Forestdale adopted evidence-informed interventions to respond to the most commonly requested family needs. Attachment Bio-behavioral Catchup increases secure attachment for small children, leading to greater success in school, relationships, and careers. Circle of Security elevates parenting skills. A Window to Healing disrupts intergenerational cycles of family violence. Child-Parent Psychotherapy is a longer-term psychodynamic therapy to address deep-seated trauma. The community of mothers and families in the program also works to support each other from crisis to stability to growth.  

“If there was a fairly simple way to set children up for healthier, more stable, and happier lives - wouldn’t we want to pursue it?” asked William Weisberg, Executive Director. “With the help of Robin Hood, that is exactly what we are working toward at Forestdale. Robin Hood’s FUEL for 50 initiative helped Forestdale and the communities we serve dream bigger – thinking not just about a specific service for a specific family but what families having a child should be offered in New York City to ensure the child gets what they need to thrive.”

“Congratulations to the winners of FUEL for 50. Our winners have spent the past three years developing innovative, evidence-based programs that will uplift New York City families for years to come. At Robin Hood, we recognize that the most impactful poverty-fighting investments we can make take place during children’s first years of life. By supporting our youngest New Yorkers and their parents and caregivers, we help make New York City the best place in the world to grow up and expand opportunities for the most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Richard R. Buery, Jr., CEO of Robin Hood.

The Fuel for 50 funding from Robin Hood will expand the scope of Forestdale Cradle-to-Launch services, allow for more collaboration with partner agencies, and allow hundreds more families and children to benefit each year. 

Forestdale's Early Childhood Program Receives Prestigious $1 Million Grant from Robin Hood.

Forestdale Inc. is delighted to announce that Robin Hood's FUEL for 50 initiative awarded Forestdale $1 million to expand its Cradle-to-Launch early childhood mental health program. Families in distress, often with a history of intergenerational trauma and marginalization, have come to Forestdale to gain access to an optimal array of supports for healthy early childhood development, with an emphasis on mental health. Early childhood is the most critical time in a child's health, cognitive, language, and social-emotional development. This exciting grant from Robin Hood will allow hundreds of additional NYC families to obtain these services every year. 

When families or children have a crisis and need help to stabilize and find a path to a brighter future, they come to Forestdale. Forestdale immediately assists families with parenting, prevention, fostering, material assistance, health, career, and educational support.  Our services then go beyond the immediate crisis to help families become the families they want to be.  We are dedicated to individual children and families but also to ending intergenerational trauma and poverty.  Since 1854, we are family when families need us.