Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships (OCEP)

The ACS Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships (OCEP) supports ACS-funded community-based programs and promotes primary prevention and child and family well-being strategies. ACS contracts directly with non-for-profit corporations to establish and operate two community-based initiatives, the Community Partnership Program and the Family Enrichment Centers (FEC). OCEP also organizes Demystifying ACS workshops for providers and residents. All OCEP initiatives are voluntary and open to all New York City residents.

COVID Related Service Changes

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ACS’ Community Partnerships and Family Enrichment Centers have limited on-site service hours. All programs are operating remotely Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, and messages are generally returned no later than the next business day. You can find contact information for the Partnerships and Family Enrichment Centers to get up-to-date information about on-site services days and hours.

Community Parterships

ACS funds 11 Community Partnerships, which serve as ambassadors to the community, advocates for families, and advisors to ACS. The Community Partnerships were first established in 2007 as a commitment from ACS to partner directly with communities to ensure everyone – from government agencies to social service providers, faith-based groups, and local leaders – is involved in efforts to support New York City children and families.

Community Partnerships are neighborhood coalitions that serve as local hubs for social service providers, community leaders, and residents to share local resources and information, address community needs, design and promote strategies to reduce the potential need for child welfare involvement and support communities to thrive. The partnerships host open, monthly meetings in all five boroughs. There is no case management offered. Sharing names, address and other information is optional and is not needed in order to participate in or attend a Community Partnership.

• Bronx
  • Highbridge
  • Hunts Point
  • Mott Haven
• Brooklyn
  • East New York
  • Bushwick
  • Bedford Stuyvesant
  • East Flatbush
• Queens
  • Jamaica
  • Elmhurst
• Manhattan
  • East Harlem
• Staten Island
  • St. George

	Connect with your neighbors, service providers, community leaders and learn about what’s going on in your community.
	Bring your ideas about how you and others can work together to support the well-being of children, youth and families.
	Participate in or lead workshops, events, resources fairs and much more!
	Represent your community as a Community Leader and help build relationships and grow our network of partners.
	Come join a Community Partnership! There are 11 partnerships located throughout the five boroughs that help bring people together.

Family Enrichment Centers: warm, home-like spaces that provide a range of offerings to the community; now providing remote referrals and support, as well as limited, in-person emergency resources.

Community Partnership Resources:

• Downloadable (PDF) of program overview one-pager
• Downloadable (PDF) schedule of monthly community meetings
• Downloadable (PDF) of CPP Palm Card
• Downloadable (PDF) Theory of Change one-pager

Family Enrichment Centers (FEC)

Family Enrichment Centers are a family-centered, primary prevention model that provide community-designed supports in a warm, inviting home-like space where neighbors can connect, contribute to their community, find resources, support one another, and build strategies that help families thrive.

Demystifying ACS

Demystifying ACS workshops are designed to increase communities’ understanding of ACS’ policies and procedures and how to access ACS resources and services.

All Demystifying ACS workshops are facilitated by OCEP and include staff from ACS’ Division of Child Protection, Division of Preventive Services, and representatives from local community partners. Additional ACS programs and departments can participate upon request, including:

• Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy
• Family Permanency Services
• Family Court Legal Services
• Office of Advocacy
• Office of Safety First
• Office of Education Policy and Support
• Infant Safe Sleep
• Youth and Family Justice

To request a workshop, email OCEPMailbox@acs.nyc.gov.