Current Initiatives

ACS continues to strengthen all aspects of child welfare work and is working to build better support systems for the City's families and communities. The following initiatives reflect ongoing work happening throughout the agency.

Child Trafficking Awareness & Prevention Resources

ACS established the Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy to provide guidance for working with labor trafficked and commercially sexually exploited children.

Equity Strategies

Office of Equity Strategies supports work to promote equity and reduce disparity based on race, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation throughout the agency. It leads agency wide initiatives and serves as an in-house resource, providing technical assistance on the development and implementation of equity centered strategies.

Family Services Division

The Family Services Division has created a strategic plan to build on the agency's work and enhance our services for children and families in New York City. View the Family Services Division Mission, Values, and Strategic Priorities for 2025-2028.

Immigrant Services

ACS serves all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. ACS provides immigrant services that respect each person's culture and language needs.

LGBTQ Support

The ACS Office of LGBTQ Child and Family Well-Being raises awareness and helps make sure that all of our services are affirming of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth and families.

NYC Demographic Survey

The results of the NYC Demographic Survey will help NYC improve its services.

Racial Equity & Cultural Competence

The ACS Racial Equity and Cultural Competence Committee supports the development of a child welfare and juvenile justice system that responds respectfully and effectively to people of all racial and cultural backgrounds.

Safe Sleep for Babies

Every year, about 50 babies in NYC die from a sleep-related injury. Learn more about sleep-related injury deaths and how to safely put your baby to sleep on our Safe Sleep for Babies page.

Training and Workforce Development

The Office of Training and Workforce Development provides foundational and continuous learning for child welfare and juvenile justice direct service staff and supervisors.

Citywide Parent Advocate/Initial Child Safety Conference Initiative

Previous Initiatives

Enhanced Family Conferencing Initiative

ACS was awarded a federal grant in 2015 to pilot an enhanced model of Parent Advocate participation in Family Group Decision-Making in the Bronx. Details of the program model and our research findings are presented in this final report.

NY State and ACS' Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project

Strong Families New York City - Produces Shorter Lengths of Stay in Foster Care and Improved Caregiving.

Foster Care Task Force

Foster Care Task Force was created following the enactment of Local Law 144 of 2016, signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio on November 16, 2016.