Overview

Advocates for Children of New York helps students who are most at risk in New York City public schools by providing direct guidance and advocacy to individual students and their families. It identifies barriers related to poverty, race, disability, language barriers, homelessness, or involvement in foster care or juvenile justice, and works one-on-one with families to secure needed services, resolve educational issues, and protect students’ rights. In addition to direct casework, it lobbies for policy changes at the city and state levels to address systemic problems and improve education for all students. The organization’s approach combines hands-on support for individuals with broader reform efforts to maximize impact. Its goal is to improve educational outcomes and ensure fair access to quality schooling for vulnerable youth.