Message from the President and Executive Director

Over the past decade Edwin Gould Services for Children and Families has experienced tremendous growth both programmatically and fiscally, rising from one of the lowest performers in the Administration for Children’s Services’ (ACS) Foster Care system in 2000, to the number one agency in the Administration for Children’s Services’ Foster Care in 2004, and sustaining positive outcomes through the current program and fiscal year.  Our operating budget has more than doubled, from $14 million in 2000, to $33 million in 2010. We have managed to sustain growth at a time when funding for government programs and services continues to be reduced.

Effective July 1, 2011, as part of the agency’s service growth, Edwin Gould will be implementing new Preventive Service units in the Bronx and East Harlem in accordance with the Administration for Children’s Services’ Request for Proposal Implementation plan. We will also be establishing a new Ageing out program in the Bronx for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities in the fall of this year. 

The Administration for Children’s Services, in keeping with its policy that adolescents should be served in the least restrictive setting, i.e. Family Foster Homes, closed a number of group homes in 2010. These adolescents are now required to receive Foster Care Services in a Foster Family Home setting. This service shift will challenge Edwin Gould to have the right structure, adequate skills and processes to achieve the outcomes of safety, permanency and well-being for our adolescents.

We have begun a strategic review of our services by revisiting our structure, how the services are being delivered, and what is needed to strengthen the capability of the agency to provide positive outcomes for our adolescent service population. This review will allow us to develop a plan to strengthen our capability by enhancing the skills of our current employees and to recruit additional skill sets and competencies to augment current staffing.

Over the next two years, as we experience changes in the Child Welfare Services and challenges with resources at the State and City levels, we hope that our strategy and execution will steer Edwin Gould Services for Children and Families through these challenging times.

We thank you for your past, present and continued support to the agency’s Mission and Vision to achieve positive outcomes for our children, adolescents, and families.