Kennedy Children’s Center: Where Children, Families and Communities Learn Together

Since 1958, Kennedy Children’s Center (KCC) has been a pioneer in early childhood special education, being one of the first schools of its kind in the country. Currently, KCC serves more than 350 children ages 3 to 5 in East Harlem and the Bronx, while preparing the next generation of early childhood educators.

The New York City Department of Education makes referrals for all KCC students because their neighborhood schools cannot meet their specialized needs. KCC offers comprehensive services, including special education classrooms, speech, occupational and physical therapy, as well as behavioral counseling.

At the heart of KCC’s work is the bilingual Family Services Department, which empowers families to understand their child’s diagnosis and become lifelong advocates. Through partnerships with community organizations, families connect with essential supports such as housing assistance, food access, immigration and legal assistance, among others.

KCC’s student population reflects the diversity and resilience of its communities:

· 100% of students have special needs.

· 65% present characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD, or ASD).

· 70% are Latino, 25% African American.

· 40% are bilingual.

· More than 80% receive benefits from the SNAP and Medicaid programs.

New collaboration with Family Health Services of Little Sisters of the Assumption (LSA)

To help meet the growing demand for preschool special education, KCC has partnered with Family Health Services of LSA to open three new classrooms in East Harlem, increasing capacity to 28 students. This expansion builds on KCC’s 121st Street campus, which already serves 150 children.

In addition to sharing space, this collaboration offers students and their families access to LSA’s comprehensive supports, which include mental health counseling, art therapy, after-school programs, a food pantry, and more. Both organizations are part of the Catholic Charities of New York network and share a deep commitment to the East Harlem community.

With no public funding available for preschool expansion, collaborations like this are essential, especially since 45% of New York City preschoolers with an individualized education program (IEP) did not receive mandated services last year.

“Kennedy Children’s Center and LSA Family Health Services know that it takes a complete team to raise a healthy child. We also know that family support is equally important to future success. This collaboration is an opportunity to work together to provide education, health, nutritional support and more to our East Harlem community,” said Jeanne Alter, executive director of Kennedy Children’s Center.

Program Grow Your Own: A local process for educators

In 2017, KCC launched Grow Your Own (GYO), New York City’s only program dedicated to training local residents to become early childhood special education professionals. GYO supports unemployed and underemployed individuals to become certified as paraprofessionals and teachers. In 2024, GYO became a New York State Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Since the launch of GYO:

· More than 400 paraprofessionals have completed the program.

· 91% completion rate.

· 75% job placement rate.

· 32 GYO students are currently studying at the City University of New York, CUNY.

GYO helps address the teacher shortage, while creating economic opportunity and building a workforce that reflects and understands the community it serves.

For more information about the Kennedy Children’s Center or the program Grow Your Ownplease visit www.kenchild.org or call (212) 988-9500. For more information about LSA Family Health Services, please visit littlesistersfamily.org.