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Community Op-ED NOVEMBER 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 12

Expanding these ACS programs

will help more Young People living in

Foster Care build New Lives

In addition to coaching, Fair Futures provides a range of academic, career development, housing,
and independent living support systems for young people in foster care or in the juvenile justice system.
This is a program that does more than just open doors — it transforms lives.

ERIC ADAMS

oung people living in foster
care in our city need help build-
Ying a strong future where they
are set up for success. As an adminis-
tration committed to uplifting all our
city’s youth, we are here to make sure
those young people connect to col- Fair Futures began in 2019 and was later expanded by our administration to include young people involved in the juvenile justice system (File photo)
lege and career opportunities more
easily. That is why, last week, we ex- thanks to the courageous and effec- young people with a daily stipend. youth with counseling, college oppor-
panded multiple programs through tive advocacy of youth in our care, was The program is expanding from serv- tunities, careers, and more.
the Administration for Children’s later expanded by our administration ing 400 young people to 500 youth, a This is a city of opportunity, and
Services (ACS) that support children to include young people involved in 25 percent increase. we are committed to helping young
in foster care. the juvenile justice system. Over 4,000 Building off the success of Col- New Yorkers fulfill their potential.
First, we are expanding ‘Fair Fu- young people who have been in fos- lege Choice, we are launching our We are all invested in the success of
tures,’ which provides one-on-one ter care or the juvenile justice system new ‘Career Choice’ program that our young people because as I often
coaching and tutoring for our young now have dedicated coaches, a num- will connect young people in foster say, ‘if we don’t educate, we will incar-
people in foster care — ages 11 to ber that will expand to approximate- care who are in vocational, trade, or cerate.’ And education doesn’t simply
26 — helping them plan for the fu- ly 6,000 young people by Fiscal Year workforce development programs stop the day you graduate from high
ture and giving them a head start in 2027 — a 50 percent increase. with financial and social support be- school, as every young person needs
life. In Fiscal Year 2024, our coach- In addition to coaching, Fair Fu- cause college may not always be the some help choosing the right path to
es, working in partnership with New tures provides a range of academic, right path for every young person. take, whether that is enrolling in col-
York City Public Schools, helped a career development, housing, and in- Overall, the Career Choice program lege or learning a trade.
majority of 9th graders in foster care dependent living support systems for will serve approximately 400 youth. Since we launched the Fair Fu-
enroll in high schools with above young people in foster care or in the These expansions and innova- tures and College Choice programs,
average graduation rates. They also juvenile justice system. This is a pro- tions are part of a $163-million in- more young people in foster care
helped 116 high school-age youth gram that does more than just open vestment we announced at this year’s have had the opportunity to finish
who dropped out of high school doors — it transforms lives. State of the City address that will high school and attend college. By ex-
successfully re-engage and re-enroll We are also expanding the ‘Col- help us reach 8,000 total participants panding these programs and adding
in a best-fit academic setting. And lege Choice’ program, which we across five popular ACS programs — in support for those attending voca-
while the numbers are important launched in 2022, and that provides including the three mentioned above, tional and trade schools, we are proud
here, they do not tell the full story: kids in foster care with robust support as well as GirlsJustUs and Assertive to support the next generation of New
the story of those individual lives that systems, including financial support, Community Engagement & Success Yorkers while ensuring they have ev-
are changed when they get support, as they head off to college. The pro- — that serve youth in foster care and ery opportunity to afford to live and
guidance, and the first and second gram covers the tuition, room and those involved in the criminal justice thrive right here in our city.
chances they need to succeed. board costs of a two-year or four- system. Together, these programs will Eric Adams is the Mayor of
Fair Futures began in 2019 and, year college, in addition to providing help connect more New York City New York City, NY

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