With 161 years under our belt, Forestdale has direct experience with and deep investment in ending the transgenerational transmission of poverty and trauma among disadvantaged families. Forestdale’s mission is to strengthen diverse and underserved Queens families by providing: safe and loving homes, education and enrichment, financial literacy and workforce development, and medical and dental programs. Our programs are comprehensive and innovative, employing the latest evidence-informed approaches that address the root causes of child distress and family conflict to prevent child abuse and neglect.

While traditional child welfare programs are typically designed to ensure the safety of children and facilitate better familial functioning, Forestdale is committed to going beyond safety to help children make long-term gains. One key need that we address across low income Queens families is healing trauma – both at its onset, when maternal bonds are interrupted causing non-secure attachment; as well as continuing through childhood into adulthood where they may directly experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or witness unrest, dysfunction and violence within their homes and communities. Moving beyond superficial approaches, Forestdale has invested in intensive, longer-term treatments which heal and build families’ future resiliency and opportunities for success.

Serving the entire borough of Queens, Forestdale’s comprehensive continuum of care supports low to moderate income families (75% border the federal poverty line) – including more than 1,000 people (from infants through adults). Close to half of the families we serve live in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Queens, including Jamaica, Hollis and St. Albans. Forestdale also serves significant populations from Corona, Elmhurst and Long Island City neighborhoods. Our families span many nationalities and self-identify as 61% African-American, 28% Latino, 6% Asian, and 5% Caucasian.

Forestdale’s results-driven culture is focused on the individual growth of our clients, achieved through best practices with demonstrated measures of success. With the support of our foundation, corporate and community partners—such as the Child Welfare Fund, Good+ Foundation and JetBlue Airways—we have expanded concrete support and therapeutic programs for families that prevent the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Current evidence-based models at our agency include: Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up, Passport to Parenting, Solution-Based Casework and Trauma Systems Therapy.