The Heckscher Foundation for Children

Foster Care Project

We conceived of a plan to address the needs of the many young people who “age out” of the NYC foster care system with very little preparation and no safety net, since the City has no budget for aftercare. Many kids end up homeless or incarcerated within the first 18 months. In addition, private organizations have traditionally steered clear of this difficult issue. The Heckscher Foundation initiated a project aimed at getting the City, foster care agencies and nonprofits to work together to find solutions to the “aging out” crisis – beginning with the agencies who are responsible for these youth during the critical period before they leave care. “The Academy” has brought together a group of key foster care agencies with a coalition of outstanding service providers to offer innovative education and workforce preparation to foster teens.  The program’s hallmarks are comprehensive assessments and intake, individualized service plans, and an atmosphere that provides the “connectedness” that these young people need to rebuild their lives.