A Family Affair: Parents, Children and NYC's Homelessness Crisis

Bill to Require Mental Health Staff at Family Shelters Spurs Worry Over ‘Unintended Effects’

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Supporters of the legislation, which would require the city to fund the placement of mental health professionals on-site at all homeless shelters with children, say it would increase access to care for families experiencing the crisis of housing insecurity. But some advocates worry it could inadvertently ensnare more low-income families in the child welfare system.

ACS

Opinion: Child Abuse Prevention Services Have Proved Crucial During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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‘Four out of five families who enroll in prevention programs complete them. And, once they complete services, these families are five times less likely to experience another report of abuse and/or neglect in the near term. Prevention services have also helped to safely reduce our utilization of foster care. Currently, there are less than 8,000 children in foster care, down from over twice that much a decade ago.’