Publications
All of CACF's publications are free to download and print. If you would like a copy mailed to you, please contact us. Certain publications are out of print.
Recording Voices
Coming Soon!
Breaking the Barriers
Coming Soon!
Connecting the Dots: Improving the Neighborhood-Based Child Welfare Services for Asian Pacific American Families
Connecting the Dots: Improving the Neighborhood-Based Child Welfare
Services for Asian Pacific American Families is our third report
on the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), New York City's
child welfare system. The report critically analyzes the needs
of Asian Pacific American families, the barriers to accessing child
welfare services, and the opportunities to develop collaboration with
the Asian Pacific American community. The report also offers timely,
feasible recommendations to reduce child abuse and neglect in the Asian
Pacific American community.
View Policy Brief (March 2007, 33 pages)
Building Bridges: Increasing Language Access for the Asian Pacific American Community of New York City
This policy brief on the quality of translation and interpretation services in the education, child welfare, and mental health systems of New York City:
- Examines the language barriers that Asian Pacific American children and families face when interacting with the education, child welfare, and mental health systems.
- Describes the relevant federal, state, and local laws mandating translation and interpretation services.
- Analyzes the actions being taken in New York City to provide language assistance services.
- Provides policy recommendations on improving language access for the diversifying and growing Asian Pacific American community.
According to the 2000 Census, Asian Pacific Americans are by percentage the fastest growing community in New York City. Asian Pacific Americans also have the highest percentage (28%) of any racial group to speak English "not well" or "not at all." As the Asian Pacific American population continues to grow, this policy brief explains why language access to necessary services is crucial for ensuring this community's important role in supporting the vitality and economy of New York City.
View Policy Brief (January 2006, 12 pages)
Hidden in Plain View: An Overview of the Needs of Asian American Students in the Public School System
The first-ever major report addressing the issues faced by Asian American students striving and struggling to get an education in New York City public schools. Education experts concur that the public school system faces significant challenges in effectively serving the growing Asian American community in New York City. Dropout rates for Asian Americans students have been increasing. Anti-immigrant sentiment in the aftermath of 9/11 has exacerbated the situation for Asian American children and youth who remain targets for bullying and harassment in schools. Schools are not equipped to address the increasing ethnic and language diversity that exists among Asian Americans, resulting in problems with student assessments, misunderstandings and the exclusion of Asian American parents from opportunities for parent involvement within the schools.
This report provides data and recommendations to policy makers; information for families and advocates; and opens a new dialogue on how schools can collaborate with Asian American community organizations to increase parent involvement and improve both the academic and informal education received by students.
View Hidden in Plain View (May 24, 2004; 40 pages)
Crossing the Divide: Asian American Families and The Child Welfare System
The first-ever major report addressing issues surrounding child abuse and neglect in the Asian American community and the City's child welfare system dealing with these issues. Community experts concur that increasing numbers of Asian American children will be reported to the child welfare system in the coming years, due to demographic growth and changes in the community. There is an ongoing lack of appropriate knowledge of Asian American cultures and languages within New York City's Administration for Children's Services and Family Court. This will continue to cause increases in unnecessary removals of children from their homes, and also in the time children linger in foster care without permanency.
This report provides data and recommendations to policy makers; information for families and advocates; and the beginning of a strategic plan for ACS and Family Court administrators to start to make the child welfare system and its processes more efficient.
View Crossing the Divide (January 23, 2002; 24 pages)
A Seat at the Table: Toward a National Agenda for Asian Pacific American Children
A summary of the proceedings from the Asian Pacific American advocacy building track at the 2000 national Children's Defense Fund Conference. These first time sessions, co-chaired by CACF, brought together service providers, educators, and advocates nationwide to identify needs and prioritize solutions for children and youth. The report summarizes discussions on bias crime and violence, K-12 education, poverty and welfare reform, child abuse and neglect, and substance abuse, mental health, and sexual health.
Download the report in PDF format
Understanding the Laws on How You Can Discipline Your Children: A Guide for New Immigrant Families About Child Abuse and Neglect in New York
Understanding the Laws is a bilingual parent education brochure that provides new immigrant parents with information on the local laws regarding child abuse and neglect. The brochure contains culturally specific examples and a list of agencies that offer preventive counseling and crisis intervention. The brochure is available in Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Korean and Urdu.
Download the report in PDF format
Half-Full or Half-Empty? Health Care, Child Care, and Youth Programs for Asian American Children in New York City
Half-Full or Half-Empty is the first major report on the status of New York City's Asian American children and families. The report reveals alarming statistics on how perceptions, policies, and legislative and budgetary priorities are affecting the growing and ever changing population of Asian American families. The report provides comprehensive data on Asian American children and families, identifies gaps in services, documents issues and trends, and links problems to solution.
Download Half-full or Half-Empty (April 1999; 34 pages)
Opening the Door: A Survey of the Cultural Competence of Foster Care Preventive Services to Asian and Latino Families in New York City
Written in conjunction with the Committee on Hispanic Children and Families, Opening the Door presents results of a survey of the bilingual capability, cultural sensitivity, and other service needs by agencies contracted by the Administration for Children's Services to provide services to prevent foster care and offers recommendations to make child welfare services more relevant to the community they serve.
Download Opening the Door (August 1999; 29 pages)