Community Resources

Resources

Dear Children’s Aid community members,

We understand that navigating an ever-changing landscape can be challenging, and we are committed to sharing reliable information and essential resources to support you.

This page provides up-to-date guidance on immigration, knowing your rights, and accessing critical support from trusted organizations including the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, New York Immigration Coalition, New York Lawyers for Public Interest, Lawyers Alliance for New York, and others.

With gratitude,
The Children’s Aid Team

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Legal Support

If you or someone you know is facing deportation and need a lawyer, call the State Office of New Americans Hotline for a referral at 800-566-7636
Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Immigration Legal Support Hotline
- You can call the city-funded, free, and safe MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 or call 311 and say, “Immigration Legal,” between 9:00 a.m., to 8:00 p.m., on Mondays and Wednesdays, and between 9:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m., on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. MOIA is also available on the last Saturday of each month, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- The MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline helps eligible New York City residents find trusted immigration legal help in the five boroughs. The hotline does not provide legal services directly, and they do not schedule appointments but can connect you to available resources.
MOIA Immigration Legal Support Centers
- The MOIA Immigration Legal Support Centers provide the following services to NYC residents that are income eligible (200% of the Federal Poverty Level):
  - Free legal screenings to find out if you qualify for any immigration benefit
  - Free legal help from an experienced attorney or accredited representative for a range of cases including:
    - Citizenship
    - Green card applications and renewals
    - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
    - Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Referrals to City-funded and community-based resources and support services
- Borough-specific flyers detailing available legal support centers in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu are available here: Brooklyn | Bronx | Manhattan | Queens | Staten Island.
Directory of Free to Low-Cost Legal Service Providers
- Below you will find national and statewide directories for free to low-cost legal service providers. Due to high demand, it is not guaranteed that there will be available appointments for screenings at either of the following providers.
  - NYS Directory of Legal Service Providers: Free Legal Help in New York State | LawHelpNY
  - Legal Provider Map for Upstate NY: Map | Service Provider Map by IMMIGRANT ARC
  - National Directory of Immigration Legal Service Providers: National Immigration Legal Services Directory - Immigration Advocates Network

Immigrant Caregivers and Standby Guardianship

MOIA Recommendations: If you are an immigrant caregiver (including a parent, a legal guardian, a legal custodian, or other relative) who is worried that you may be separated from your child because of immigration enforcement, you may plan ahead through the following resources:

Contacting a free and trusted legal services provider
- MOIA’s Legal Hotline: 1-800-854-0365
- NYS Directory of Legal Service Providers: Free Legal Help in New York State | LawHelpNY
- Legal Provider Map for Upstate NY: Map | Service Provider Map by IMMIGRANT ARC
- National Directory of Immigration Legal Service Providers: National Immigration Legal Services Directory - Immigration Advocates Network
- Updating your child’s emergency contact information on their Blue Card
- Appoint a caregiver that can make decisions in case you are unable to do so
  - Designation of Person in Parental Relationship – OCFS 4940: This designation will go through the NYS Office of Children and Family Services and can be done immediately without needing to go to court. For more information on this process, review page 6 of the form.
  - Standby Guardianship: requires filing with a court
    - New York State Unified Court System: Appointing a Standby Guardian for a Child
    - For legal guidance to obtain Standby Guardianship:
      - Contact the NYC Family Justice Centers by calling 311 to be connected to the nearest FJC (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)
      - Contact Family Legal Care at 212-343-1122, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST

Know Your Rights

All information included in the resources below is general information and is not intended to be used as legal advice. Consult an attorney for legal advice.

MOIA Legal Information and Resources for Immigrant New Yorkers
- Includes downloadable Know Your Rights with ICE booklets, Information guides on Sanctuary Laws in New York City, and next steps in the event a relative or friend is detained by ICE. All information is available in English, Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Pular, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Wolof
- Know Your Rights Informational Videos available in Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | English | French | Haitian Creole | Korean | Spanish | Urdu
Request a MOIA Representative
- MOIA's External Affairs team hosts Days of Action, Know Your Rights workshops, and regularly attend community events to ensure immigrant communities are informed of city services. To invite a MOIA representative to an upcoming event, you can submit a request form online.

Guidance from External Partners

New York Immigration Coalition Resources. Includes guidance on the following topics:
- Statewide Community Toolkit
- Know Your Rights
- Family Preparedness
- Immigration Paperwork and Related Questions
- Federal and State Policy Guidelines
- Health & Safety Resources
Guidance to Nonprofits Regarding Immigration Enforcement
- New York Lawyers for Public Interest and Lawyers Alliance for New York guidance outlining best practices in supporting immigrant clients.
BronxWorks Free Immigration Services
- BronxWorks is a non-profit organization that offers help with preparing and submitting applications to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and can help complete waivers for fees associated with some of the following applications
  - Citizenship applications and applications for derivative certificates of citizenships
  - Family Petitions and Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residents
  - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Renewal Applications
  - Petitions to remove Conditions on Permanent Residency
  - Work Authorization and Renewal
- For more information or to schedule an appointment, please reach out to Sylvia Solis Berwa at ssolisberwa@bronxworks.org or directly at (718)-508-3089

SNAP Access

The New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance issued full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to all eligible households. All eligible New York households should have received their full benefits by November 15, 2025.

If you need immediate food assistance:

Food Help NYC maintains a list of food pantries and soup kitchens in an interactive map: Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens.
Food Bank for NYC and City Harvest also have maps that include mobile markets and community fridges, in addition to pantries and meal service.
Visit Access HRA to see if you are eligible for other benefits programs.
The NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy have also created a comprehensive resource list for impacted SNAP recipients, with information for Medicaid participants and older adults.

SNAP Work Requirement – Now in Effect

The expanded SNAP work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) took effect March 1, 2026. June 1, 2026 is the first date benefits can be reduced or terminated for noncompliance. Adults aged 18 to 64, formerly 54, who do not live with a child under age 14 must work, volunteer, or participate in an approved training program for at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits for more than three months within a three-year period. The update removes prior exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth, and narrows the exemption for parents to those with children under age 14.

March, April and May 2026 served as the first three "countable months" under the time limit. Individuals who did not report compliance for all three of those months may have their SNAP benefits suspended beginning June 2026. New York uses a “fixed statewide clock,” meaning the 36-month period starts and ends on the same date for all SNAP users; the next three-year window will restart on October 1, 2026.

Download the flyer:

If you are subject to work requirements:

You should have already received, or will soon receive, a notice from NYC’s Human Resources Administration (HRA). HRA began sending monthly notifications through ACCESS HRA accounts to individuals not in compliance. Notices went out early April for March noncompliance, and continue monthly thereafter.

If you have not yet reported your work hours, act immediately—benefits may be suspended as soon as June 2026. If you do not currently meet the work requirements, you will be sent a separate notice to schedule an appointment with HRA's PACE provider for help in finding qualifying work activities.

If you do not meet the work requirement, you will only be able to receive SNAP benefits for 3 months within a 36-month period.

What Should You Do Right Now?

Track Your Hours:
1. Start keeping track of your work hours (whether you’re employed, volunteering, or participating in a training program). This was required starting March 1, 2026.
2. If you’re already working or volunteering, inform your SNAP caseworker and submit proof of your activities via ACCESS HRA.
Get Assistance:
1. HRA or a contracted provider can help you find and enroll in programs that meet the requirements.
2. Find work, volunteer, or training programs that meet the requirements.
If You Have a Disability:
1. Fill out the ABAWD Medical Statement Form (available on the HRA website in multiple languages).
2. Ask your clinician or therapist to complete it, and submit it through ACCESS HRA, by mail, fax, or in person. Submit this as soon as possible – medical exemptions can protect your benefits, but processing takes time.

Resources

Access HRA: Use the ACCESS HRA app or website to submit documents, track your case, check whether you have been flagged as an ABAWD under “Case Details,” and sign up for text and email alerts so you don’t miss a notice.
For more help: Contact the SNAP Helpline at 718-762-7669 (718-SNAP-NOW) to ask questions about your work requirements and how to meet them.
SNAP Program Info: Visit HRA’s ABAWD Page and NYC’s SNAP Program Page for more details

Additionally, NYC’s Department of Social Services will host several webinars providing an overview of the ABAWD SNAP work requirements and recent policy changes. Sign up for one here.

For any questions, reach out to the Office of Public Policy at policy@childrensaidnyc.org.

Events

In the coming weeks, a series of vital trainings and webinars will provide educators, advocates, and community members with the tools to support immigrant youth, navigate legal challenges, and prepare for encounters with immigration enforcement. From creating safe spaces for immigrant youth to understanding expedited removal and Know Your Rights trainings, these events offer essential insights and resources. Explore the opportunities below and register to learn more about how you can support children, youth, and families.

Project Open Arms: Know Your Right

Wednesday, May 20 | 12:00 p.m. | Spanish & French - Full schedule
Audience: Students and Families