Elected officials are encouraging New Yorkers to make full use of the City’s local Family Enrichment Centers (FEC). Launched in 2017, these are welcoming walk-in, family-centered spaces, open to all, co-designed with community members, and fall under the remit of the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). The availability of such centers seems all the more relevant given the latest wave of violence unleashed against young people in The Bronx. Some of the programs include medical support, parent discussion groups, men’s discussion groups, and clothes and food distribution.

 

On July 24, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson joined various officials and council members, including Council Member Althea Stevens (C.D. 16), Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11) and City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías (C.D. 18) at Bronx Civil Court in the Concourse section of The Bronx, to discuss the work of these centers and to advocate for their active use. “These spaces are vital in building trust and connection with our children and community,” Gibson said in part. 

 

In 2017, ACS launched three FECs and as of July 2024, there are 29 across all five boroughs, all in varying stages of implementation, with some which are open and operating for several years now according to ACS officials.

 

Meanwhile, they said others are in a start-up phase, working to hire and train staff, engaging community members to design and renovate their sites, conducting outreach, and providing in-person and virtual offerings. ACS officials said at the centers, families and children can connect with neighbors, volunteer their time, participate in various offerings, and access support and resources they feel they need to thrive.

INTRODUCING FAMILY ENRICHMENT Centers Video courtesy of ACS

Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11) later said, “At these centers, families and children can connect with neighbors, volunteer their time, participate in various offerings, and access resources and supports they feel they need to thrive.” 

 

Late last year, Stevens had announced funding of $25K for the Rev. T. Wendell Foster Recreation Center in her district, as reported. Though not an FEC, the rec center does cater to various children, youth, and families and is run by the nonprofit, SCAN Harbor. The Center is an NYC Department of Parks & Recreation building.

 

Speaking to Norwood News at the time, Lewis Zuchman, Scan Harbor, Inc. executive director, said, “We used to run an afterschool program funded by the City. We stopped doing that because there was a limited number of kids who could come, and other city regulations that we didn’t like that made it harder, and limited who could be here.”

 

We asked what type of regulations. “It’s bureaucratic nonsense,” he said. “So, we found it much better to raise our own money to run the center, and we’ve been able to do that. We have some funding for like Saturday Night Lights, which is a basketball program which the City funds, which has been very helpful, because that’s open to everyone. There’s not some of the bureaucratic stuff that you have to go through. There’s none of that.”

 

Meanwhile, ACS officials say FECs partner with families and local leaders to identify community strengths and develop activities, events, gatherings, Cafés, workshops, and initiatives (called “offerings”) that grow one or more of five family protective factors that ACS say are needed to navigate life’s challenges and opportunities.

 

They said the five family protective factors are based on the Strengthening Families protective factors approach developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy. They said these protective factors, including social connections, concrete support, and parental resilience, are associated with lower rates of child abuse and neglect and higher rates of child well-being in the research literature.

 

ACS officials said everything about each FEC, including the name, the physical layout, and the offerings it provides, is co-designed with families and community members. Community organizations with long histories in the community operate the FECs and FEC participation is voluntary, free, and open to all community members.

 

They said they do not offer case management services and do not require families to disclose personally identifying information in order to visit or participate, including any information about a families’ child welfare involvement.

 

Residents can find a local FEC in their area here. Using the “filter” or “sort” features at the top left of the directory, you can quickly search for FECs citywide based on your own search criteria, including whether the FEC is currently open to the public. This link will automatically reflect updates and changes made by ACS. Officials recommend the list is saved as a shortcut on your desktop so it is always accessible and easy to find.