Press Releases

August 21, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: pressoffice@acs.nyc.gov, (212) 341-0999 or (212) 341-0886

Administration For Children’s Services Celebrates the Graduation of Child Protective Specialists and Juvenile Counselors

192 Qualified Graduates To Work In Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice

New York, NY - The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS)celebratedthe graduation of 152 Child Protective Specialists (CPS) and 40 Juvenile Counselors (JCs) at a ceremony held todayat Hunter College - Brookdale Campus.

“Congratulations to each and every one of the Child Protection Specialists and Juvenile Counselors on this outstanding achievement. I would like to thank the graduates for their hard work, dedication and commitment to our city’s children, families, and young people. I cannot stress enough how important their role going forward will be to this agency and to those they serve,” said ACS Commissioner Ronald E. Richter.

Since January 2012, graduates have enrolled in and completed the intensivefour-week training curriculum conducted at The James Satterwhite Academy for Child Welfare Training.The training is built around extensive professional literature, practice-based skill building, and a closely supervised field placement where candidates apply their skills in conjunction with classroom training. Some courses include: Child Abuse & Maltreatment; Identification and Reporting; Safe Crisis Management; and Interpersonal Skills Development. Once the classroom training ends, CPS workers begin their work in ACS field offices, and deepen their learning by taking on one case each week under close supervision and guidance. On-site training is also provided for the Juvenile Counselors at the ACS managed Horizon and Crossroads Juvenile Detention Centers.

Child Protective Specialists work on the frontlines of the ACS Child Welfare system and their mission is to investigate reported cases of abuse and neglect. Using investigatory and social work skills, they partner with families and community resources to ensure the safety and well being of the children in New York City. Conducting field visits, interviewing family members and assessing the risk of future abuse and neglect is difficult and often heart-wrenching work.

Juvenile Counselors provide custody, supervision and direct care to pre-adjudicated young people, generally between the ages of 10 - 16, who are awaiting the conclusion of their court case. JCs work at secure detention facilities for juveniles, where they engage young people in recreational and pro-social activities, assist with crisis intervention programs and reinforce what is taught during the school day. The work is challenging but critical. JCs are the primary caregivers for young people in detention, advocating for their needs and inspiring them to work toward a better future.

“The new Child Protection Specialists and Juvenile Counselors will embark on challengingand rewarding work,” said Commissioner Richter. “The work they do and relationships they develop will go a long way to making sure these young people have the ability to realize future success.”

Children’s Services’ Satterwhite Academy has become a national role model for training a highly skilled, professionalized corps of child protective workers. Its mission is to promote child welfare as a profession, educate staff with broad knowledge about the field and provide aspiring caseworkers with the ability to think critically. The Academy is based at The Children’s Center in Manhattan, with classes also in the Jamaica section of Queens.