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History

In the early 1980s, hundreds of medically fragile children with profound healthcare and social needs were growing up in New York City–area hospitals.  These children, once referred to as ‘throwaway kids’ by the public, faced challenges that overwhelmed existing child welfare agencies. NAC was created with the exclusive mission of helping these children and developing a successful and comprehensive strategy that is still effective today

A Home for Every Child

NAC was founded on beliefs that defied popular opinion. Agency founders believed that, with adequate support, families living in poverty could welcome home their medically fragile children, or that foster and adoptive families could be found when this was not possible. Nearly three decades of NAC success stories has proven this belief to be true.

The agency began as a demonstration project with a budget of $100,000. In 1985, the agency’s Prevention program welcomed its first 15 families. NAC helped these families secure support services enabling their medically fragile children to come home from the hospital, in some cases, for the first time. 

NAC has grown in size and scope while remaining true to its original mission.  Today, NAC serves 1,400 children and families a year, on a budget of $13 million.  In addition to Prevention and Foster Care, NAC provides prevention aftercare and post adoption services, mental health and medical care, educational services, over 30 annual recreation activities and programs, creative arts programs, housing advocacy, and transportation services.

 

NAC Timeline

1980s

1982: Pilot Program Established

The founding members of the Board of Directors establish NAC by incorporating the agency and hiring Arlene Goldsmith as the Executive Director.

1985: Preventive Services Initiated

NAC’s Preventive Services Program welcomed its first 15 families and helped them to secure support services enabling their medically fragile children to come home from the hospital, in some cases, for the first time.

1986: First NAC Holiday Party

NAC hosts its first December Holiday Party for children and families, which is now an annual tradition.

1987: Foster Care and Adoption

The Foster Care and Adoption Program begins to secure permanent homes for medically fragile children who could not safely return to their birth families.

1990s

1993: Early Intervention

NAC introduces Early Intervention Services for children ages 0 – 3.

1994: Community Health Leader Award

Arlene Goldsmith, Ph.D., receives the celebrated Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leader Award as a result of “her pioneering efforts to give hospital-bound, chronically ill children a chance to live in a loving family.”

1995: Post Legal Adoption Network (PLAN)

NAC adds the Post Legal Adoption Network (PLAN) to provide after-care support to families who have adopted a medically fragile child.

1998: Partners in Parenting (PIP)

The Partners in Parenting (PIP)  after-care preventive services program begins, providing ongoing support to birth families caring for medically fragile children at home.

1998: Robin Hood Hero Award

The Robin Hood Foundation names Dr. Goldsmith as a recipient of its prestigious Hero Award

1998: Lewis Hine Award

Dr. Goldsmith wins the Lewis Hine Award from the National Child Labor Committee in honor of her outstanding service on behalf of children and youth.

1999: Creative Arts Program

The Henry Geldzahler Creative Arts Program makes art therapy and other creative art programs available to NAC children.

2000s

2000: Groundbreaking Foster Care

NAC initiated the Therapeutic Foster Boarding Home Program, becoming the first and only program in New York State to serve dually-diagnosed children – having special medical needs and serious mental health needs – through family-based care.

2002: Healthy Community Expo Award

NAC’s PIP and PLAN programs are each presented with a Governor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Healthy Community Expo Award.

2003: Volunteer Excellence

The MONY Foundation names NAC the first place winner in its Volunteer Incentive Program.

2005: Keystone Award

NAC is honored by the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies with its Keystone Award.

2006: NAC Kids Olympics

The first Annual NAC Kids Olympics takes place at Riverbank State Park in New York City.

2006: Community Activism Award

NAC receives the Samuel P. Peabody Award for Community Activism from the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York.

2007: New Medical and Mental Health Centers

NAC opens an Article 31 Mental Health Clinic and Article 28 Medical Center, expanding vital health care services to those most in need.

2007: 25 Years of Help

NAC celebrates 25 years of helping medically fragile children live in permanent and nurturing homes.

2008: NAC Wins National Honors

NAC’s PLAN program receives an Adoption Excellence Award from the US Department of Health and Social Services.  NAC was recognized for the extraordinary contributions it makes in providing adoption and other permanency outcomes for children in foster care. 

2008: Bridges to Health (B2H)

NAC is one of five initial agencies in New York City to be chosen by the State of New York to become a Bridges to Health (B2H) service site, offering intensive foster care supports to medically fragile, developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed children.

2009: Alumni Give Back

The first NAC Alumni group was created.  Made up of young adults whom NAC helped to leave hospitals 15 and 20 years ago, the Alumni group's main goal is to give back to the NAC community and help to inspire younger children with disabilities reach their potential.