Richard Buery, The Children’s Aid Society President and CEO:

“While Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to improve New York City’s education system are laudable, his consistent, massive cuts to after-school programs and early childhood education are counter to his efforts to be the education Mayor. This will be the fifth straight year the Mayor has cut child care and after-school programs, reducing services by two-thirds, which will leave 90,000 children without these essential programs come September. This year alone, the combined effects of the new cuts and changes to the early childhood and after-school systems will eliminate an additional 15,900 child care slots and slash after-school services for 31,800 children—programs proven to prepare children for school, support them while in school and help low-income, working parents keep their jobs. Families in the low-income neighborhoods across the City served by The Children’s Aid Society are left devastated by the Mayor’s decision to slash program funding for 47,000 kids, denying our city’s most vulnerable children access to essential educational opportunities and obstructing their one true path out of poverty."

The Children’s Aid Society is an independent, not-for-profit 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.orgor visit www.childrensaidsociety.org.