Forestdale is proud to announce the positive outcomes of our innovative Guaranteed Income Program (GIP), which has provided $1,000 monthly to 27 families under our care.

This initiative, generously funded by an individual donor, has been evaluated by esteemed faculty from Hunter College’s Silberman School of Social Work, Drs. Martha Bragin and Michael Lewis. Their qualitative evaluation of the first cohort of 18 families—each engaged with the child welfare system—revealed improvements in several key indicators after 15 months of supplemental income.

Forestdale Inc. is delighted to announce that Robin Hood’s Fuel for 50 initiative awarded Forestdale $1 million to expand the Cradle-to-Launch early childhood program. The objective is that NYC families in distress, often with a history of intergenerational trauma and marginalization, gain access to an optimal array of supports for healthy early childhood development, with an emphasis on mental health. Forestdale’s evidence-based and holistic approach focuses on building strong relationships and parenting skills for system-involved families.

Forestdale is thrilled to be a part of this ground-breaking pilot program to improve health services for young adults transitioning out of foster care. We look forward to working alongside Northwell Health, NYC Administration for Children's Services- ACS, Fair Futures NYC, Foster Agencies SCO Family of Services, and MercyFirst to deliver services to support these youths and connect them to medical care, resources, and a lifetime of better health.

General tips for parents to talk to their children about traumatic events that they may encounter in news and social media:

1. Be the First to Share the News

2. Encourage Open Communication

3. Keep Calm and Manage Your Emotions

4. Address Fears and Anxieties

5. Answer Questions Honestly and Clearly

6. Be Patient and Understanding

The article includes many links to delve deeper into the various topics, such as warfare and violence, school shootings, racial violence, natural disasters.

Southeast Queens residents and elected leaders joined representatives from the city’s Administration for Children’s Services on June 17 to kick off the Juneteenth holiday weekend at the grand opening of Forestdale, Inc.’s Community Connection, the new ACS Family Enrichment Center (FEC) initiative in St. Albans.

Queens Gazette: NYS Senator Leroy Comrie, the NYC Administration for Children’s Services, Greater Nexus, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Women in Correction NY, Beyond the Blue, and SEQ U.P. Front and Forestdale’s FEC joined together to present “Cookies and Cards with Team Comrie,” a holiday card making event for young people on Saturday, December 10th.

We’ve been selected for Phase 2 of FUEL for 50, Robin Hood’s initiative to support young children’s learning and development through programs focused on their caregivers. The award includes unrestricted funding and support to develop "A Window to Healing" and "Attachment & Biobehavioral Catch-up" programs throughout 2023. We’re excited to continue our work with @RobinHoodNYC and our fellow awardees in support of parents and caregivers of NYC children ages 0-3.

Forestdale, a leading family services provider in Queens and Brooklyn, received several major City Council and Speaker Initiative budget awards for its Strong Fathers program and wrap-around support for transitional aged foster children.

The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation teamed up with the Amazin' Mets Foundation in honor of Father's Day. They awarded Forestdale Inc. $75,000 to help support one of their core parenting programs, Strong Fathers. Fathers who want to be great parents for their children while overcoming significant obstacles, such as job loss, violence, or society's historical and current practices of racism and marginalization, turn to Forestdale for support.

The fathers we serve have tremendous challenges that need not define them. In one Dad’s words: "We’re always so stressed out. I work three jobs. I have the stress of getting food on the table and a roof over our heads. I’m struggling to make the time to come to therapy. Help with basic needs makes a huge difference”. Forestdale helps fathers navigate crises, stabilize their situation, and ensure they are equipped to be an active, committed dad providing increased financial and emotional support to their children.

Last year the program reached more than 350 fathers who learned how to become the champions their families need. Forestdale has been a stable support for dads in low-income families and neighborhoods in Queens for over 24 years, encouraging and facilitating fathers' emotional and material engagement with their children. Research shows that father involvement is associated with various physical, emotional, and mental benefits related to child well-being (National Fatherhood Initiative, 2015). These generous awards will help fathers create and maintain positive, healthy, and long-term relationships with their children - consistent markers of success.

"We appreciate the continued support of the Cohen Foundation and are excited that the Amazing' Mets Foundation has joined in supporting our Strong Fathers program," stated Bill Weisberg, Forestdale's Executive Director. "We know the difference that it makes for children to have a positive father figure in their lives. That relationship impacts their well-being and the course of their school performance, and future relationships. So it is terrific when foundations share the same view."

These generous contributions from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation and the Amazin' Mets Foundation will provide more services to more fathers who come to Forestdale. They will fund counseling, peer support, material assistance, intensive relationship-focused parenting classes, visit coaching, and co-parenting workshops. In addition, both organizations have supported Forestdale programs in other ways, such as recently sponsoring a Mets Holiday Shopping Spree and donating tickets to a Mets game at Citi Field to Forestdale families and to the Benefit auction.

About Forestdale

Established as a child welfare organization in 1854, Forestdale delivers innovative, evidence-based services that promote healing, resilience, and opportunity for children and families. Since moving its headquarters from Brooklyn to Queens in 1941, Forestdale has served our nation's most diverse borough focusing on low-income and immigrant clients, both in and outside the child welfare system. As of 2020, Forestdale also provides Preventive Services to Brooklyn families at risk of child removal from the home. Our mission is to ensure that children and families have the fundamental assets they need to thrive and live independently, with a goal to end the intergenerational transmission of poverty and trauma. For more information on Forestdale, please visit https://www.forestdaleinc.org/, or follow us on @Forestdaleinc on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation

The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation is committed to inspiring philanthropy and community service by creating awareness, offering guidance, and leading by example to show the world what giving can do. Since launching the Foundation in 2001, Steven and Alexandra Cohen have generously funded local and national nonprofit organizations that uplift the communities in which they serve. The Cohens' giving reflects their personal connection with causes that inspire them. To learn more, please visit steveandalex.org or follow the Foundation @CohenGive on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About the Amazin' Mets Foundation

The Amazin' Mets Foundation was founded in 2021 and is the philanthropic arm of the New York Mets. It is committed to providing needed services and opportunities to children, families, and under-served groups in neighborhoods and communities near Citi Field, the Mets home ballpark. Learn more at amazinmetsfoundation.org or follow @amazinmetsfdn on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Name: Rachel Tzimorotas

Title: General Counsel and Assistant Executive Director of Operations

Phone: 718-263-0740, Ext. 309

Email address: rtzimorotas@forestdaleinc.org

Intergenerational trauma is the idea that descendants of a person who has had a threatening experience may show the adverse emotional and behavioral response to the experience, similar to those of the ancestor who experienced the event.[1] Disrupting the effects of trauma effectively occurs with guidance from trained professionals who understand human cognition and emotion.
We, at Forestdale, Inc. provide services to children and families that disrupt and dismantle intergenerational trauma, as well as the cycle of events and behaviors that create adversity in the life of a child and family.

New New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) announced on 3/22/2022 that Forestdale was selected to start a Family Enrichment Center in Jamaica/Hollis/Queens Village. FECs are warm, home-like walk-in centers co-designed with local families and community members.