2020 - 176 Years of Healing & Hope

The Nuevas Alas/New Wings – Emergency Shelter program welcomed the first youth on February 5, 2020.

In March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic hit our world. In an effort to keep the kids and staff as safe as possible, the agency shifted to a remote work posture for the administrative and clinical services teams. Youth counselors, dietary staff, nursing department, maintenance team and housekeeping staff continued to come in daily. The Home provided tele-therapy, virtual family visits, and remote school for all kids in care.

On May 25 2020, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer while three other officers looked on. By June, protests erupted nationwide. Similarly to many throughout our community and nation, many of our children felt outrage and fear, worsened by each’s past trauma and present challenges. On June 3, the Children’s Home invited children and staff to gather as a family to stand against racism. Children and staff stood outside with their noses and mouths covered—six-feet-apart, and yet side-by-side. CHP, one family, many faces, standing together against racism.

Due to a decline in teen pregnancy nationwide and a reduction in admissions, the Home’s Young Mothers program closed on June 30, 2020.

In December 2020 the Home received approval to provide 12 Long Term Foster Care beds for unaccompanied children. The Nuevas Alas/New Wings – Long Term Foster Care program serves unaccompanied children who have been victims of trafficking, abuse or persecution and remain unaccompanied through the inability to identify a family member or viable sponsor in the United States, including unaccompanied Afghan minors. This program focuses on the development of independent living skills, and acculturation to life in the United States. Youth are enrolled in the local public school and receive medical services, life skills classes, individual and group counseling and case management while they work towards securing legal status in the United States.

The Child Welfare Programs experienced significant changes over the last few years, most especially with the Families First Prevention Act. In response to this new federal policy, congregate care settings were being sought out less for youth as the initiative is to keep youth within the home or a lower level of care. As a result, the utilization of the Home’s residential programs decreased. The Group Emergency Foster Care program (GEFC) was closed in January 2021 and on May 5, 2021 the Home’s traditional campus based residential program closed. 

In March 2021 the Nuevas Alas/New Wings – Emergency Shelter program expanded its bed capacity from 50 to 62 beds.

On April 19, 2021 the Raise the Age program (RTA) closed. 

In June 2021, the Nuevas Alas/New Wings program moved from West Park, NY to the Home’s main campus in Poughkeepsie, NY.

The Home’s Community Based Services program continued to expand. On July 12, 2021 the Home received approval through the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to provide Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS) to Medicaid eligible children outside of the public foster care system. This is the Home’s first OMH license.

In October 2021, the first youth were admitted to the Nuevas Alas/New Wings – Long Term Foster Care program.

In December 2021 the Home received the first Afghan youth into the Nuevas Alas/New Wings – Long Term Foster Care program.

On January 21, 2022 the Children’s Home celebrated 175 years since its founding in 1847. A series of events and activities were planned for the year. 

In April 2022, the Home became the first agency in New York State to be certified by the Office of Children and Family Services as an Empower Program provider to serve sexually traumatized, abused and trafficked youth in foster care.

The Home received accreditation from the Council on Accreditation on June 13, 2022, since we have since 1980. (The Council on Accreditation, along with the Alliance for Strong Families & Communities joined forces to form Social Current.)

On June 30, 2022 the Home hosted its Open Your Heart Cocktail Concert and 175th Anniversary Celebration. Guests gathered at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie, NY for a musical performance and a viewing an anniversary film produced and directed by students in The Art Effect’s Forge Media program.

As a result of these changes in public policy, our Board and Executive Leadership team collaborated to draft new mission and vision statements that more accurately reflect the work being done with children and families today. In November 2022 a new mission and vision statement were announced:

Mission Statement

Empowering children and families to achieve optimal health and well being

Vision Statement

A world where every child and family have access to the tools, skills and support they need to thrive

The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie is a private, not-for-profit, New York State Corporation licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the New York State Office of Mental Health and the Department of Health. The Home provides a full range of Community Based Services, Unaccompanied Minor Shelter Services, Child Welfare Residential Services, and a Facility Service Dog Program, giving healing and hope to at-risk children. Each year approximately 1,000 children and their families receive services.

Mission Statement
Empowering children and families to achieve optimal health and well being

Vision Statement
A world where every child and family have access to the tools, skills and support they need to thrive