New Yorkers for Children (NYFC)

Signature programs: in order to help youth in nyc foster care and those who have aged out live independently with unprecedented success, nyfc provides direct services that focus on enrolling youth in college, supporting them through graduation, and gain the skills needed to enter the workforce from a position of empowerment. Our time-tested signature programs include: *the back to school package program *the nicholas scoppetta scholarship program *emergency funds *the spirit award *the youth advisory board/peer mentoring network to successnyfc signature programs help youth transitioning out of foster care live independently and enroll in and graduate from college with unprecedented success. for many of these deserving young people, the resources provided by nyfc will be the only support either emotional, financial, or otherwise that they receive during their transition from foster care to independent adulthood. The back-to-school package program has provided current and aged out foster youth enrolled in college or a vocational program with the tools they need to succeed since 1999. The package consists of a brand-new laptop computer, two gift cards per year for educational expenses such as textbooks, and a heartfelt letter from nyfc staff wishing them good luck with their studies. To date, this program has supported more than 10,000 foster youth. While the package is considered one of nyfc's "lighter touch" supports, it impacts the entire population of college age youth in nyc foster care who are pursuing post-secondary education opportunities. The nicholas scoppetta scholarship program (nick's scholars) has supported current and aged out New york city foster youth throughout their undergraduate experience since 2006, from enrollment through graduation. This comprehensive program helps students realize their educational and personal goals by providing essential financial, academic, emotional and peer support services. Services provided include: *individual in person college advisement and coaching meetings with nyfc's youth program manager *monthly stipends to cover living expenses *tuition assistance and stipends for textbooks *funding for summer or winter courses not covered by financial aid *various networking and community-building social events *referrals to personalized services such as academic tutoring, housing resources, specialized career counseling and private mental health services.nyfc offers a suite of emergency funds to the meet the needs of youth in and aged out of nyc foster care experiencing a crisis, whether they are in school or not. *the charles evans educational emergency fund has supported young adults, ages 18-26, who have aged out of foster care and are enrolled in a two or four-year vocational or educational program who are experiencing an emergency situation since 2006. Due to the popularity of the charles evans fund, nyfc launched the in-care emergency fund in august 2018 specifically for youth who are still in foster care, and in the custody of the administration for Children's services (acs). The spirit award is a merit-based scholarship awarded to young adults currently or formerly in nyc foster care who are attending a four-year college with plans to complete a bachelor's degree. Since 2004, this scholarship has given up to $20,000 annually worth of scholarship funding to hardworking students. Students can receive up to $10,000 per award.youth advisory board/peer mentoring: established in 2007, the youth advisory board (yab) supports New Yorkers for Children (nyfc) by shaping public awareness and perceptions of Children and youth in foster care, and inspiring peers to become advocates in their communities. This youth-led board is comprised of current and former youth in foster care, ages 16-24. Yab collaborations with other programs to foster positive youth development, education, and professional success while advising nyfc on the needs and concerns of the foster care population. Nyfc launched its yab peer mentoring program in april 2019. The yab peer mentoring program pairs high school juniors, seniors, or college freshman and sophomores with upperclassmen and graduate role models, all with lived foster care experience, in the hopes of providing a support system among peers. After attending a scheduled (quarterly) peer mixer and completing a baseline assessment, a portion of youth are paired in 1:1 mentor/mentee dyads. for some young people, this one-on-one structure is critical and necessary for facilitating the trust and support needed. In these instances, mentors meet with their mentee monthly and before the regularly scheduled yab meeting. During these hour-long check-ins between mentor and mentees, a module of the curriculum might be discussed along with any issues, questions or challenges their mentee might have. In addition to receiving the peer educator training, yab mentors take turns facilitating a topic of discussion during meetings to improve their presentation skills. Mentors and mentees are also provided with access to resources and referrals as needed, including housing resources, public assistance application support, mental health counseling, and networking and internship opportunities. Worth noting is that some youths are not paired into mentor/mentee relationships and instead choose to serve as peer educators.

Innovative programs: a portion of New Yorkers for Children work is dedicated to piloting and implementing programs that demonstrate promising practice in the field of child welfare. Both in partnership with acs and independently, nyfc operates over 22 unique programs where it serves as either a grant manager or direct project manager. Working closely with community partners, experts in the field and/or the 26 foster care agencies nyfc develops contracts, tracks data, makes payment and in some instances provides technical assistance. Below are examples of a handful of innovated programs and pilots that nyfc operates in this capacity: lifeset is an example of nyfc innovative program: in partnership with acs, youth villages and four local foster care agencies, in 2019 the lifeset model sought to achieve successful transitions into adulthood as well as create and strengthen permanent relationships. Lifeset specialists - stationed at the foster care agencies - engage young adults and provide them with the intensive community-based support and guidance they need. This support is comprised of both clinical and skill-building interventions. Success is defined by the young adult which includes, maintaining stable and suitable housing, participating in educational/vocational programs, finding and sustaining a job, remaining free from legal involvement, developing healthy relationships, building a strong and permanent support system, attaining mental health stability and developing the life skills necessary to become successful, productive citizens. Another innovative program is the post-permanency support program provides essential post-adoption/guardianship services to families, improving outcomes for Children. Through three qualified providers, the ppsp provides 80-100 families annually with a range of services, including adoption/guardianship-competent programming, trauma-informed care, peer-to-peer support groups, mentorship opportunities, a variety of workshops, and more. In addition, the small grants program provides subgrants to eight smaller organizations who are carrying out direct service, policy change, or research work in key areas including mental health, caregiver support, education and career development, and support for victims of sex trafficking. Nyfc provides these organizations with targeted financial and technical support to grow their services offerings, and in doing so enrich the quality of public services across nyc for youth and families.acs grants and initiatives are a big part of our innovative programs.acs grants and initiatives: nyfc provides program and grant management support to a wide array of initiatives on behalf of acs with grants from outside funders. These grants vary in focus area, but all share a common thread of seeking to improve the New york city child welfare system in some way.