New Alternatives for Children

The children referred to NAC are medically complex and their birth families have devastating social problems. Their circumstances include poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse, immigration and language barriers, parental illness, mental health problems and illiteracy. NAC's children may use wheelchairs or be dependent on medical technology in order to live. They may have HIV/AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, respiratory or cardiac problems or spina bifida, among other diagnoses. Growing numbers have asthma, diabetes and diagnoses on the autism spectrum. Some of the children have spent years growing up in the hospital, others have had more surgeries than birthdays, experienced fragmented health services, prolonged hospital visits, and/or medical and educational neglect.

Despite these challenges, NAC has outstanding outcomes and is one of the highest evaluated programs by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) among all NYC child welfare agencies (including those serving non-medically fragile children). To see our most recent impact numbers, please follow the link to our website: https://nackidscan.org/our-impact/