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Dear friends,
Every day, I see AFC’s incredible staff fight for students facing barriers to academic success in New York City’s public schools. At AFC, we work for and speak for students whose needs are often overlooked, upholding their legal rights to the services and support they need to thrive in school and beyond. Whether by providing assistance to families via AFC’s Helpline, providing legal representation or post-secondary school planning support, advocating for policies and practices that support the staggering number of students experiencing homelessness, or by speaking loudly for better busing contracts that can get every student to school safely and on time, AFC stands with thousands of New York City families navigating our city’s complex education system.
This is a moment that calls for steady advocacy and engagement as New York City welcomes a new mayoral administration charged with tackling our city’s big challenges in the face of uncertainty and federal threats to funding and students’ civil rights. AFC has already begun to work closely with city leaders to ensure that the students and families AFC serves are at the center of the next administration’s plans.
None of this would be possible without your continued support. On behalf of AFC and all the families we serve, thank you for your partnership
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Maria Odom
Executive Director
Advocates for Children of New York
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SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS
Arianny's Story
| | When 5-year-old Arianny’s mother came to AFC, her daughter had already been out of school for months. Arianny, who was born with Down syndrome and significant physical and cognitive challenges, should have started kindergarten with the support and services she needed to learn and thrive. Instead, the family was met with silence and delays – no school placement, no plan, and no one at NYCPS who seemed able to help. That's when Arianny's AFC advocate stepped in. | |
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“Arianny has been doing so much better since starting school. Thank you to AFC and my advocate Micaela for supporting me and Arianny during this past year!”
-Arianny's mother
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POLICY CORNER
Recommendations for the Next Administration
| | Mayor-elect Mamdani will take the helm of a school system facing both challenges and significant opportunities for innovation and building New York City public schools of the future. With evolving and significant threats at the federal level, dramatic changes in enrollment, and much more, it is essential that the next administration remain focused on the critical task of ensuring all young people receive the support they need to learn and thrive. Our recommendations provide a path forward to take on big challenges with bold ideas and remain uncompromising in defense of threats to students’ civil rights. | | We’re in the midst of AFC’s annual fundraising drive, where we raise the money necessary to do our work. With your generosity, AFC is able to continue fighting for every NYC’s students right to learn, with 89¢ from every dollar going directly our work with families. We hope you’ll consider making a gift today. No amount is too small to make a difference. | | |
ORGANIZING FOR ACTION
Fighting for Better Busing for NYC Students
| | NYC’s 45-year-old bus contracts just expired this year. AFC, along with our partners in the Road to Better Busing Coalition and elected officials, have been busy making sure we don’t let this chance pass us by. We hear from far too many families whose unreliable bus service gets in the way of their child’s education, a crisis that hits hardest for students with disabilities, students who are homeless, and students in foster care—students who are more likely to live far from school, more likely to depend on school bus service—and who have a legal right to receive it. | | |
SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES
Celebrating the Inaugural Transition Summit!
| | AFC was honored to partner with NYC Public Schools and CUNY for the first ever Transition Summit! The hugely successful event was an opportunity for students with disabilities and their families to explore resources, programs, and services that support life after high school. There were interactive workshops, 1-on-1 consultations, and resource tables from our many wonderful community partners, all designed to equip families with the knowledge, tools, and support they need for successful transition planning. Thanks to all who made this wonderful event possible! | | |
"This event should take place in every part of the city. Parents with students in IEP schools need to be informed. It was beautifully done, and I feel better prepared to help my children move forward.”
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"This was amazing, having all the vendors in one place saved me months of emails and phone calls."
"It was very helpful. I don't feel lost anymore.”
| | If your child is struggling with school, reach out to us today. Call AFC's Education Helpline, open Monday-Thursday from 10am-4pm. | | |
AFC AROUND TOWN
AFC at Disability Pride and Law Rocks!
| | We were thrilled to have so many occasions to celebrate equity and inclusion with partners, advocates, and families at last month's Disability Pride Parade and this month's Law Rocks concert. We were honored to once again have the folks at Davis Polk chose AFC as their beneficiary -- for the eighth year in a row! | | |
AFC RESOURCES
Referring Children for Early Intervention Services
| | This Fall, NYC launched the Early Intervention (EI) Referral Portal, a new way for parents and professionals to refer NYC children for EI services. The EI Program helps children from birth to 3-years-old who are not learning, playing, growing, talking or walking like other children their age. Learn more about how the EI program works with families to set meaningful goals and create a service plan in AFC’s newly updated Early Intervention Brochure or in the recording of our EI webinar (available in English, Spanish, and Chinese) for a more detailed look at the program and how to refer your child. | | |
AFC DATA BRIEF
More than 154,000 NYC Students Experienced Homelessness Last Year
| | Last month, AFC released data showing that more than 154,000 New York City students experienced homelessness last year, the highest number we've seen in over a decade of tracking this data. We know that education is key to breaking the cycle of homelessness, but the data show us that far too many students in shelter are struggling to access the support they need to learn and thrive. While our City works to achieve long-term solutions to the immense crisis of homelessness, there are more than 150K students who need our support right now to succeed in school. | | |
IN THE NEWS
AFC's Recent Headlines
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