For nearly three decades, the Center for New York City Affairs has worked to ensure that children thrive because their families thrive. Through research, policy analysis, coalition building, and advocacy, we advance policies that strengthen families, reduce unnecessary government intervention, and expand community-based supports that help family well-being.
Our work recognizes that too many families—particularly Black, Brown, and low-income families—experience unnecessary surveillance, investigation, and separation through the child welfare system (also referred to as the family regulation or family policing system). We believe families deserve dignity, meaningful support, and the resources they need to succeed. Working alongside parents, community organizations, service providers, researchers, and government leaders, we develop practical solutions that promote family well-being, racial equity,and lasting systems change.
Since 1997, our research has informed public policy, elevated the voices of parents and young people, and advanced reforms that strengthen families while improving child safety and well-being.
Parents and adult children with lived experience are central to our work. Through our Visiting Fellows Program, parent advocates shape research, public education, policy development, and systems reform—ensuring that those most affected by family regulation are leading efforts to build a more just and supportive system.
The Center co-leads the Narrowing the Front Door (NTFD) coalition, a partnership of parents with lived experience, advocates, researchers, legal experts, service providers, and government leaders working to transform New York City's approach to family well-being. Together, we seek to reduce child protective investigations, acknowledge and address the harm caused by family surveillance and separation, and shift public investment toward community-based supports that help families thrive. The coalition also advances policies that strengthen community decision-making, increase accountability, and recognize parents as essential partners in designing solutions. NTFD released a report and recommendations in 2022 and our two current policy priorities include:
The Center co-leads the Narrowing the Front Door (NTFD) coalition, a partnership of parents with lived experience, advocates, researchers, legal experts, service providers, and government leaders working to transform New York City's approach to family well-being. Together, we seek to reduce child protective investigations, acknowledge and address the harm caused by family surveillance and separation, and shift public investment toward community-based supports that help families thrive. The coalition also advances policies that strengthen community decision-making, increase accountability, and recognize parents as essential partners in designing solutions. NTFD released a report and recommendations in 2022 and our two current policy priorities include:
CNYCA's statistical survey monitoring New York City's child welfare system
CNYCA's seventh-year statistical survey monitoring New York City's child welfare system
Ending mandated reporting is an essential step toward creating trust with service providers and an alternative system to assist families, the author argues.
Navigating the NYC school system isn’t easy for anyone – and the InsideSchools team has been working hands-on with the city’s newly arrived migrants. Here’s what they’ve learned.
CNYCA's sixth-year statistical survey monitoring New York City's child welfare system
CNYCA's sixth-year statistical survey monitoring New York City's child welfare system
It’s time to end policies that result in harsh and racially biased disruption and harassment of families living in poverty.
CNYCA's six-year statistical survey monitoring New York City's child welfare system
Covid-19 puts young people aging out of foster care at immediate, heightened risk of homelessness and unemployment.
Child protective workers exercise powers akin to those of police officers – so they should also provide the same legal protections the police must.
When New York City released its "Bridge to School" plan in late August, officials called on teachers to make students' mental health needs their top priority. "Many of our young people are in pain,” City officials wrote. But as students finally resume classes – remotely this week and in classrooms next – they will find that many social workers and other mental health care providers have disappeared from school budgets.
Doctors across New York State see a growing number of young people coming to hospitals with dangerous psychiatric emergencies. It is a first sign, they say, of a looming mental health crisis among children and adolescents. And they warn that—unless the State makes radical changes—many young people will not be able to get the mental health care they need.
When the coronavirus put New York on pause, the City’s Family Courts shut down most of their operations. Last week, the Court began to open up for matters that might move cases forward. But progress is slow and limited, and many families remain without access to the judges who can send their children home from foster care.
Covid-19 has torn through the City's juvenile detention centers. Frantic parents say their kids should be sent home.
Amid the chaos caused by Covid-19, New York City parents with kids in the child welfare system have lost access to the Family Court
Child welfare investigators, often the first responders to domestic violence cases, aim to help both children and adult victims. However, critics argue that child welfare interventions can go wrong, turning victims into suspects and causing chaos for vulnerable families.
The analysis examines the unintended consequence of free, public preschool programs on the supply of child care for babies and toddlers in New York City. It suggests concerns that affordable infant and toddler care for low-income parents may be at risk despite similar enrollment numbers in subsidized child care programs.
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) recently announced new contract awards to nonprofit agencies to provide preventive services to support families who have experienced challenges in caring for their children. The contracts were awarded through a rigorous request for proposals (RFP) process mandated by the City Charter and applicable laws. And therein lies a major problem.
Our six years of key indicators spotlight trends in New York City’s foster care and preventive services systems.
Across New York State, children and adolescents wait weeks—or even months—to get treatment for serious mental health problems. In the coming year, mental health providers and advocates warn that the situation may get worse. Despite an increase in teen suicide attempts, State officials plan to cut payments for several mental health programs that serve young people in their homes and communities.
Francine Almash was not especially surprised when an investigator from New York City’s child welfare agency showed up at her door. A few months earlier, her then-10-year-old son, Shawn, who is autistic, had been pinned to a wall by a crisis counselor in his special education classroom and come home with a broken thumb. Almash refused to send him back, and so the school called the State’s child abuse hotline to report her for neglecting Shawn’s education.
Children and Families. Child Welfare Watch, Narrowing the Front Door
