The Children’s Aid Society is thrilled to be designated by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. as the recipient of a $2.75 million grant from the New York State Assembly as part of the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative. As announced today by Borough President Diaz, Children’s Aid will be the lead organization coordinating the initiative in the Bronx.
The Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative will enable 16 communities across the state to develop and implement innovative plans that will reduce poverty among New Yorkers. Children’s Aid will serve as the lead organization of a task force comprised of Bronx stakeholders who will identify high-need areas, focus on common problems, and develop a comprehensive plan to target funds that address those needs and problems.
“Children’s Aid has a long history of working with the children and families of the South Bronx as we help them unlock their potential and overcome the barriers to lifelong success,” said Phoebe C. Boyer, president and CEO of Children’s Aid. “We are delighted to be selected by Borough President Diaz to expand this work across the Bronx. Working in partnership with the office of Borough President Diaz, members of the New York State Assembly, and community residents, we will develop new ideas and initiatives that will counter the obstacles that prevent families from building a solid foundation for their futures.”
“The Bronx is a vibrant and diverse community, yet it is seriously under-resourced,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Our families want the same opportunity that all New Yorkers have, and this grant will help pull together community leaders to organize critical services within reach of many families who really need them. With The Children’s Aid Society at the helm of this exciting initiative, we will make a huge difference for Bronx residents and position them for lifelong success.”
Over the last 15 years, Children’s Aid has built a network of coordinated services for children and families in targeted South Bronx neighborhoods, where poverty and unemployment rates are high, college graduation rates are among the lowest in the state, and health indicators—obesity, teen births, and access to care and insurance—rank among the worst in the country.
Today, Children’s Aid serves children and families at multiple Bronx locations, including a comprehensive health care center, a center for disconnected teens, 12 community schools, and an early childhood center. Children’s Aid also provides foster care and family stabilization services, as well as a variety of nutrition, pregnancy prevention, and leadership development programs. In addition, Children’s Aid College Prep, the organization’s first charter school, opened in August 2012 with a mission to serve children who are living in poverty, at-risk of academic failure, currently involved in the child welfare system, or English-language learners.
In 2014, Children’s Aid joined forces with Phipps Neighborhoods to launch South Bronx Rising Together—a growing network of program providers and community members united to create new opportunities for all the young people of the South Bronx. The coalition aims to knock down the barriers to educational and economic success through a series of programs beginning at birth and carrying through early adulthood.
In the coming weeks, Children’s Aid will begin to organize community stakeholders, leaders, and experts to identify our strengths and challenges, and collectively develop a set of priorities to ensure Bronx families have the opportunities and resources they need to be successful. The initial findings and implementation plan will be published in a report for distribution.
Please click here to receive updates on this exciting initiative.
The Children’s Aid Society is an independent, nonprofit organization established to serve the children of New York City. Our mission is to help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive supports to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Founded in 1853, it is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving New York’s neediest children. Services are provided in community schools, neighborhood centers, health clinics, and camps. For additional information, please call Anthony Ramos at (212) 949-4938/ (917) 204-8214, email anthonyr@childrensaidsociety.org, or visit www.childrensaidsociety.org.