For children, a day in court can be stressful and frightening. Both children and adults benefit from Safe Horizon’s court-based Children’s Centers where trained staff supervises children while their caregivers are involved in court proceedings.
With support from the New York State Unified Court System, the Children’s Centers provide free, educationally-oriented day care in an emotionally supportive setting to children from six weeks through 12 years of age. The Centers are staffed with trained Teachers who provide supervision, educational activities and snacks for the registered children. Caregivers are provided with referrals and linkages to social service and education programs.
Each center is equipped with:
- A nursery area with a crib and changing table
- Play and learning areas with activities from arts and crafts to computers for homework
- A kitchen area where healthy and nutritious snacks are prepared and provided
About the Staff
At the Children’s Centers, every day is like the first day of school. Supervised by a well-trained teacher, our staff has the expertise to work with children who have never been out of the care of family members. Staff and volunteers receive training to work with children of all ages who may have experienced abuse, have learning disabilities or behavioral issues.
Our staff includes:
- Teachers who train Children Center staff and volunteers
- Nursery Attendants from the Office of Court Administration (OCA)
- Volunteers including stipend workers from the Foster Grandparent Program
The Foster Grandparent Program is a volunteer program coordinated by the New York City Department for the Aging where grandparents dedicate their time to mentoring at-risk children in various settings, including our Children Centers.
