Vivian Ampomah, a family coordinator with The Child Center of NY’s School-Based Early Support (SBES) program, sees firsthand how supporting entire families creates lasting change. Since our founding in 1953, The Child Center of NY has recognized a simple truth: Children do not grow in isolation. They thrive when their families are supported and their communities are strong. That belief has guided our work for more than seven decades—and it is the foundation of the School-Base

Kathy, a mom whose daughter, Rebecca, attends a New York City public school in Queens, first learned about the School-Based Early Support program (SBES) while attending a community health workshop. Since our founding in 1953, The Child Center of NY has recognized a simple truth: Children do not grow in isolation. They thrive when their families are supported and their communities are strong. That belief has guided our work for more than seven decades—and it is the foundation

My name is Jeraldine, and I was recently discharged from the mental health track at the Cohen Family Wellness Center. I am really proud to reach this milestone. About a year ago, I was struggling. I’d get excluded a lot at school. I wasn’t super good with my grades. At home, I was usually in charge of everything. My mom was working a lot, and I’d get in trouble because she’d come home from work tired and stressed. Eventually, I told my mom that I was really depressed. She too

We are thrilled to share that one of our own has been featured as a Student of NYC! Students of NYC, an initiative of the United Federation of Teachers, celebrates New York City public school students who are shaping better futures for themselves and their communities. Before graduating in June, Serenity attended Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability, an NYC Community School where The Child Center of NY serves as lead community-based organization. In her

Before starting the WIOA Learn & Earn program at The Child Center of NY, I had recently immigrated to the U.S. and found myself navigating an unfamiliar education system. As a first-generation student, I didn't have enough guidance or the mentorship I needed to pursue my career goals. I was introduced to WIOA through my guidance counselor, and I saw it as an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop professional skills, as well as earn college credits, which is what

Luis with Benefits Access Case Manager Darling DaSilva Ortiz Luis is a client of the Child Center Benefits Access program, which helps families navigate complex social service and other systems. Luis found out about Benefits Access during a visit to The Child Center’s Macari Family Wellness Center, where his children receive mental health services. Luis originally came to Benefits Access for assistance with his SNAP (food stamps) application. Benefits Access Case Manager Darl

A little about me: I am a first-generation South Asian student and the eldest daughter in my family. This fall, I will be attending NYU to major in childhood education and special education. My journey toward this goal was not always straightforward. Before I became a participant in The Child Center’s WIOA Learn & Earn Program, I often felt like I was carefully planning my future but lacked the resources and opportunities needed to get there. As the eldest daughter in a South

When I was a young boy in Bangladesh, I had a dream to come to the United States. In June 1997, it was fulfilled. I arrived in New York at 21 years old, and it was very good. I enjoyed the different culture and enrolled at LaGuardia Community College. But I could not continue to study there because I had the burdens on my shoulder of supporting my family in Bangladesh. I stopped going to school and started to work full time. I now have three children. My daughter is a young a

Durante mi embarazo, una amiga me habló del programa Early Head Start del Child Center of NY y me invitó a participar. No sabía que aceptaban mujeres embarazadas, así que no me matriculé en ese momento. Después de que nació mi hija Jennifer, otra amiga habló positivamente del programa y me animó a informarme sobre él. Cuando Jennifer tenía unos tres meses, visité The Child Center of NY en Corona para aprender más. Decidí matricularme porque soy madre primeriza y sentía que n

Ms. Fran’s Perspective Frances Keogan, Senior Program Director At The Child Center of NY’s COMPASS afterschool programs , our role goes beyond supervision. We provide enriching activities that offer children opportunities to try and excel at new things, as well as a place where they can create friendships with peers and relationships with supportive adults. We also provide a meaningful connection to the school day, reinforcing and sometimes enhancing what children learn in th

Darlene’s Perspective Saint’s Mom When I first enrolled my son Saint at Escalera Head Start, I was concerned about his behavior. He would have tantrums and not really know how to communicate his feelings, so he would scream and cry. I wasn’t sure how he would do in a school environment. I worried that the teachers would judge me, and that they wouldn’t know how to handle his outbursts—as I had trouble doing myself. I also was concerned that his behavior might make it hard fo

Kendra during a field trip to the Bronx Zoo last summer When Kendra enrolled in The Child Center’s Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center afterschool program as a second grader, she was struggling with behavioral challenges. She was also curious, bright, outgoing, good at math, and bursting with potential. That’s what the afterschool program team saw in Kendra, and they were determined to work with Kendra’s mom to ensure Kendra had the tools, support, and confidence to reach

Penny is a participant in The Child Center of NY’s Cash+Community Works (C+C), a peer-based initiative that invests in under-resourced families, trusts them with power, and connects them with peers to uplift whole communities. Through C+C, Penny established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—For the Love of Dre—to bring attention to gun violence and advocate for safe neighborhoods. One especially meaningful goal of Penny’s was to name a street after her late son. She reflec

Ma’Chi at The Child Center’s Evening Celebrating Resilience Like everyone, I’ve been through a lot of challenges. Before I was placed into the RTF [Child Center Residential Treatment Facility], I made mistakes I shouldn’t have. I was 11 years old when my mom passed away. A few years later, my stepfather passed. After multiple foster care placements, I was adopted by my uncle and his wife. Living there was hard as well, especially because I wasn’t with my sister. I was so use

Judeen and her daughter, following an afterschool performance in which her daughter participated. In 2023, The Child Center of NY received a grant from the MacMillan Family Foundation to support the launch of the Parents as Partners Project (PAPP) across the 20 NYC DOE-funded Community Schools in Queens and Brooklyn for which The Child Center serves as lead community-based organization.

My journey with TCCNY began in March 2021. After a pregnancy and birth during the pandemic and tons of baggage (trauma) that I carried with me my whole life, a social worker reached out during my postpartum hospital stay. She asked if I needed any resources, including therapy. Even though I knew I needed it, I was scared to say yes. Coming from a family steeped in trauma, I had a difficult childhood and adolescence, but we never considered therapy because of the stigma. My fa

FV, who asked to go by the nickname Pepe, is a 10-year-old boy who receives therapy at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.

My name is Ashely, and I’m a senior in high school. I’m also the president of the youth council at Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center...

Hey there, If you’re reading this, perhaps you’re feeling weighed down by expectations, the scars of your past...

When I immigrated to the United States, I thought of a better future for my child, with better education and opportunity...