Our Mission & Approach
NAC was founded on the belief that all children have a right to grow up at home, not in a hospital.
Our Mission & Approach
Our Mission
Since 1982, NAC has been providing comprehensive family support services to ensure that children with medical complexities don’t remain hospitalized beyond medical need, and are able to live and thrive at home.
NAC’s mission is to provide innovative high quality services in support of birth, foster, and adoptive families caring primarily for medically complex children. NAC’s mission includes children with severe physical, emotional, and behavioral challenges and developmental disabilities.
NAC’s services enable children to remain in or to be returned to their families whenever possible or to be adopted by loving families. Working primarily with children whose birth families live in poverty, NAC’s continuum of services ensures that children’s physical, social, educational, recreational, medical, and mental healthcare needs are met. By supporting families NAC prevents lengthy stays in foster care, hospitals, or other institutions. NAC builds on family strengths, provides opportunities, and assists all family members in reaching for and achieving their potential.
Our Approach
From the moment a family walks through our doors, they gain a team of support invested in their long-term health and success. We take pride in setting the highest standard of care for children with the greatest needs, but it’s not only the quality of our staff and services that set us apart. Our comprehensive team approach is tailored for the unique needs of each child, with 360 degrees of support for the entire family.
150
Social Workers
All with advanced masters degrees and the skills to compassionately meet family needs
NAC Families
receives 360 degrees of support from NAC. Click on a Support Category to Learn More
The Difference that Counts
54 Programs and Services
5579 Family Members Supported
3412 Children Served
Who We Serve
Since 1982, NAC has served New York City’s most vulnerable population of children – those who are living in poverty, have a profound disability, chronic illness or mental health diagnoses, and have experienced or are at risk of experiencing abuse and/or neglect.
NAC Children by Age
NAC Children by Ethnicity
Our Guiding Strategies
All of our work is guided and grounded in these core strategies and values to ensure that children with complex medical and mental health needs receive the best possible care and can overcome the odds to live successful, independent lives.
Family Strength-Based Support
Continuum of Care
Foster Care Done Right
Early Involvement
Interdisciplinary Care Team
Respectful and Responsive Leadership
Trauma Informed Care
Family Strength-Based Support
Because we believe in recognizing and supporting the strengths of each parent and child building a foundation of success for the whole family.
Our History
1982
In 1980’s New York City, there were hundreds of children growing up in hospital wards. That’s where they were born and they simply never left: with profound health and social needs, their families did not have the training, support, or resources to care for them at home. While they were largely considered a lost cause not worthy of public investment, NAC was formed by a small group of passionate health, social and policy experts who envisioned a different future.
With the right healthcare interventions and social support in place, NAC’s early work proved that there was no medical reason for these children to be growing up in institutions, they could move home and grow up like every child should, with a supportive, loving, secure family. And not only could they stay healthy, they could thrive: pursuing their educations and leading independent, successful lives in the community.
From NAC’s beginning with a team of five to our staff of over 400 in two locations today, that core mission and approach still holds true. When we invest in each child’s potential with comprehensive, tailored care, they can fulfill their promise and communities can thrive.