Benefits Access, Suicide Prevention Program & School-Based Mental Health From left to right: Stephanie De Los Santos, LCSW, Gabriela Gomez, LMSW, Juana Adames, Gerda Gonzalez, LCSW, Darling DaSilva, and Dayana Pazan Sometimes it takes a village. And sometimes, it takes a team. In 2024, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) awarded The Child Center of NY a grant to launch a new Suicide Prevention Program (SPP) serving historically underserved populations and LGBTQ+

Our Cornerstone leaders have been making headlines! Oceanside Cornerstone Program Director Nelson Sarweh, Ocean Bay Cornerstone Program Coordinator Darryl Devore, and Senior Program Director Rob Closs were honored with Legacy Leadership Awards at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Cornerstone 15 gala earlier this summer, recognizing their dedicated service and commitment to excellence. And that’s not all: Redfern Cornerstone Community Cente

The team at our Queens Catchment 1 School-Based Early Support program “Ultimately, we want children and families to thrive,” then-Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services Anne Williams-Isom said when the School-Based Early Support (SBES) program launched two years ago. “That means support for young people at every step of the way, but it also means support for parents and guardians along their journey too.” Since our founding in 1953, The Child Center of NY has recognized a s

by Briana Barnes, Program Coordinator, Hammel Houses Cornerstone Community Center Our second annual Color Run was a colorful celebration filled with energy, laughter, and summer fun! Participants came together for an exciting day featuring vibrant color powder, water activities, teamwork, and plenty of smiles. From head to toe, everyone embraced the colors while creating unforgettable memories with friends and staff. Our Color Run continues to be a summer favorite, bringing o

Unlike many town hall events, the Beacon Program at M.S. 226 in South Ozone Park, Queens, didn’t feature politicians. Instead, this town hall featured a group of people who may be even more important: our youth. Billed as the Youth & Youth Leaders Town Hall, the event was hosted by the program’s Youth Council and facilitated by Beacon Youth Council members Alicia, MiaJane, Ava, and Youth Council Group Leader Reachell, all of whom are rising seventh graders. These driven, comm

Our summer theme at P.S. 211Q in Corona is—what else?—The World Cup! In this Photo of the Month, participants are presenting their class banners during Friday assembly. This assembly was even more exciting than usual, as it ushered in the weekend during which the final World Cup match would be played, right here in New York (well, technically New Jersey, but who’s keeping track?). The Child Center of NY operates more than a dozen summer youth programs, many through Summer Ris

’Tis the season for graduation! At The Child Center of NY, we are committed to supporting students in reaching key educational milestones, including high school graduation. A diploma opens doors to expanded opportunities, empowering young people to pursue their goals, build on their strengths, and shape their own futures. NYC Community Schools play an important role in this work. As the lead community-based organization at 21 Community Schools, The Child Center partners with

Photo credit: Kyo Morishima Photography Is it us, or does this child really, really want to know what the grizzly knows? This sweet baby and his mom are clients of The Child Center of NY’s Macari Perinatal Intensive Outpatient Program. Located at our Macari Family Wellness Center in Flushing, this program provides a safe and welcoming place where pregnant and new parents can access mental health support and build confidence to become the healthy, loving parents they aspire to

Did you know that early childhood education can happen in a home as well as a classroom? The Child Center of NY offers three home-based Early Head Start programs. Our dedicated and skilled home visitors are the heart and soul of each of them. During National Home Visiting Week , we honor our home visitors for the extraordinary impact they have on supporting child development, strengthening maternal and child mental and physical health, and nourishing family relationships. I

School-Based Clinical Coordinator Brianna Amato, LCSW, talks about Social Work Month.

February was a busy month at The Child Center of NY, and especially at our Beacon Program at M.S. 226 and our SONYC afterschool program at M.S. 318 Waterside School for Leadership! The above photo was part of a cheerleading "Galentine" photo shoot at Beacon 226 in South Ozone Park. The event was designed to promote self-esteem and confidence among the girls. Using fun poses, teamwork, and festive decorations, the students celebrated friendship and sisterhood, positivity, a

The Basie Jewels performed at Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center, directly preceding the legendary Rockettes ! The Basie Jewels dance program was initiated by M.S. 72 in Jamaica, Queens, and The Child Center of NY's Beacon Program at the school joined in collaboration. Beacon Programs are DYCD -funded school-based community centers serving children age six and older, as well as adults. Here, community members engage in enrichment activities, explore their strengths

There is so much to love about this photo, we don’t know where to start! Pictured here is first-grader Matthew. This is his first year as a participant at our COMPASS Afterschool Program at P.S. 223 in Jamaica, Queens. You may think that all Matthew wanted for Christmas were his two front teeth. But, as an avid Lego builder, he also wished for a new Lego set. That’s where our Child Center of NY supporters come in! Through The Child Center of NY's Holiday Drive , 14,000 chil

At The Child Center of NY, we are proud to stand with our veterans and their families. We strive to honor their service with our own — through programs that support their mental health, strengthen families, and help them build the bright futures they deserve.

Lights On Afterschool (LOA) is a nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The Child Center’s COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 45 in South Ozone Park, Queens, marked the occasion with artwork, reflections, and fun!

Alessandro and Camilia are holding new backpacks provided through The Child Center’s 2025 backpack drive. Every year, The Child Center organizes a campaign to provide fully stocked backpacks to any child in our programs who needs one. Alessandro’s backpack included a binder, notebook, pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils, and more.

In this Photo of the Month, second-graders Kenya and Hailey and first-grader Nylaiah are learning about capillary action: the movement of a liquid along another material against an opposing force.

In this Photo of the Month, second-graders Kenya and Hailey and first-grader Nylaiah are learning about capillary action: the movement of a liquid along another material against an opposing force.

When deciding how to mark Juneteenth at our DYCD-funded Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center, Program Director Nelson Sarweh knew he wanted to do something that would be both meaningful and celebratory for the youth in the afterschool program and youth council. Nelson and his team decided on a Juneteenth end-of-year barbecue with celebration, performances, and reflection.

In 2022, a group of women from The Child Center of NY’s perinatal intensive outpatient program joined our groundbreaking pilot initiative, Cash+Community Works: a first-of-its-kind program that combines direct financial support with peer mentorship and community-based goal planning. The premise was simple but radical: trust communities to know what they need and equip them with the resources to pursue it.