Confronting the Complexity of Keeping Children Thriving and Supported in their Families and Communities

Join an event hosted at the New School, featuring the Narrowing the Front Door Workgroup, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), and other guests on August 6, 2024 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for a thoughtful discussion on the evolution and impact of the child protective services (“CPS”) system.

In recent years, ACS has implemented a number of policy and practice changes to decrease use of family separation without any increased risks to children. Yet, the system still has the power to threaten and disrupt the integrity of families, despite no wrongdoing on their part. While thousands fewer Black and Hispanic/Latinx families are subjected to formal investigations, court prosecutions, and family separation than in previous years, the system continues to inflict these harms disproportionately on Black, Latinx and LGBTQAI+ children, youth and families. In NYC, a Black child is almost seven times as likely as a white child to be the subject of an intrusive and traumatic CPS investigation and a Hispanic child is nearly five times as likely.

Community experts, policymakers, and practitioners will share perspectives on the role of CPS, what kind of family support system is needed, and how communities can support safe and thriving children in their families. Topics to be discussed include the authority and limits on the government’s surveillance, monitoring, and regulation of families, and how public resources can be used effectively for family support. Participants will address recent media coverage, delve into current data and trends within New York City’s CPS system, and offer strategies to promote the health and wellbeing of children in their families.    Join us in person on August 6, 2024, 6 pm- 8 pm, for an engaging discussion on how to best support the wellbeing of children and families.    *Participants include: *List in formation and subject to change

• Angela Burton, Attorney and Co-Chair of Narrowing the Front Door Workgroup
• Jess Dannhauser, Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services
• Lavern Harry, Vice President, Preventive, Foster Care & Adoption at Graham Windham
• Joyce McMillan, Founder and Executive Director of JMACforFamilies, and Co-Chair of Narrowing the Front Door Workgroup
• Anne Williams-Isom, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
• Leah L. Habersham, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Addiction Medicine, Mt. Sinai
• Leah A. Hill, Ann Moynihan Distinguished Clinical Research Scholar & Clinical Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law

Moderated by:

• Melissa Russo, Television Journalist (WNBC-TV News Channel 4)
• Dr. Sophine Charles, COFCCA Downstate Associate Executive Director