Family & Reunification
Safe Horizon
Manhattan
Support for victims of crime and abuse: shelter, advocacy, counseling, legal services and supervised visitation; welcomes all survivors regardless of immigration status. Hotline 800.621.4673.
Family & Reunification in NYC
Family services cover reunification with children, custody and visitation, parenting classes, family court support and help for relatives who cared for children during a sentence. Many are free and open to the whole family, not only the person coming home.
Tip: if you have an open case with ACS (NYC's child welfare agency), tell your caseworker and your family court attorney about any program you join, since it may count toward your service plan.
108 services across the five boroughs
Family & Reunification by borough
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS)
Brooklyn · Queens
Free court-appointed defense in criminal, family and immigration matters (Brooklyn and Queens), plus civil advocacy, social work, and the Reentry Speaks support group.
Education & GED
Literacy Partners
Manhattan
Offers free English-for-parents classes and Spanish-language parenting programs for people with children ages 0-7, basic reading classes for all adults, and HSE prep for Bronx Community College students, both online and in person.
Mental Health & Counseling
NAMI-NYC Metro
Manhattan
Free peer-led classes, support groups and family mentoring; helpline Mon-Fri 10-6 in 180 languages with referrals to services.
Family & Reunification
NYC ACS - Office of Advocacy
Manhattan
Information about rights for parents who had to place a child in foster care while incarcerated; incarcerated parents can call collect at 212.619.1309.
Family & Reunification
NYC HRA - Office of Child Support Services (OCSS)
Citywide
Help with child support orders, license suspensions, lowering or eliminating child support debt owed to the government, paternity, DNA testing, mediation, and free financial counseling.
Family & Reunification
Osborne Association
Bronx · Brooklyn
Reentry hotline, workforce services, housing support, elder reentry, court advocacy, sealing consultations, video visiting and family programs.
Family & Reunification
Rising Ground - Steps to End Family Violence
Manhattan
Runs the Criminalized Survivors Program, an alternative-to-incarceration program for survivors of intimate partner and gender-based violence who were criminalized for surviving or resisting abuse. Offers individual and group support, legal advocacy, and court accompaniment throughout the survivor's open criminal case.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
The Bronx Defenders
Bronx
Public defender for Bronx residents in criminal, family, housing and immigration court plus benefits; reentry and ATI advocacy. 24-hour emergency hotline 347.778.1266.
Housing & Shelter
The Fortune Society
Queens
Full-service reentry hub: housing (emergency to permanent), benefits enrollment, case management, education, employment, outpatient substance use and mental health treatment, family services, HIV/AIDS services and ATI programs. No legal services.
Family & Reunification
Center for Family Representation (CFR)
Manhattan · Bronx · Queens · Staten Island
Free legal and social work help for parents contacted by ACS, aiming to keep children at home; also represents youth 7-17 facing criminal charges.
Family & Reunification
Children's Aid
Manhattan
Provides adoption and foster care, education, school- and community-based health clinics, Head Start classes, after-school/summer programs, and parenting and substance-use/teen-pregnancy prevention programs in high-need NYC neighborhoods. Also offers high school equivalency prep, job readiness, and housing assistance for youth in the Bronx and Manhattan.
Education & GED
CUNY Fatherhood Academy
Bronx · Brooklyn · Queens
Free HSE prep or college prep track with tutoring, counseling, parenting seminars, financial incentives and job preparation.
Family & Reunification
Hour Children
Queens
Services for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their families: housing, employment training, case management, mentoring, after-school clubhouse, food pantry, thrift shops.
Family & Reunification
New York Foundling
Manhattan
Provides foster care, educational programs, mental health services, and community-based services for children, families, and adults; services for court-involved youth include intervention, alternatives-to-incarceration, and reentry services, plus a mental health clinic for youth and families and support such as counseling, case planning, and emergency food/supply assistance.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
New York Peace Institute
Manhattan
Free mediation, restorative justice services and training for community, housing, co-parenting, civil and criminal court, youth and special education disputes.
Healthcare
NYC Health - Doula Care
Citywide
Connects pregnant people and families with doulas who provide non-medical support before, during, and after childbirth. The Citywide Doula Initiative offers free doula and home-visiting support to residents of neighborhoods most affected by COVID-19 and other health disparities.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
NYCLA Legal Counseling Project
Manhattan
Free phone consultations with an attorney on family, landlord/tenant, employment and tax law; interpreter services available.
Housing & Shelter
Providence House
Brooklyn
Transitional residences, apartments and permanent supportive housing for women recently paroled from prison and their children, with support services.
Family & Reunification
Sanctuary for Families
Manhattan
Serves survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and gender-based violence with culturally sensitive counseling, case management, crisis intervention, legal representation, and confidentially located shelter for women, men, and families. Also runs a career readiness and technology training program, and, through the EMPOWER Center with NYC Health + Hospitals-Gouverneur, provides resources for survivors of sex trafficking and people in the sex trade.
Family & Reunification
SCO Family of Services
Citywide
Provides services to children, families, and adults, including therapeutic, educational, vocational, and supportive services for young adults on Rikers Island before and after release, Multi-Systemic Therapy for court-involved youth, foster care, early childhood education, and family/community services such as counseling, employment, and substance use treatment.
Family & Reunification
Single Parent Resource Center
Manhattan
Provides programs and support services for single parents and their families, including those living in transitional housing, living with a substance use disorder, or recently incarcerated.
Family & Reunification
United Activities Unlimited (UAU) - Fatherhood Matters
Staten Island
A program for fathers offering a 10-week fatherhood engagement workshop series, with case managers who help navigate child support or public benefits, find and sustain employment, arrange child visitation, and provide anger management and Abusive Partner Intervention Program support.
Family & Reunification
Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) - Incarcerated Mothers Law Project
Manhattan
Provides legal services to incarcerated mothers at Rikers Island, Taconic, Albion, and Bedford Hills correctional facilities, helping them maintain contact with their children and understand foster care and family court proceedings, including adoption and termination of parental rights. Also helps mothers plan for post-incarceration reunification with their children.
Housing & Shelter
Women's Prison Association (WPA)
Manhattan
Provides case management and personalized support for women impacted by the criminal legal system and their families, including help finding safe and affordable housing, developing workplace skills, reunifying families, accessing healthcare and mental health services, and reentry planning for those still incarcerated.
Employment & Job Training
Forging Ahead for Community Empowerment and Support (FACES) - STARS
Manhattan
Offers free vocational services, academic counseling and tutoring, and mentorship for anyone who has had involvement with the criminal legal system. Also provides anger management, substance use treatment and counseling, Narcan training, child support payment reduction assistance, HIV/HCV/STI testing, a food pantry, a clothes bank, and enrollment help for health insurance and SNAP.
Family & Reunification
NYC Department of Education (DOE) - Infant and Toddler Programs
Citywide
Offers free or low-cost early childhood education for children ages six weeks to three years old who are not yet eligible for 3-K, including education, health, nutrition, and social services.
Family & Reunification
NYC Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence - Family Justice Centers (FJC)
Citywide
Provides free and confidential legal, counseling, and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence, gender-based violence, elder abuse, and sex trafficking, with immediate assistance regardless of language, immigration, or economic status. Centers operate in all five boroughs.
Housing & Shelter
NYCHA Family Reentry Program
Citywide
Reunites select people leaving prison or jail with family living in qualified NYCHA apartments and provides reentry services and intensive case management.
Family & Reunification
The Child Center of NY
Citywide
Offers counseling, substance use treatment, early childhood mental health and education programs (including Head Start and Early Head Start), and after-school and enrichment programs for youth in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. The Jamaica Family Wellness Center serves court-involved youth, and the Benefits Access program helps families enroll in entitlement benefits and health insurance and get referrals for financial and legal assistance.
Mental Health & Counseling
The Jewish Board - Mental Health Clinics
Manhattan
Individual, couple, family and group therapy, evaluation and medication management, plus programs for children, teens, trauma survivors, addiction support and domestic violence advocacy. Hotline 844.663.2255.
Housing & Shelter
WIN NYC
Manhattan
Provides shelter and supportive services for women with children in NYC, including job-readiness training, HSE classes, childcare, and college preparedness.
Family & Reunification
Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ)
Manhattan
Supports families of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people: virtual family circles, free counseling, free legal help on conditions of confinement, visitation, parole prep and clemency, plus youth and healing programs.
Family & Reunification
Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC)
Brooklyn · Bronx
After-school tutoring, summer camp, mentoring, a licensed mental health clinic and family engagement services for children of incarcerated parents.
Family & Reunification
Community Connections for Youth (CCFY) - Parent Peer Support Program
Bronx
Pairs parents of court-involved youth with peer coaches who help guide them through their child's juvenile court case and connect them to parent support groups and family-strengthening programming. Peer coaches are also available on call for parents in crisis, and the South Bronx Community Connections program partners with local organizations to create alternatives to formal court processing.
Housing & Shelter
A Beautiful Heart Ministries
Queens
Supports formerly incarcerated women, girls, and gender-fluid individuals with trauma-informed care, safe housing, employment pathways, and entrepreneurship support. Programs include 'She Writes Her Trauma,' a writing-based healing workshop, and 'When She Comes Home,' which offers care packages and transitional support to women and girls returning from incarceration.
Family & Reunification
Circles of Support
Manhattan
Leadership and storytelling workshops for people returning from incarceration and for their loved ones; speaking opportunities, alumni programs and youth programs.
Employment & Job Training
Network Support Services, Inc.
Bronx
Therapeutic reentry support with case management: anger management, education, family counseling, housing referrals, job placement and training; runs programs in four NYS prisons and ATI programs.
Family & Reunification
Social Justice Network (SJN)
Manhattan
Runs three programs for people impacted by incarceration: the Reentry Assessment Program connects currently incarcerated or transitional-housing residents to service providers; the Reentry Educational Program supports access to higher education; and the Family Assistance Program connects families of impacted individuals to clothing, food, mental health, and healthcare providers. Also runs a Comic Books for Justice literacy initiative in correctional facilities and NYC public schools.
Substance Use Recovery
Al-Anon & Alateen - New York City
Citywide
Support groups for family and friends of people with drinking problems.
Benefits & Financial Help
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) - Military Assistance Program (MAP)
Citywide
Provides free immigration legal services to active-duty service members or recent veterans, and their family members, whose legal matters may be complex and require the knowledge of experienced immigration attorneys. Visit the website for full requirements and to request assistance.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Arab American Association of New York
Brooklyn
Immigration help, English classes, youth programs and family support in Bay Ridge.
Housing & Shelter
Artistic Noise
Manhattan
Works with youth and young adults who are unhoused, on probation, living in the shelter system, or have recently returned to their communities after periods of being incarcerated.
Family & Reunification
Black and Pink
Citywide
National network supporting LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive people who are incarcerated, including a pen-pal program.
Housing & Shelter
Brooklyn Public Library - Justice Initiatives Welcome Home
Brooklyn
Reentry Navigators offer one-on-one appointments to set goals, guidance on housing, health and reconnecting with family, monthly peer dinners, and links to library services.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Immigrant Services
Brooklyn
Offers free in-person and virtual citizenship classes; for more information email immigrantservices@bklynlibrary.org. Offers programs in multiple languages including English language classes and conversation groups, family cultural events, free citizenship classes, and adult literacy courses.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Justice Initiatives - Telestory
Citywide
The TeleStory program connects families with loved ones incarcerated in 10 NYS DOCCS facilities through free one-hour video calls. Video calls are available at 13 Brooklyn Public Library branches, where families can also access a range of library resources and support.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Youth & Family Services
Brooklyn
Offers a range of materials and programs for young people, birth through teens, and their families and educators. Programs include Babies and Books; Storytime; Ready, Set, Kindergarten!; STEM programs; Inclusive Services programs for children and teens with and without disabilities; and more.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC
Manhattan
A faith-based agency that provides a broad range of services to immigrants and their families. Direct legal services include Green Card renewals, family-based petitions, DACA renewals, FOIA requests, VAWA petition, U visa, and citizenship applications.
Education & GED
Center for Anti-Violence Education
Citywide
Offers Self-Defense and Upstander workshops for women, LGBTQIAGNC people, and anyone at risk from racism and xenophobia. Also provides programs and workshops for young people.
Healthcare
Center for Hearing and Communication
Manhattan
Offers a comprehensive program of rehabilitative and human services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing including free hearing testing, hearing aid fitting and repairs, and assistive devices training.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Center for Justice Innovation - Harlem Community Justice Center
Manhattan
Community justice center in East Harlem offering housing court support, youth programs and reentry services.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Center for Justice Innovation - Queens Community Justice Center
Queens
Offers alternatives to incarceration, youth programs and social services for people with cases in Queens courts.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Child Find of America - Parent Help
Citywide
Provides free and confidential services for parents living apart, including visitation/custody mediation over the phone, help with understanding legal options, and learning how to navigate the court and support systems.
Family & Reunification
Community Mediation Services (CMS)
Queens
Provides a network of mediation and conflict resolution programs to individuals, youth, and families in NYC. Visitation/custody and divorce mediation offered on a sliding fee scale. Other services include court diversion programs, therapeutic interventions, specialized educational programs, and school-based services.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Correctional Association of New York (CANY)
Brooklyn
Independent prison monitor that tracks conditions in NYS prisons and takes reports from incarcerated people and families.
Family & Reunification
Day One
Citywide
Counseling, legal help and education on dating violence for young people.
Family & Reunification
Emerald Isle Immigration Center (EIIC)
Bronx
Provides information on the procedures for most immigration matters such as reentry permits, lost or replacement Green Cards, family immigration visas, and more. Offers a citizenship program, by appointment, where one can obtain assistance with the application forms, as well as get the necessary photographs.
Education & GED
Exalt Youth
Brooklyn · Manhattan
Education and paid internships for court-involved youth.
Family & Reunification
Families for Freedom (FFF)
Manhattan
An advocacy organization fighting to end the continued detention and deportation of anyone regardless of immigration status, providing support to families affected by criminalization and deportation. The hotline provides help to those who have a loved one who is facing deportation.
Family & Reunification
Family Legal Care
Citywide
A nonprofit organization that provides free legal information and advice about NYS family law and Family Court, including issues of child support, custody, visitation, paternity, parentage, and guardianship of a minor.
Family & Reunification
Good Shepherd Services
Citywide
Youth development, foster care, transfer schools and family support.
Family & Reunification
Graham Windham
Citywide
Child welfare, family support and mental health services.
Family & Reunification
Her Justice
Citywide
Free family, divorce and immigration lawyers for women living in poverty.
Education & GED
How Our Lives Link Altogether (H.O.L.L.A!)
Manhattan
Conducts youth organizing training programs designed to build capacity for critical social analysis, community organizing, and healing. Programming includes an LGBTQI+ retreat center, political education, intersectional healing, and community organizing skillbuilding.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Immigration Equality
Citywide
Provides free legal services to LGBTQI+ people and those living with HIV who are asylum seekers physically present in the US, and LGBTQI+ people and people living with HIV in immigration detention facilities.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Informed Immigrant
Citywide
A website that provides guides for undocumented immigrants on rights, family preparedness, help for people in detention or facing deportation, a directory to find free or low-cost legal services by zip code, and more. Also provides resources for service providers and schools.
Family & Reunification
JMACforFamilies
Citywide
Organizes families impacted by child welfare (ACS) investigations; Know Your Rights resources and advocacy.
Family & Reunification
Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT)
Citywide
Family court legal information and support for people representing themselves.
Mental Health & Counseling
LIFE Camp, Inc.
Queens
Violence interruption and youth programs in Southeast Queens.
Substance Use Recovery
Nar-Anon Family Groups
Citywide
Support meetings for families and friends of people struggling with drug addiction.
Family & Reunification
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Citywide
24/7 confidential support and safety planning for domestic violence survivors.
Housing & Shelter
National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated
Citywide
An online directory of programs for children, parents, and families of people who are incarcerated. Informational materials, fact sheets, and research resources for service providers and families are also available.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
Manhattan
Public defender for Northern Manhattan: criminal, family and immigration defense plus civil help.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights (NMCIR)
Manhattan
Immigration legal services and education in Washington Heights.
Food & Basic Needs
NY WIC Program
Citywide
Healthy food, formula and nutrition help for pregnant people, new parents and kids under 5.
Family & Reunification
NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS) - Juvenile Justice
Manhattan
Provides a wide range of services including prevention programs, alternative-to-detention programs, and placement services for young New Yorkers. A list of borough locations can be found online at www.nyc.gov/site/acs/about/borough-locations.page.
Housing & Shelter
NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) - Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC)
Manhattan
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Interpreter assistance is available for individuals who do not speak English.
Housing & Shelter
NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) - Prevention Assistance & Temporary Housing (PATH)
Bronx
All families with children must apply for shelter at the PATH intake center. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Family & Reunification
NYC DYCD - Youth Connect
Citywide
Hotline connecting young people and families to city youth programs, jobs and services.
Family & Reunification
NYC Public Libraries - Culture Pass
Citywide
A program for NYC public library cardholders ages 13 and over. By using a library card, New Yorkers can reserve a pass and get free admission to partnering NYC cultural institutions including museums, historical societies, heritage centers, public gardens, and more.
Food & Basic Needs
NYC WIC Program
Citywide
Healthy food, formula and nutrition help for pregnant people, new parents and children under 5.
Family & Reunification
NYS Council on Children and Families (CCF) - Help Hub for Families
Citywide
An online resource for finding information and resources for mental health, behavioral health, education, human services, disability, and more for newborns through age 22.
Housing & Shelter
NYS Department of Veterans' Services
Citywide
Provides assistance to veterans and their families with any matters related to veterans’ benefits including debt waivers and help with obtaining a copy of one’s DD214. The Veterans Emergency Housing Program provides eligible veterans up to $2,000 to help cover emergency housing expenses.
Employment & Job Training
NYS Office of Children and Family Services - Adult Protective Services (APS)
Citywide
A mandated service, provided by local social services districts, involving intake investigation and assessment of referrals of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) - Juvenile Facilities
Citywide
Contact the New York State Justice Center with a suspected occurrence of abuse in an OCFS residential juvenile justice facility. All reports of potential sexual, physical, or verbal abuse of any kind will be investigated by the Justice Center.
Family & Reunification
NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance - Child Support Services
Citywide
The Child Support Helpline is available Mon–Fri 8am–7pm.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Possibility Project - Youth Justice Program
Manhattan
A performing arts program open to NYC youth ages 15–21 who are or who have been involved in the legal system. Participants meet Mondays and Wednesdays during after-school hours from August through December.
Mental Health & Counseling
Puerto Rican Family Institute (PRFI)
Citywide
Bilingual mental health clinics and family services.
Employment & Job Training
Queens Community House
Queens
Multi-service settlement house with adult education, food pantry, youth and older adult programs.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Repro Legal Helpline
Citywide
A free, confidential helpline where people can get legal information or advice about self-managed abortion, young people’s access to abortion or judicial bypass, and referrals to local resources. To speak with a lawyer, people can call the helpline or fill out the online secure form.
Employment & Job Training
RiseBoro Community Partnership
Brooklyn
Bushwick-based multi-service agency with workforce, housing, senior and youth programs.
Family & Reunification
Sam & Devorah Foundation for Trans Youth - Trans Mentor Project
Citywide
A national virtual mentoring community that pairs trans and nonbinary young people ages 13–24 with supportive, identity-affirming trans mentors in addition to webinars, hangouts with trans peers, trainings, and leadership opportunities. Visit the website for more information.
Healthcare
Stop It Now!
Citywide
The helpline provides free, confidential, and direct support and information to individuals with questions or concerns about child sexual abuse. Available Mon 12–8; Tues, Wed, and Fri 12–6; and Thu 10–6.
Education & GED
The Brotherhood/Sister Sol
Manhattan
Rites-of-passage, education and leadership programs for Black and Latinx youth in Harlem.
Housing & Shelter
The Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM)
Citywide
Supports women and girls affected by incarceration with housing, education, entrepreneurship and advocacy.
Education & GED
The New York Public Library (NYPL) - Family & Cultural Programming
Citywide
Offers free programs, classes, and events for children and teens. Programs include story hours for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, science and art workshops for children of all ages, homework help and tutoring, musical performances, and more.
Family & Reunification
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies - Disability & Disaster Hotline
Citywide
Provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance, and resources to people with disabilities, families, allies, and organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disasterrelated needs.
Family & Reunification
The Riverside Church - Prison Ministry
Manhattan
Volunteer faith-based outreach for currently and formerly incarcerated people and families: referrals, holiday gifts for children of incarcerated parents.
Mental Health & Counseling
The Trevor Project
Citywide
A national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQI+ young people. The lifeline for immediate help is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Substance Use Recovery
Trans Lifeline
Citywide
A national, trans-led peer support hotline for transgender and questioning people, and a Friends and Family hotline that offers peer mentorship for friends, partners, family members, and professionals supporting trans loved ones and community members.
Family & Reunification
Unfriend the Nypd
Citywide
A project created by the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP), and the Youth Design Center (YDC). The booklet is for youth and young adults and explains how the police can surveil phones through messenger apps, social media, and geofences, and offers protection tips.
Housing & Shelter
Urban Resource Institute (URI)
Citywide
Largest provider of domestic violence shelter in NYC, plus homeless family shelters.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
US Department of Labor - Wage and Hour Division
Citywide
Responsible for enforcing federal labor laws. Provides information on the right to fair pay, the right to take unpaid leave, young workers’ rights and child labor laws, farm workers’ rights, H-2B workers’ rights, and restaurant workers’ rights.
Benefits & Financial Help
Veterans Crisis Line
Citywide
Connects veterans in crisis, and their families and friends, with qualified VA responders through a toll-free hotline. Online chat and texting are also available.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Women's Community Justice Association (WCJA)
Citywide
Advocacy group for women and gender-expansive people affected by incarceration, including the push to close Rikers.
Family & Reunification
Youth Advocate Programs (YAP)
Citywide
Community-based alternatives to youth incarceration with intensive advocacy and mentoring.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Youth Justice Network
Manhattan
A community-based organization serving young people ages 16–24, including those who have been incarcerated, are on probation, or otherwise court-involved. Each participant is paired with a Youth Advocate who acts as counselor, mentor, and coach.