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How The New York Foundling’s Crisis Nursery is Helping Families

Above: Candace and two of her children at The Foundling’s Crisis Nursery.

Note: As of 2020, The Crisis Nursery is no longer operated by The Foundling.

 

Just a few months ago, Candace had no place to live. For the Brooklyn mom, homelessness meant living in-and-out of shelters with her three young children, ages 4, 1 and 7 months.

 

Luckily, the Administration for Children’s Services referred her to The New York Foundling’s Crisis Nursery, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week emergency nursery at The Foundling’s headquarters in Manhattan.

 

Each day, The Foundling’s Crisis Nursery has children ranging from newborns to pre-teens in their care. Approximately 200 children come through our Crisis Nursery each year while their families work through a temporary personal crisis, ranging from situations like housing instability, medical emergencies, long-term rehabilitation stays and more.

 

No matter the issue, The Foundling’s doors are open, and children can stay for up to 21 days with The Foundling’s team of social workers, doctors, nurses and teachers.

 

“They’re so amazing here,” Candace says, who admits she couldn’t stop raving about the support she received.   Although leaving her children in the care of somebody else was hard, having her children stay at the Crisis Nursery actually created a sense of peace for Candace. “You feel comfortable knowing your kids are safe,” she says. She would call in the evenings to check on the kids, and they were always happy, despite missing mom.

 

During the three weeks her children were at the Crisis Nursery, Candace’s 4-year-old son Keyon was able to go to a classroom, read books and play with other children. Her youngest babies got love and care from trained staff so they were made to feel right at home. Upon discharge, The Foundling was able to provide Candace with a light-weight double stroller for getting her youngest children around the city on public transit, and she received a bag of snacks, books and other necessities for her babies.

 

Today, Candace is living in a two-bedroom apartment.

 

“I’m so grateful. I can’t say enough,” she says. “I don’t know where I would have been without them.”

 

To learn more about the Crisis Nursery, or to receive assistance, please visit our website or call 888-435-7553.

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