Young people in foster care frequently face disruptions to stability – and this often spills over into their education. 

Recognizing these unique challenges, The Foundling provides robust and trauma – informed educational services that meet the academic, vocational, and emotional needs of the young people we support.

From one-on-one tutoring to college support, our teams meet young people where they are and provide the tools for success.  

The Foundling’s College Choice Support Services help young adults in foster care create and open doors of opportunity through personalized career and academic counseling.

“Being in foster care, it’s a lot thrown at you… financial instability, housing instability – all of that together is the biggest fear for most of our youth,” said Saleem Bradley, Director of College Choice Support Services. “That’s where we come in.”

Students in the program, through our partnership with Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), receive full tuition and housing support to remove those barriers. As they work toward earning their degree, participants are connected with tutors, career counselors, and a College Success Advisor; this robust support system helps them develop effective study habits and plan for their future.

“Throughout the time we’re there along the way, cheering them on, being a safety net,” shares Saleem.  

What began in 2016 as a program supporting 40 college students in foster care at select City University of New York (CUNY) schools has now grown to serve more than 400 students attending schools nationwide. Personalized support – and early intervention like The Foundling’s Road to Success tutoring program help to foster college readiness. 

For more than a decade, The Foundling’s innovative Road to Success tutoring program has helped young people in foster care achieve academic success.

With an overall grade promotion rate of 98%, the program’s success has led to its expansion, now supporting students at Haven Academy and young people in The Foundling’s preventive and juvenile justice programs.

When Cherish (grade 8) and Josiah (grade 12), who reside with their family in Brooklyn, were connected to our tutoring services last year, the siblings were having a difficult time in school. Cherish was struggling to stay motivated, and Josiah had issues with math. The family was introduced to Adelaide, who helped the children grow by matching their pace and ensuring they fully comprehend their schoolwork. 

“If I didn’t understand questions, she would let me take my time to understand,” shared Cherish. 

On top of providing academic support, Adelaide became someone that the children could trust. She was patient and made them both feel accepted. “[Adelaide] understood who I was as a person,” said Josiah.  

The children recently completed services – and since then, both Cherish and Josiah have continued to thrive in school. Their mom shared that even when the children have a difficult time with certain subjects, they are able to find ways to succeed.  Our services provide tools for sustainability, which make a lasting impact on the lives of people we support. 

By supporting our work, you can help make a difference and contribute to more positive outcomes for the children and young adults we serve.

Donate here. 

 

 

On November 8, 2024 underneath a tent in San Juan, Puerto Rico, an audience was filled with smiles as a group of small children took center stage to perform. The kids were all members of The Foundling’s Head Start program, which serves children and families in the early stages of life. Their song was just one component of a two-part service day and re-opening event, held during the week-long SOMOS conference.

The conference itself brought together Foundling staff alongside elected officials and nonprofit executives from across New York and Puerto Rico. It was a bustling, high-energy week; attendees from across the metropolitan region spent time exchanging ideas in workshops and conversations, with the shared goal of improving services for local communities.

Friday morning’s event started with a hurricane readiness packet giveaway for the approximately 140 children and their families who receive services at The Foundling’s John Cardinal O’Connor center in San Juan at a celebration of the center’s official re-opening. The center had to be renovated following significant damage sustained during Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The $4.5 million project – which unfolded in two major phases over the course of about two years – culminated in a state-of-the-art complex that will better meet the needs of the children, families, and communities The Foundling supports.

Speakers at the event included Foundling President and CEO Melanie Hartzog along with elected officials including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, State Senator Robert Jackson, City Council Member Rita Joseph, and Puerto Rico Representative Eddie Charbonier. There was a blessing from Fr. Nicolás Colacho Navarro as well as a ribbon cutting and additional blessing of the new center by Fr. Enrique Camacho, director of Caritas Puerto Rico. The Foundling also welcomed State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Catholic Charities, and families who receive services at the center.

The Head Start and Early Head Start program at the O’Connor site provides opportunities to 141 children as well as five expectant mothers. There are a total of 13 classrooms; three for Head Start and ten for Early Head Start. The facility also doubles as a storm shelter, complete with a kitchen, shower and a washer/dryer that are available to the community during hurricanes or other emergencies. The center’s reinforced concrete structure was designed to withstand both hurricanes and earthquakes, and solar panels were installed to provide electricity in the event of an outage. The gamut of renovations is a physical manifestation of The Foundling’s commitment to respond to the needs of the communities they support.

The Foundling commenced operations in Puerto Rico back in 1973, as a way to continue partnering with families that were returning to the island from New York City. The Head Start and Early Head Start programs arose out of these family services in 1984 and today support more than 1,450 families in 39 centers across five municipalities of Puerto Rico: San Juan, Cataño, Vega Alta, Coamo, and Toa Baja. These programs serve children under the age of five, with a commitment to promote cognitive, social, and emotional growth and foster family well-being.

While the re-opening of the O’Connor Center was the most recent milestone for our Puerto Rico chapter, there are other exciting projects in development: brand new centers are being constructed in Cataño and Coamo. The construction of these centers will expand our reach and enhance the quality of programs that are offered on the island.

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs are uniquely designed to take an in-depth, comprehensive approach to fundamental skill-building. Our services cultivate opportunities to learn a range of subjects, such as linguistics, mathematics, sciences, creative arts, and more. We also assembled a team of social workers, nurses, mental health professionals, and teachers in order to equip families with the tools needed to ensure success for their children upon entering school. If you are interested in learning more about how to support the expansion of this work, please visit the pages for our Head Start and Early Head Start programs.