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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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