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Child Health and Safety
Caring for a young child can be hard at any time, and it can become even harder when experiencing homelessness. Besides constantly caring for your child, there is a lot of new information to learn. This page has useful information for parents on infant and child safety that you can use whether you are living in a temporary shelter or are in your own home.
Click a topic, or press the enter key on a topic, to reveal its answer.
Safe Sleep
All babies under 12 months old are at risk of sleep-related injury death, and babies between 1 and 4 months old are at the greatest risk. Sleep-related injury death is usually caused by a child sleeping somewhere unsafe, or with loose blankets or other items in their bed, and suffocating.
Follow the A-B-Cs of Safe Sleep for Infants:
- Alone, with no toys or blankets
- on their Back
- in a Crib or pack n' play
Check out the resources below to learn more about safe sleep:
DHS Infant Health & Safety Advisory
Safe Sleep Frequently Asked Questions
Information on safe sleep practices from NYC DOHMH
Additional Resources for Families
Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant? Early and consistent prenatal care is essential for ensuring the health and well-being of you and your baby.
Learn what you can do to take care of yourself and your baby before they are born from the NYC Department of Health.
General information on infant safety
Includes important information about safe sleep, child-proofing your home, preventing exposure to lead, and more.
Bathtime Safety
How to keep your child safe during bathtime. Includes information about how often to bathe your baby and useful how-to's.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
How to prevent serious injury to your baby. Includes helpful information about what you can do to calm your baby when they won't be soothed and you're getting frustrated.
Resources for Shelter Providers
Find a primary care clinic near you, conveniently organized by NYC neighborhood
Help connect first-time moms-to-be, who are less than 28 weeks pregnant, with their own nurse who offers care and support through the NYC Nurse-Family Partnership Program and flyer.
Connect expecting moms to important prenatal care. Find an OBGYN or Nearby Health Clinic using two verified provider locators:
Health Care Services & Centers For Unhoused People | YourPeer
Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Guide for Health Departments and Community Based Organizations. Learn about Shaken Baby Syndrome, common triggers, recognizing the signs, and how to prevent it.
Doctor Visits
Keep your child healthy with regular checkups from a doctor. They can help you track your child's growth, detect potential problems early, and give your child the vaccines they need to prevent serious illnesses. It's your child's first step to a healthy life!
Below are resources to learn more about routine checkups and other ways to keep your child healthy.
Resources for Families
Access the schedule of well-child visits, learn the benefits of well-child visits for you and your child, and more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits - HealthyChildren.org
Every child is different, but there are a number of typical milestones to look out for. Learn what to expect as your child grows, and know the signs that you should speak with your doctor using these milestone guides (2 months to 5 years)
Concerns about your child? Use these tips for speaking with your doctor and getting extra support in English and Spanish
Find out more about the CDC's recommended vaccination schedule and learn the benefits of following it. Reasons to Follow CDC's Immunization Schedule | CDC
Most vaccinations are safe during pregnancy and can provide protection for you and your baby even after birth. Find out more about what vaccines are recommended while you are pregnant from the CDC.
Planning a visit to the doctor? Check out this kid-friendly informational guide from Sesame Street about what to expect. Contains plenty of useful information for caregivers too!
Hygiene and Respiratory Viruses Prevention | Respiratory Illnesses | CDC
Resources for Finding Health Care and Health Insurance
Need health insurance for you or your family? Explore low-cost or free health-care options and get help enrolling in a plan that is right for you.
NYC Health + Hospitals Healthy Steps Program provides enhanced pediatric primary care. Call 844-692-4692 to make an appointment at one of their facilities or make an appointment online
Learn more:
Connect caregivers to important pediatric care. Find a nearby Health Clinic using two verified provider locators:
Health Care Services & Centers For Unhoused People | YourPeer
Homeless Healthcare Resources | Healthcare Map
Responsive Caregiving
Responsive Caregiving means that you are responding to the needs of your child in a way that helps to make them feel safe, understood, and supported. We know it takes a village. In this section, you will find ideas, resources, and supports for caregivers. Explore information on giving your child positive reinforcement for their good behaviors, setting predictable routines to make mornings and bedtimes go more smoothly, finding fun ways to play and boost brain development, and keeping your home free from risks, such as lead and accidental poisoning.
For Providers: Referrals to Parenting Supports and Services
ACS Prevention services are designed to help all families access services in their community. Find free and voluntary services for families, pregnant and parenting youth, families with special medical needs requiring home care, families with mental health concerns, and families who want to stop using drugs or alcohol, regardless of immigration status. These services include parenting support, health and mental health services, education support and benefits access, legal services, and more.
Email connect@acs.nyc.gov or call them at 212-676-7667 to access free and voluntary services, supports, and resources.
View the complete directory of contracted providers
The Power of Two is an evidence-based parenting intervention to support the child-caregiver relationship. Families receive ten individualized parenting coaching sessions in their own home. Coaches provide positive and encouraging feedback about the child-caregiver interaction, including how to respond when the child is upset and how to follow the child's lead when playing.
Essential Parenting Supports: Parenting Skills Training Program for parents with diagnosed or suspected intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). This program offers coaching sessions and support and assistance applying to OPWDD services. Email DDParentingSkills@acs.nyc.gov
General Resources for Parenting and Discipline
Growing Up NYC (city of new york.us) is the official NYC resource for caregivers and families with children of all ages (newborn to young adult - age 24). Search by your child's age to learn about child development, what to expect at each stage, download help tools, and get information on resources in NYC that can help you and your child. Also access community health, mental health, and education resources, learn parenting tips, and get ideas for activities with your children year-round.
For Positive Parenting Tips by Age, see this from CDC: Healthy Habits: Child Development and https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/positive-parenting-tips/index.html
Watch short videos and learn about how to respond to and support your teen, including understanding their emotions, managing yours, and finding ways to connect at the Essentials for Parenting Teens from the CDC.
From Sesame Street Workshops! Find videos, games, printables, and guides for parents on a range of topics, from supporting your child's development, keeping their bodies and minds healthy, and talking about tough topics, such as displacement/resettlement, trauma, addiction, homelessness, and incarceration.
Find examples of picture schedules to help your child learn routines at key moments in the day, such as getting ready for school and getting ready for bedtime.
Support your child to build positive learning habits at home. Learn strategies and watch videos from NYC Public Schools about setting up spaces and routines for doing school work and supporting other positive behaviors at home.
Learn about child neglect and abuse - how New York State defines it, know your rights when there is an ACS investigation, and find out how to get help in: What is Child Abuse/Neglect?
Get inspired to find fun anywhere you go and get everyday tips and ideas for positive, brain-building, engagement with your child from Vroom!
Resources on consent and healthy relationships:
A prevention guide and tips for talking to children about sexual abuse
The Path to Building Health Relationships offers parents strategies for teaching children of all ages about setting healthy personal boundaries for their bodies. It includes tips about teaching children the correct names of body parts when they are young and how to talk to your teen about giving and getting consent.
Resources for safe home environments
Read about how to prevent common household accidents and protect your baby from harm in this booklet about taking good care of your baby.
Learn easy ways to keep your home safe from environmental hazards such as mold, pests, accidental poisoning, and lead using the Healthy Homes Checklist from NYC Department of Health; learn more here.
Prevent accidental poisoning and learn about Medication Safety from NYC Department of Health.
Save Poison Control in your cell phone in case of emergency:
212-POISONS (212-764-7667)
Lead is a harmful metal that can cause serious health problems. Learn about how to protect your child from lead poisoning and about the common sources of dangerous lead, from NYC DOHMH.
Every year, young children are injured or die in falls from unguarded windows, including windows with screens or air conditioners. These are tragedies that you can learn how to prevent. Read more about Window Guard Safety.
Nutrition & Exercise Resources
Good nutrition and exercise are vital for children as they grow. Creating healthy habits now can have a lasting impact throughout their lives. Below you will find a wealth of resources on maintaining good nutrition, promoting exercise, enrolling in programs that can help you access nutritious food, and managing nutrition-related childhood illnesses.
Benefits information
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly called Food Stamps, helps low-income families and individuals buy food. Learn more about SNAP. You can apply for SNAP and many more benefits online through ACCESS HRA.
WIC helps women and their children buy food and get access to services like nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, health education, and referrals to other programs. WIC is available to all pregnant women, women with infants under the age of 6 months, breastfeeding mothers up to 12 months old, and women with children under the age of 5, regardless of immigration status. Learn more, check eligibility, and sign up here.
Nutrition and Exercise
Use this guide to learn all about healthy eating and active living. Read about what other New Yorkers are doing to make healthy choices part of their daily lives, get practical tips for shopping, and ideas just for parents. Learn tips for turning NYC into your gym, such as chasing your kids around the playground, or getting off a stop early on the subway to get a few extra steps in!
Help your children develop positive relationships with food by using the right words. Did you know that food should not be used as a reward (“since you behaved yourself, you can have a piece of cake”) or a punishment (“no desert tonight because you didn't eat your vegetables”). Find out what works better here!
Go to MyPlate.gov to learn about making healthy meal choices, shopping on a budget, and what types of foods are most important at every life stage, from infancy to adulthood! You'll find fun ideas to get your children involved with making healthy food choices- let them draw and design the menu!
Choose your own health adventure! Get your children involved and inspired by these fun tips and ideas for healthy eating and activities.
What does a food label tell you? What is the right number of calories in a serving? What does percent of daily value really mean? Learn what to look for and how to understand the information on food labels.
Support your child to maintain a healthy weight by using this “handy” plate planner that gives you tips about portion sizes using the size of your hand as a guide!
Give your teenagers the knowledge, skills, and independence to make their own good food choices. In English and in Spanish
Hungry for more information on helping your kids understand food and nutrition? Check out these tips for making healthy choices at home, at the supermarket, and when eating out!
Check out a farmer's market nearby! Get inspired by these farmers market recipe ideas and ways to involve kids from the NYC Department of Health.
Breastfeeding Information and Support
Get answers to many common questions about breastfeeding, including how much and how often to breastfeed, how to know if your baby is getting enough milk, and tips on positions for more comfortable breastfeeding.
Find services and resources near you to support your breastfeeding goals.
Diabetes
Learn more about what diabetes is, the different types of diabetes, and tips for managing diabetes, from the NYC Department of Health.
Child Mental Health Resources
Mental health is as important as physical health for raising happy and healthy children. NYC has many resources for families looking for mental health services across all ages, from early childhood to adolescence. Below you will find information on what to expect as your child develops, how to recognize the signs of something more serious, tips for talking to your children about their emotions, and where to get help across NYC.
Understanding (and Talking About) Childhood Mental Illness, Mental Health, and Social Emotional Growth
Find fact sheets on understanding and supporting your child's social and emotional development from the New York State Office of Mental Health. Learn what to expect and when to consider speaking to a professional:
- For families of children ages 1 to 5
- For families of children ages 5 to 10
- For families of children ages 10 to 12
- For families of children ages 12 to 15
- For families of children ages 15 to 18
It can be hard to find the right words when your child is going through a hard time. Learn what different emojis mean, how to speak so they are more likely to respond, and get tips for what to say in common situations.
Learn more about recognizing the signs that your teen needs more support and how to start the conversation if you are concerned about your teen's mental health, from Let's Talk NYC.
And from The NYC Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health
Common Mental Illnesses
Everyone experiences sadness sometimes. But, when sadness lasts a long time or makes it harder to do the things you normally do, it might be the sign of something more. Find resources to understand the difference between sadness and depression, how to recognize the signs, and what it actually means to "get help".
Anxiety is a feeling of intense worry that we all experience when we are facing something stressful or unknown. Understand the difference between anxiety and normal stress, and what you can do about it.
Having suicidal thoughts is not uncommon but should always be taken seriously. Learn the key facts about suicide, including its causes, warning signs, and how to talk to someone about suicide.
If you or your child are experiencing any thoughts of suicide, self-harm or crisis, call or text 988 for immediate connection to a trained professional. Chat online with 988 services.
- Call 911 and explain you need help for a mental health crisis if there is a medical emergency or an immediate danger of harm.
Read about Childhood anxiety, depression, and other medical and mental health issues in these health promotion fact sheets created by DHS Health Services Office
Find Mental Health Care: Services Specialized for Children, Teens, and Their Families
NYC Health + Hospitals have behavioral health services focused on children and adolescents, young adults, women, and older adults.
Call 1-844-NYC-4NYC or make an appointment online
Find resources to connect to mental health services across NYC, online or in person, using this Mental Health Toolkit from the Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health.
Resources for pregnant and postpartum parents. Learn about common mood disorders during this time and find support for new and expecting parents.
From services in schools, to mental health clinics in your neighborhood, and drop-in centers for teens and young adults, check out this quick guide to mental health services available for people from birth to age 24.
Adolescent Skill Centers provide life skills, education and vocational support for adolescents aged 16-21 who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder.
Peer groups can support caregivers and youth from birth to 24 across social, emotional, developmental or substance use challenges in the NYC Family and Youth Peer Support programs.
Need urgent help with behavioral health? Some neighborhoods have specialized emergency services and responders for behavioral health crises, 911 operators can determine if your circumstance and area can be assigned a team from the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) pilot program.
Non-Emergency Mental Health Crises - 988 can also connect you or your child to a mobile crisis unit - a team of mental health professionals who can de-escalate and provide linkages and referrals to care.
Trying to better understand and support your child with mental illness or to learn coping strategies alongside other families? Join The National Alliance for Mental Illness NY's (NAMI NYC) online support groups for parents of children with mental health diagnoses or symptoms. Offered the first and third Friday of every month.
Culturally Tailored Behavioral Health Interventions: incorporating community cultural beliefs, values, and experiences.
Find services that focus on the mental health of Black New Yorkers, including online therapy and financial support for services for black women and girls, community resources for men of color and therapy for black men.
Services for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI): Find local providers for mental health services, search by language, location and specialties., educational workshops and outreach for youth and parents.
Find mental health support through 988 Lifeline, an online chat and phone service for AAPI in New York City.
Are you a caregiver of a child seeking asylum? Learn more about developing healthy habits and coping strategies, creating a safe and welcoming home environment, and mental health and social resources in New York City.
Teletherapy resources
NYC 988 is a free helpline available 24/7 to anyone who wants support with everyday challenges, mental health and substance use.
- Text or call 988
- Visit NYC 988 to learn more or chat with a counselor
Teenspace is a free teletherapy service for all NYC teenagers. Teens can visit the program website to sign up. After a parent or guardian has provided consent, they will be connected to a licensed professional to video chat, or text, on their schedule.
Want to know more? Read their FAQ for parents/guardians