ACS receives $250K grant to help foster kids through coronavirus shutdown

By Rachel Vick

The Administration for Children’s Services and New Yorkers For Children have received a  $250,000 grant to aid in their response to the coronavirus, the city announced Tuesday.

Funding awarded to the ACS and New Yorkers for Children will go towards supporting foster youth and families.

The grant was awarded by the NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund at the New York Community Trust and will fund technology and programming  for young people in foster care and juvenile detention facilities during the coronavirus shutdown.

“This funding will go a long way to ensure that we can continue to respond to the surge in emergency requests from older youth in foster care and youth who have aged out of care,” said New Yorkers for Children Executive Director Saroya Friedman-Gonzalez. “This gift is a bright light amidst so much devastation and reminds us that we are truly all in this together.”

The money will specifically pay for video conferencing, education and mental health services for young people in foster care. ACS Families and LGTBQ youth will receive additional support with day-to-day needs like cleaning supplies and childcare.