We are excited to announce that we will be joined by Ronald Richter, Commissioner of the NYC Administration of Children’s Services (ACS) at our next Rabbi Marshall Meyer Retreat. There will be an ACS Demystified session in the morning to help dispel stereotypes about this agency; hear about child welfare committees/ministries in houses of worship and needs of diverse religious communities in the afternoon. As a religious leader, you have an important role to play in the community safety net for our children.
Don’t wait until the end to register- space will fill up!
The Interfaith Center of New York Presents
The 29th Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Retreat for Social Justice:
Child Welfare and Foster Care
WHERE: The Interchurch Center, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115, Sockman Lounge (Enter at 60 Claremont Avenue; #1 train to 116th & Columbia University)
WHEN: Wednesday, December 4th, 2013, 8:30am – 5:00pm. Registration required. RSVP form available here. Please complete and fax to (212) 870-3499, or by email to ssayeed@interfaithcenter.org.
WHAT: In New York City, 13,000 children received foster care services in May 2013, and 26,000 families received support to prevent child removal in June 2013.* Over the past decade, New York City has embraced a community-based approach for children entering the child welfare system and to keep children connected with their kin, home neighborhoods, and schools.
Our conference will bring together religious leaders with leading city agency representatives and non-profit leaders to discuss:
• How children enter the foster care system & which communities are most affected
• ACS Demystified: How the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) operates
• Strategies to keep families intact and meet the needs of diverse New Yorkers
• Foster care placements, parent trainings, and parent support services
• How faith leaders can help to provide a supportive community for children and their families, including starting a child welfare ministry
This is an informational and networking program for clergy, grassroots lay leaders, and faith-based service and advocacy leaders interested in Foster Care in New York City.
Please RSVP early as space is limited
Questions may be directed to Sarah Sayeed at (212) 870 3519.
* New York City Administration for Children’s Services: http://www.nyc.gov/html/acs/html/statistics/statistics_links.shtml
A PDF version of this post is available here.
