Partnership with Children Expands Trauma-Informed Afterschool Programs

The expansion places these programs at the South Bronx Academy for Applied Media, Riverdale Avenue Middle School, and Mott Hall in Brooklyn. These sites are part of the Department of Youth and Community Development’s COMPASS initiative, which is adding 10,000 afterschool seats across the city this year. CEO Wesner Pierre described the move as a financial and structural commitment to embedding emotional wellness into the daily lives of students rather than treating it as a secondary, reactive service.

This model builds on successful outcomes at PS 194 in West Harlem, where the organization previously integrated mental health support with academic and arts enrichment. Principal Wanda Acevedo noted that the approach led to double-digit gains in math and reading proficiency alongside a marked decrease in behavioral incidents. Data from the organization indicates that 89% of teachers report student progress toward academic or mental health goals, while 85% of staff observed increased student motivation. By aligning social workers with afterschool activity leaders, the program creates a continuous loop of support for students and their families, ensuring that the strategies used during the school day remain consistent after classes conclude.