Forestdale Appoints Lorraine Stephens as Executive Director

The Forestdale Inc. Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Lorraine Stephens, MSW, as the new Executive Director (E.D.), effective May 19th, 2025. As E.D., Ms. Stephens will leverage her considerable expertise in government services and nonprofit management to guide Forestdale's growth and improve services for underserved communities in Queens and Brooklyn.

THE LEGISLATURE

STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 4ᵗʰ, 2024 Contact: Alexa Arecchi arecchia@nyassembly.gov 718-263-5595

***Press Release ***

Assembly member Hevesi, New York Immigration Coalition, United Neighborhood Houses, Cabrini Immigrant Services, and Working Families Tax Credit Coalition host event in support of Working Families Tax Credit

The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) is estimated to result in a 13.4% reduction in children under the age of 18 living in poverty with a 19.6% reduction for those under 18 living in deep poverty.

Forest Hills, New York- Hosted by Forestdale, a human services agency dedicated to supporting families and helping children thrive, Assembly member Andrew Hevesi stood alongside members of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), United Neighborhood Houses (UNH), Cabrini Immigrant Services, the Working Families Tax Credit Coalition, staff form Senator Gounardes’ office, and families to rally for the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC). The event was a celebration for families served by Forestdale complete with toys for children, a clown, balloon animals, and lunch! Assemblyman Hevesi and Senator Gounardes, the lead sponsors of the WFTC pledged to prioritize the tax credit in this year’s budget.

Forestdale is proud to announce the positive outcomes of our innovative Guaranteed Income Program (GIP), which has provided $1,000 monthly to 27 families under our care.

This initiative, generously funded by an individual donor, has been evaluated by esteemed faculty from Hunter College’s Silberman School of Social Work, Drs. Martha Bragin and Michael Lewis. Their qualitative evaluation of the first cohort of 18 families—each engaged with the child welfare system—revealed improvements in several key indicators after 15 months of supplemental income.

Forestdale Inc. is delighted to announce that Robin Hood’s Fuel for 50 initiative awarded Forestdale $1 million to expand the Cradle-to-Launch early childhood program. The objective is that NYC families in distress, often with a history of intergenerational trauma and marginalization, gain access to an optimal array of supports for healthy early childhood development, with an emphasis on mental health. Forestdale’s evidence-based and holistic approach focuses on building strong relationships and parenting skills for system-involved families.

Forestdale is thrilled to be a part of this ground-breaking pilot program to improve health services for young adults transitioning out of foster care. We look forward to working alongside Northwell Health, NYC Administration for Children's Services- ACS, Fair Futures NYC, Foster Agencies SCO Family of Services, and MercyFirst to deliver services to support these youths and connect them to medical care, resources, and a lifetime of better health.

General tips for parents to talk to their children about traumatic events that they may encounter in news and social media:

1. Be the First to Share the News

2. Encourage Open Communication

3. Keep Calm and Manage Your Emotions

4. Address Fears and Anxieties

5. Answer Questions Honestly and Clearly

6. Be Patient and Understanding

The article includes many links to delve deeper into the various topics, such as warfare and violence, school shootings, racial violence, natural disasters.

Southeast Queens residents and elected leaders joined representatives from the city’s Administration for Children’s Services on June 17 to kick off the Juneteenth holiday weekend at the grand opening of Forestdale, Inc.’s Community Connection, the new ACS Family Enrichment Center (FEC) initiative in St. Albans.

Queens Gazette: NYS Senator Leroy Comrie, the NYC Administration for Children’s Services, Greater Nexus, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Women in Correction NY, Beyond the Blue, and SEQ U.P. Front and Forestdale’s FEC joined together to present “Cookies and Cards with Team Comrie,” a holiday card making event for young people on Saturday, December 10th.

We’ve been selected for Phase 2 of FUEL for 50, Robin Hood’s initiative to support young children’s learning and development through programs focused on their caregivers. The award includes unrestricted funding and support to develop "A Window to Healing" and "Attachment & Biobehavioral Catch-up" programs throughout 2023. We’re excited to continue our work with @RobinHoodNYC and our fellow awardees in support of parents and caregivers of NYC children ages 0-3.

Forestdale, a leading family services provider in Queens and Brooklyn, received several major City Council and Speaker Initiative budget awards for its Strong Fathers program and wrap-around support for transitional aged foster children.

The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation teamed up with the Amazin' Mets Foundation in honor of Father's Day. They awarded Forestdale Inc. $75,000 to help support one of their core parenting programs, Strong Fathers. Fathers who want to be great parents for their children while overcoming significant obstacles, such as job loss, violence, or society's historical and current practices of racism and marginalization, turn to Forestdale for support.

Intergenerational trauma is the idea that descendants of a person who has had a threatening experience may show the adverse emotional and behavioral response to the experience, similar to those of the ancestor who experienced the event.[1] Disrupting the effects of trauma effectively occurs with guidance from trained professionals who understand human cognition and emotion.
We, at Forestdale, Inc. provide services to children and families that disrupt and dismantle intergenerational trauma, as well as the cycle of events and behaviors that create adversity in the life of a child and family.

New New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) announced on 3/22/2022 that Forestdale was selected to start a Family Enrichment Center in Jamaica/Hollis/Queens Village. FECs are warm, home-like walk-in centers co-designed with local families and community members.