Dear Friends, 

The Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York has been providing valuable services to families for the past 44 years.    

Recently, we received a call from Karen who adopted Ella as a toddler. Ella suffered from abuse and neglect prior to moving in with her mother. Karen shared that Ella was demonstrating out-of-control behavior both at home and in public. Though they tried to offer support, Karen’s neighbors, friends, and family did not understand Ella’s behavior; Karen felt alone and isolated. 

Karen was relieved when the helpline connected her with the Coalition’s post-adoption service program. She spoke with a Family Support Specialist (a fellow adoptive mom) who understood Karen’s experiences. In addition to giving her specific advice to mitigate Ella’s meltdowns, Karen was invited to join a network of other parents who understood her daughter’s needs, and to attend a six-week Reframing Parenting Series offered by the Coalition. There she gained the insight that her daughter required different parenting strategies than what Karen learned growing up in her own family and learned tactics to mitigate her daughter’s extreme reactions. 

Research shows that the kind of support we provide at the Coalition to a mom like Karen can change the entire life trajectory of a little girl like Ella. Our helpline received over 700 calls this year. There are over 94,000 foster and adoptive children in New York State and while we reach many of their families with our helpline and other valuable services, our goal is to ensure we are able to assist even more children and families every year.    

Join us and our entire Board of Directors* to change the lives of more of New York’s most vulnerable children with a donation here:

The Coalition has accomplished a great deal and with your support we can reach additional children and families of New York State. Please join us by supporting the Coalition. In 2019 we have enjoyed many successes, which include:

• We have served over 200 families with 550 children through our Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Program for Everyone (AGAPE).
• The Coalition team responded to over 700 HelpLine phone calls and we had over a quarter of a million website viewings.
• In April 2019, the Coalition’s began to serve 4 additional New York State Counties via AGAPE (Madison, Cortland, Cayuga and Chenango), In total, we now provide post adoption services to 19 counties in New York.
• On August 16th, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld our victory —giving parents of children of foster care the right to enforce federal requirements under the Child Welfare Act.  The CWA requires states that accept federal child welfare funds, like New York, to provide foster parents with monthly payments that “cover the cost (and the cost of providing)” basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. We hope that this action by the Court will convince the State to make meaningful changes to its deficient and underfunded system for children in foster care.
• On November 14th, New York State Governor Cuomo signed a bill ending 83 years of secrecy over the original birth certificates (OBC) of adult adopted persons. Staff members of The Coalition coordinated with New York State Assembly and Senate to help ensure the passage of the bill.

Please join us, the Coalition’s Board of Directors*, staff, friends and families all working to change the lives New York’s most vulnerable children by making a gift.

 We have had the great pleasure of supporting many children, families and partner organizations throughout the years. Knowing that we make a difference in the lives of children and their parents inspires us.  

Here are some words of recognition received this year regarding the value we provide.

Partner Organization…

“Long Island was in need of post-adoption support for families, and AFFCNY was there. They listened, they acted, and the Adoption and Guardianship  Assistance Program for Everyone (AGAPE) program came to  Long Island.  Families are being strengthened, parents are receiving support and learning parenting strategies that are deepening their relationships with their children. That is what AFFCNY does, and why I am proud to partner with them.”  

“God bless you at AFFCNY! You always listen to me. You all do not know how many times I go to other places and they just make me feel like I am crazy or something. But you people listen and I can tell you care.  When I see that you are touched by something I am going through, I know that you have been through it too and then I know that God brought you to me because you can truly understand.”  

“Thank you for always being the calm voice that says, ok we will just take this one step at a time.” 

“Thank you talking about your family honestly and saying that sometimes parenting a child who has survived trauma is not easy but worth it.” 

We have done so much and our goal is to do more.  Please show your generosity so that we can reach additional children and families of New York State. Donations received through December 31, 2019 will be MATCHED at 100%, up to total $10,000. 

You can also donate by phone or mail using the information below. If you would like to learn more about the history, services, and impact of the Coalition please take a look around the website here. 

Thank you, 

Please consider sharing this post and letter to others in your networks to help support the Coalition support the families that support the children.  DOWNLOAD APPEAL LETTER HERE