Child Welfare Archives - Page 4 of 11 - The New York Foundling

Connect to Your Foundling Roots

Since October 11, 1869, The New York Foundling has worked to provide opportunities to children, adults, and families. Throughout our 152-year legacy, thousands upon thousands of people have passed through our doors, and for many, The Foundling was a pivotal and transformational part of their lives.

In honor of our 152nd anniversary, we are excited to launch our new page, which brings together resources for Foundling alumni, adoptees, and descendants who are looking to learn more about their family history.

‘Connect to Your Foundling Roots’ includes information on requesting historical records, stories from adoptees and their descendants, historical resources and archival photos, and information about The Foundling – past and present. Whether you were in foster care, were adopted, trained as a Foundling baby nurse, or have relatives that rode the Orphan Train, we are committed to providing information and support as you explore your connection to The Foundling’s history.

Click here to visit our new page!

October 12, 2021/by Elefant Design

Harlem World Magazine – East Harlem Back to School Giveaway

Harlem World Magazine reported on our Back to School Giveaway in their September print issue. The event was hosted by our Strong Families and Communities Training Center on Friday, August 27, in front of our Home of Integrated Behavioral Health in East Harlem. Over 60 families received essentials to prepare for the upcoming school year.

Read the story below:

September 28, 2021/by Elefant Design

Blog, Child Welfare

Preparing Students for Success: The SFC Training Center’s Back to School Giveaway

On Friday, August 27, our Strong Families and Communities Training Center hosted its first ever Back to School Giveaway in East Harlem. Located outside The Foundling’s Home for Integrated Health on East 115th St, the event offered free toys, books, and self-care items for parents and students of all ages.

The event was a great success! Over 60 families stopped by, and over 200 items were given away – setting up parents and children alike for a great school year!

September 2, 2021/by Elefant Design

Blog, Child Welfare, Education

Camp Felix is Back!

Camp Felix, our overnight summer camp for the young people in Foundling programs and students at Mott Haven Academy Charter School, has gotten off to a great start!

Last year, we made the decision to offer youth Camp Felix @ Home and provided virtual programming to campers to keep them busy, engaged, and active. Yet, the unique and memorable experiences of leaving New York City, sleeping in a cabin, and experiencing independence was sorely missed. Dr. Joe Saccocchio, The Foundling’s Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Ruth Gerson, The Foundling’s Senior Vice President for Mental Health Services, recently shared their views on the benefits of camp in MedPage Today. Together, they shared that the summer camp experience is extremely beneficial to children’s physical and emotional development – and after COVID-19 restrictions, camp is needed more than ever.

Last week, campers arrived at our Putnam Valley campground excited to view nature, learn new skills, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Our dedicated staff have put together a comprehensive safety plan to ensure that all campers, staff, and families stay safe: cabins are at half capacity to promote social distancing, activities are structured by cabin-based cohorts to reduce contact, unvaccinated campers must wear masks, and campers undergo daily screenings.

While camp may look different this year, the magic of Camp Felix remains intact – as shown in the photo below!

Camp Felix is made possible with the support of our partners at The Felix Organization.

August 18, 2021/by Elefant Design

Child Welfare, Health and Behavioral Health, Media Coverage

MedPage Today: Dear Parents, Kids Need Camp

In an op-ed for MedPage Today, The Foundling’s Joseph R. Saccoccio, MD, Chief Medical Officer, and Ruth Gerson, MD, Senior Vice President for Mental Health Services, share how summer camp is extremely beneficial to children and teenagers – and after strict COVID-19 restrictions, the structure, social interactions, and new experiences of camp are more important for young people than ever.

Read more at MedPage Today

July 12, 2021/by Elefant Design

Child Welfare, Media Coverage

MST Services: Prevention Services for Children and Families Grow in New York City

MST Services’ latest blog post shares the evolution of their therapy and treatment model for young people and families in New York City, and highlights The New York Foundling’s role in implementing the new MST-Prevention model across four boroughs over the past year.

“I am so thankful to be able to collaborate with the therapists on my team and use the MST model in my caseworker role,” shared Laura Valencia, a Family Resources caseworker at The Foundling.

Read more at MST Services

July 7, 2021/by Elefant Design

Child Welfare, Media Coverage

News 12: Brooklyn Couple Recounts their Fatherhood Journey through Foster Care

News 12 recently highlighted Foundling foster parents Jason Knight and Liron Prioleau. When looking to start a family, the couple were drawn to becoming foster parents. “It hit home because there are so many. We learned there are so many kids in foster care that just needed a safe space to be,” Prioleau recalls.

They initially “chose to work with The New York Foundling based on…their openness to LGBTQIA parents and their work with LGBTQIA youth,” said Knight. Their family now includes their two sons, who were adopted through The Foundling, and their biological sister, who they are currently fostering.

Watch the video report and read more on News 12.

June 17, 2021/by Elefant Design

Blog, Child Welfare

Providing Love and Stability: From Volunteer to Foster Parent

Haley Wright has always had a lot of love to share – and when she began volunteering with The Foundling eight years ago, she found that her heart expanded more and more. In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, we’re highlighting her inspiring story.

While Haley had provided support to The Foundling and other social service organizations in the past, including foster care agencies, joining the Junior Board at The Foundling was a transformative experience. She delved into the work and served as Chair for three years. Through fundraising and event planning, Haley had the opportunity to meet participants across our programs and communities, and hear their stories firsthand. “There’s no distance, you get to love them up close,” she notes. And again and again, she was inspired by what she saw.

“The young people I saw at Camp Felix, the students performing in Haven Kids Rock, the way The Foundling helps children succeed and attain success – it made me want to give children in foster care a feeling of belonging and acceptance, and to show them that they have value in the world,” Haley says. Now, she is taking the next step in giving back: becoming a foster parent herself.

The decision to foster a child is not one to take lightly, but Haley is prepared. She’s been considering sharing her home for years, but is now ready to take action. “This January, I decided that this would be the year, and rented a 2-bedroom apartment so I could get started,” she shares. She recently participated in the orientation class, and hopes to be fully licensed by this fall.

“I’m excited to provide a stable space for children to feel safe and loved,” Haley says. “I want to make sure they can decorate their own space – pick out a comforter for the bed, put artwork on the walls. This will be their home, and a reflection of themselves. I want them to know they will be loved for who they are – they won’t have to conform to an ideal, they can be themselves and know that they will be safe.”

“I know that it won’t always be easy, there will be hard parts and so many sensitivities, but I’m ready for it,” says Haley. “It feels like an honor to be part of the process and part of their story. I have so much to learn, and am excited to partner with The Foundling on this next step in my journey.”

May 27, 2021/by Elefant Design

Child Welfare, Health and Behavioral Health, Media Coverage

BronxNet: OPEN – The New York Foundling’s Child Welfare and Mental Health Services

On OPEN, BronxNet’s regular talk show, Dr. Ruth Gerson and Dr. Jessica Pesantez from our Mental Health Services and Child Welfare teams sat down with host Daren Jaime to discuss child abuse, creating a safe environment for children, keeping young people engaged, and building trust.

Watch the full interview below:

Read more on BronxNet

May 13, 2021/by Elefant Design

Blog, Child Welfare, Developmental Disabilities

Keeping our Community Safe and Healthy: Celebrating our Dedicated Nurses

At The Foundling, we appreciate and value the team of nurses who care for children and people with developmental disabilities each and every day – but during this year’s National Nurses Week, we’re recognizing this essential segment of our workforce over the turbulent events of the past 15 months.

Nurses have always been an integral part of The Foundling—from our early days, when we operated a pediatric hospital and nursing school – to now. And while our services have evolved, this legacy of care continues with our nurses today.

The reach and scope of what nurses at The Foundling do is far-reaching. In our four medical clinics across New York City, nurses provide routine care for the young people in our foster care programs. In our residential program for adults with developmental disabilities, nurses make regular visits across the City and surrounding counties to direct and monitor the health and medication regiments of the adults living in our 104 residences. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the role and work of our nurses even more important – and they have gone to great lengths in helping our program participants move forward during this unprecedented health crisis.

For our healthcare professionals and frontline staff at The Foundling, the past 15 months have been a true test of dedication. COVID-19 presented many challenges to providing patients with high-quality and compassionate care, but our nurses’ strong Foundling values and commitment to our mission drove them to continue their vital work– even when this required them to take extreme precautions to balance their work and personal lives.

Kendra, a nurse practitioner in the Bronx, continued to treat children at Foundling medical clinics during the pandemic – all while carrying a baby of her own. “I found out I was pregnant a bit before the start of the pandemic,” she says. From exchanging shifts, providing car rides to work, and being available for emotional support, her team rallied around her, providing care and compassion to ensure that she and her growing family was safe.

At the same time, Jolene showed true strength and determination as a nurse supervisor in our group residences for people with developmental disabilities. In the early weeks and months of the COVID outbreak in New York City, PPE and other protective gear was difficult to obtain—yet Jolene worked on the frontlines each and every day, committed to keeping the people in our care safe. Jolene tirelessly supported the residents with their health needs, provided comfort to their loved ones, and showed strength when infections began to show up in the workplace. When the virus hit even closer to home, and Jolene and her son contracted the coronavirus, her caring staff continued to be in contact and helped her pull through the tough times. Now, as the city begins to reopen, Jolene sees light at the end of the tunnel – and is proud and grateful for the resilience of her nursing team and the relationships she’s built along the way.

As many across our community look to thank nurses this week, we celebrate our Foundling nurses—both past and present—for the commitment, compassion, and care they provide to those we serve.

May 11, 2021/by Elefant Design

Contact us.