective of the Latino Outreach Initiative (LOI) is to give Latino youth and families access to interest- and need-based programs to help them develop leadership abilities and strong decision-making skills.

The Prevention Resource Center (PRC) is a partnership between the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHOMH), and The Children’s Aid Society (CAS). The PRC is committed to developing coalitions aimed at decreasing the effects of alcohol, tobacco other drugs, gambling and violence by connecting prevention based resources among prevention providers, stakeholders, and community based organizations.

Launched in 2005 with support from The Sirus Fund, Talk & Play/Jugando Hablando is designed to serve speech and language-delayed toddlers enrolled in Children’s Aid’s Early Head Start program.

Children's Aid is honored by the opportunity to expand our partnership with The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund through a special initiative for victims of the subprime mortgage crisis - The Subprime Neediest Cases Program. The Program is designed to provide financial assistance to affected families and individuals in the tri-state area, helping them to secure stable, affordable housing and avoid homelessness. Eligible families who are losing their homes as a result of predatory practices, including tenants facing eviction due to the subprime crisis, can receive financial support for relocation or home retention.