Leake and Watts originally opened in 1831 as an orphanage for just 60 boys.  We are now over 176 years old and one of the most respected child welfare agencies in the country, providing a full continuum of services for more than 2,500 children and families daily.

In 1978, we opened the East Bronx Family Service Center.  This community-based program reaches out to families beset by a wide range of problems.  In the broadest sense, it helps prevent the disintegration of the family, keeps children safe, prevents foster care placement whenever possible, and improves the overall well-being of each family.  This is done through the provision of an array of services such as family counseling, group work, socialization activities, and advocacy.

In addition to the many services provided directly at the Center, we collaborate with other community agencies, most often for health and mental services, substance abuse services, specialized educational services, housing and all types of emergency assistance.

This program provides intensive preventive and support services to families, including those impacted by mental illness, substance abuse and medical problems related to HIV, where the children are at risk of abuse and neglect or placement into foster care.  The Family Support Project accepts referrals from parents and legal custodians as well as service providers and schools.  Families must live in the community board districts that we serve.  They must also be legal residents and income eligible.

Leake and Watts' project SAPIE is a rehabilitation program that provides intensive casework services to families with substance abuse or chemical dependency problems.  Crack, cocaine, alcohol and other drugs are a major reason why so many children are coming into foster care.

The Leake and Watts Family Rehabilitation Program has two goals: 1.) prevent the disintegration of the family, especially placement into foster care, and 2.) keep the children safe by helping the drug abuser stay sober.  The aim is to improve the well-being of the entire family and when appropriate, preserve family unity. 

The Program goes into action when we find that child abuse or neglect is the result of substance abuse.  At that time, we demand that the drug abusing parent go into a treatment program.  Sometimes, a child in the family is also a substance abuser and we refer that child to a substance abuse facility.

• Prevent child abuse and neglect
• Serve children and families in their own neighborhoods
• Reduce the number of placements into foster care
• Promote the well-being and development of children
• Strengthen families

Our services are:
- Free to families
- Offered in English and Spanish

The Family Resource Center was established in 1996 in collaboration with the Mental Health Association of New York.  It builds on a family's strengths, helping them mobilize community resources on their own behalf. 

What does that mean?  Well, it sounds like many programs you've heard about, but there is one crucial difference, The Center is consumer-driven.  The services it offers are designed by people living in the community, by the same people who need the services.  The staff members are community members, they have overcome man of the same problems as the people walking through the door.  As such, they can often connect at the deepest level with the people they are serving.

Since it began, the Family Resource Center has provided services to numerous families with children in all age groups.  The experience has been invaluable, and has reinforced our belief and commitment to the approach we are taking there.  Now more than ever, we see the need for increased consumer involvement and intense listening, at all levels of the child welfare system.  The Family Resource Center provides information and referral, Fresh Air Fund registration and family life/skill building workshops.

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