BizTech reports on how businesses are using AI to streamline their workflows, and highlights The New York Foundling’s work in using tech to improve data management.
“The New York Foundling, a child welfare and social services agency, uses Microsoft Azure AI-powered chatbot technology to streamline client service data entry and other administrative tasks, resulting in more efficient processes and productive employees, explains CIO Arik Hill.”
Fox5NY’s New York at our Best II included a clip from Haven Kids Rock, our musical arts program based at Haven Academy.
Fast Company profiled The Foundling’s Haven Academy in their article on personalized learning: “With remote learning likely to continue in some form at least through 2021, a greater degree of independence is being forced on students by structural necessity. Perhaps it’s time for schools to look anew at personalized learning, a model that in its best incarnations is not algorithm-led but student-led.
Haven Academy students have been relatively successful at learning during the pandemic—a reminder that any remote-learning strategy, particularly one that is personalized, requires that schools give educators the time and resources to invest in relationships with their students. At the academy, that happens through educator training, close coordination with social work staff, and family support services provided via nonprofit operating partner The New York Foundling.”
New York Times reporter Eliza Shapiro profiles how Mott Haven Academy helped their students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Shapiro shares with readers how “Jessica Nauiokas, Mott Haven’s principal, spent the first few weeks of the lockdown figuring out how to get cash and food into the homes of the school’s most vulnerable children, so that they could eventually focus on their studies.” The article includes a quote from a parent who shared, “there were a lot of times I wanted to give up because it was too much for me” and “had it not been for Mott Haven, ‘I probably wouldn’t have home-schooled. I probably would have skipped it.'” READ MORE
Haven Kids Rock, the acclaimed musical arts program at Haven Academy, just released a new music video. The video, which features the song ‘Scars,’ stars co-founder Nefertiti Jones and numerous Haven Kids Rock participants.
When single moms faced a pandemic crisis that might send their children to state care, Christian families stepped up to help by hosting children in their homes. New York, however, only allows hosting via licensed foster care agencies.
The New York Foundling’s CEO, Bill Baccaglini, said the group still has available foster homes even in the pandemic, and none of the organization’s foster parents requested children’s removal because of COVID-19.
“We haven’t seen this few kids in foster care in New York City since the early ’70s,” said Baccaglini. But he added: “We’re very nervous about, at the other end of this, what happens to abuse and neglect reports. … What does the system look like a few months after the pandemic?”
Due to COVID-19, organizations have had to change the way their group homes are run and also help the residents cope with the new reality of the pandemic.
Denise Flores, the assistant vice president for the developmental disabilities’ division at The New York Foundling, said that during the beginning of the pandemic they had to ration out the protective equipment they had. They would only give masks, gloves and gowns to residences with sick individuals.
“I mean we don’t have any to waste, but we do have a system in place that everyone has now either face shields, gowns or masks,” said Flores.
During the pandemic, foster parents throughout the city are finding solace in their foster children. For the past two months, Arlene Thomas – who is a foster mother with The Foundling – experienced COVID-19 firsthand. First her foster child contracted the virus, then she did as well. “No matter how sick you are, you still have a child,” she said.
With COVID-related school shut downs, students are missing out on a third of their traditional school year – and children in the child welfare system may need additional tutoring to avoid falling behind. To illuminate this issue, Fox 5 NY spoke to our CEO and President, Bill Baccaglini, as well as a Foundling foster parent who is currently balancing online schooling for 5 kids.
Remote learning is taking a toll on students as they navigate a new way of staying connected to their teachers, friends, classmates, and lesson plans from home. Jessica Nauiokas, Head of School at Haven Academy, discusses how our Haven scholars are receiving guidance from staff on navigating these difficult times, including virtual mental health counseling, speech therapy sessions, and more.