As a pioneer in bringing evidence-based practices to NYC for two decades, we’re committed to finding ways to better serve our community and expand our services for populations that face systemic barriers to accessing necessary supports.

That’s why we’re excited to announce Dignity Rising, a new Alternative-to-Incarceration program intentionally designed for the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This first-in-the-nation program – which we’re piloting in Brooklyn and Queens – is designed to improve mental and behavioral health outcomes, enhance public safety, strengthen communities, and save millions through diversion, decarceration, and decreased recidivism.

Available services rarely are equipped to accommodate people with I/DD, leading to higher rates of hospitalization, arrest, and incarceration compared with the general public. Once involved in the justice system, people with I/DD are more likely to be incarcerated longer, in part because they are often ineligible to engage in diversion programs or reentry planning, perpetuating the cycle of recidivism and hampering decarceration efforts. (The Independent Rikers Commission shared an example of this situation in their March 2025 report.)

The New York Foundling is a leader in operating evidence-based juvenile and criminal justice programs serving young people and their families, as well as residential, day programs, and other services for people with developmental disabilities. We are uniquely positioned to fill this need.

Centered at the intersection of our Juvenile and Criminal Justice and Developmental Disabilities work, Dignity Rising will combine two evidence-based therapeutic models (Multisystemic Therapy – Emerging Adult [MST-EA] and Dialectical Behavior Therapy – Skills System [DBT-SS]) in a groundbreaking adaptation to serve both adolescents and adults with criminal and misdemeanor charges.

Participants will engage in individual therapy, group instruction, e-learning, and skills coaching – all designed to help them improve behavior, achieve stability, reach personal goals, and better integrate into their communities. Most services will be provided in home and community based settings to reduce barriers to treatment. Separately, we will provide I/DD assessments for those in the community (with a focus on adolescents and young adults), with the aim of providing connections to meaningful supports so they can avoid justice involvement from the start.

And while we’re starting small, we’re positioning ourselves for future expansion and leadership in the sector. We’ve engaged the CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance to conduct a third-party evaluation centering on program need, implementation, and outcomes, with the aim of finessing program delivery, expanding reach, and bringing this model to other organizations nationwide.