The New York Foundling –
Staten Island Diagnostic Reception Center

The Need for a New Facility

Sitting on a hill on Tompkins Avenue in the Stapleton area of Staten Island stands a Civil War era building. Built as a home for the daughters and wives of mariners, the exteriors are stark. The widows’ walk is gone. High ceilinged rooms with the vestiges of their gilded age décor reflect efforts to create private, comfortable living spaces for children. Steep staircases rise to the second and third floors where the children live. There are no elevators. Double-bedded rooms line narrow hallways. Furnished with new and hardy furniture provided by the Stephen Siller FDNY “Let Us Do Good” Children’s Foundation, the rooms have been decorated by their residents. Stuffed animals and an occasional doll lie on the beds. Photos and posters of teen idols are on the walls. The teenagers are respectful of their new storage cabinets and beds. But the stark reality is that this old building without modern amenities is no place for children who need to feel nurtured, supported, safe and secure in their environment.

Most of the 24 children living temporarily on Tompkins Avenue at any given time have experienced more sadness and abandonment than most of us even read about in a lifetime. Young victims of violence, sexual or physical abuse, psychological and physical neglect, these are troubled children. They are victims of their own families and communities. They’re tough, hardened by the early abandonment by their parents, failure to make it in foster care, the victims of often multiple efforts to find a home setting that will work.

With the support of a caring community and in partnership with the Stephen Siller FDNY "Let Us Do Good" Children’s Foundation, The New York Foundling will raise funds to build a new temporary home for the children coming into our care. Stephen’s House of The New York Foundling will offer its residents a new perspective. With twenty-four single rooms on two floors, one for girls and the other for boys, children will have the privacy and personal space they need to help work through the traumatic histories that brought them into our care. Children living in Stephen’s House will have ample lounge, bathing and recreational space. A meditation room will overlook greenery and gardens that the youths will be encouraged to help cultivate. There will be ample visiting rooms for children to visit privately with family and friends. Recognizing that healthy bodies can help build healthy minds, Stephen’s House will also provide game and exercise rooms for its residents.

Click here to support Stephen's House.

For more information on how you can help, contact Lynn DeLuca by phone at (212) 886-4037 or by e-mail at lynn.deluca@nyfoundling.org

View the architectural rendering of Stephen's House

More information on Firefighter Stephen Siller