‘In 2018, the number of children in foster care in New York City fell another 6 percent, while nationally the number of young people in foster care has steadily increased over the last few years.’
A report says complicated backstory of the city-state Close to Home program—and its early success–are a model for youth-justice systems around the country.
The de Blasio administration is moving to consolidate and expand its birth-to-five education programs. Will it take this opportunity to address a yawning gap between what city teachers and their nonprofit counterparts make?
‘It’s time we recognize that the interests at stake for parents under ACS investigation are just as compelling, with consequences that can be just as grave, as in a criminal case.’
When facing the possible loss of their children, New York state parents have the right to a lawyer only when a case moves to court. Even then some counties fail to provide them. And many key decisions are made before a case ever gets to a judge.
The number of foster-care cases in New York City has dropped substantially over recent years. But what has risen over the same period is the number of children who suffer abuse while in foster care.
ACS says it has a plan to deal with the rising incidence of abuse incidents involving kids in foster care. But making it work could prove to be a challenge.
Not so fast. With Raise the Age going into effect this week, the city’s 16- and 17-year-olds in custody are just moving from one jail to another.
‘At a time when the number of children in foster care continues to grow in the rest of the country, New York is a model for keeping children safe.’ Will the money to support that work be withdrawn?
‘Close to Home’ has hit a few bumps in the six years since the state launched the pilot program. But a proposal to shift costs to the city is the biggest obstacle yet.
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