Gotham Gazette
Topics / Children
Children Newsletter
Sign up for our monthly Children newsletter:

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:


Plain-text HTML


The Topic
Children refers to the range of social services and service providers available to New Yorkers under the age of 18. Near Synonyms: Family Services, Child Welfare.
The Context
Children comprise a quarter of NYC's population and their lives intersect with City government at multiple junctures. They are the poorest New Yorkers. Despite a surging economy, 42% live below the poverty line. The services supplied to them by the City are varied. The Board of Education, the Administration for Children's Services, the School Construction Authority, the Parks Department, the Housing Authority and the Department of Juvenile Justice are only some of the agencies that administer over $12 billion worth of services to the City's children annually.

Researching ...

Schools' Emergency Preparedness
City schools fall short of state requirements for emergency preparedness, according to this new report by the public advocate's office. According to this survey of union chapter leaders, 71 percent of schools had no early dismissal drill and half had no school-wide staff training for emergencies. (June 26, 2009)

Improving Alternative Detention
The Youth Justice Board, a group of city teens, has issued 10 proposals for how the city could approve its alternative detention programs for young people charged with crimes. The group, which was organized by the Center for Court Innovation and spent a year studying the issue, recommends creating temporary shelters for teens who cannot go back home after their arrests, screening programs participants for possible mental health problems, and better links between the schools and the alternative programs. (June 5, 2009)

Immigrant Parents and Education
Despite city efforts to reach out to immigrant parents, many still feel excluded from the public schools, according to a new report by Advocates for Children. Some 60 percent of city students are immigrants or the children of immigrants, but the report said, these families "face significant obstacles to participating in their children's education." The group offers recommendations for increasing involvement. For more on immigrants in the city schools, see the March issue of Gotham Gazette's Citizen. (March 23, 2009)

Homeless Youth
FIfty percent of homeless youth studied for this report by the Covenant House reported violence at home. One-in-five reported being beaten with an object. (March 12, 2009)

Clinical Trials Done in Good Faith
A new report from the Vera Institute of Justice confirms that the city acted in good faith throughout a program, which allowed children in foster care who had been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS to participate in clinical drug trials. The study did find that the city did not follow some of its own procedures during the trials and did not fill out the proper paperwork. The study was commissioned by the city after accusations arose that the children were participating without parental consent and that the drugs were known to cause death. (January 28, 2009)

The Administration for Children's Services
Refreshingly frank. See Selected Child Welfare Trends in NYC for accurate, up-to-date, information on how well the City is meeting its obligations to foster kids.
Statewide Youth Advocacy
The only place on the web where the NYS budget is thoroughly analyzed for its impact on children.
Citizens' Committee for Children of New York, Inc.
A must-see. Impeccable, up-to-date, research on the status of NYC children, plus a dynamite action plan for advocates who care about kids. For 60 years, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Inc. (CCC) has been providing a voice for children, especially poor and vulnerable children and children with special needs. New York City’s only locally-based, multi-issue child advocacy organization.
New York State Council on Children and Families
The Council on Children and Families is charged with acting as a neutral body to coordinate the State Health, Education and Human Services to ensure that all children and families in New York State have the opportunity to reach their potential.. Comprehensive links to all state agencies serving children, and current research on children statewide.
Fund for the City of New York, Youth Development Institute
Trailblazing ideas on how city officials and community activists can create productive environments for adolescents.
Advocates For Children
Twenty-five year old organization dedicated to helping the City's most vulnerable families to secure quality and equal public education services. A thorough site with info on programs, publications and anything else you need to know.
Children's Defense Fund
The Children's Defense Fund is working to ensure that every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
The Door, A Center of Alternatives, Inc.
A dynamic site for adolescents from The Door, the only free medical, cultural, and educational center devoted exclusively to the young people of New York City.
Group Day Care Directory
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Bureau of Day Care provides this directory of daycare service providers in all 5 boroughs. Also provides records from site visits and compliance checks.
Advocates for Children - Inside Schools
This website, published by Advocates for Children, offers independent review of every city public school, with basic numbers, a narrative write-up and comments from parents, students and others.

Sites of Interest from Collegester:
Online Casino | Wireless broadband | Place Your Link Here!