The latest from National Association of Social Workers NYC Chapter ... Children's Aid ... NYC contracts

Breaking Ground has received a $19 million contract from the New York City Department of Homeless Services. The money will fund shelter services for homeless adults at Andrews Safe Haven at 197 Bowery in Manhattan, according to the City Record. Urban Justice Center received a $408,000 contract from the department to provide legal services for immigrant workers. The department has also given a $1.57 million contract to Volunteers of America of Greater New York to fund shelter services for homeless families at the Lydia Hoffman Residence at 855 East 175th Street in the Bronx.

The National Association of Social Workers New York City Chapter is recognizing someone for her nearly 20 years in social work. Nanda Praphakar – currently a senior vice president of program operations at New York City Mission Society – will receive the 2018 Social Work Image Award from the chapter. She will receive the honor on Oct. 25, according to an Oct. 1 press release. “Ms. Prabhakar has consistently offered creative solutions to fill gaps in programming, and has committed herself to improving overall services. She has coordinated professional development for program staff, directed the creation of social emotional learning curricula for K-5 programs, reiterated the importance of social justice and equity in participant communities, as well as increased emphasis on empathy and compassion among participants and their families,” reads the press release.

There is a new chair of the Board of Trustees at Children’s Aid. Amy Engel Scharf won the election on Sept. 28 to succeed 22-year board veteran Iris Abrons, who will stay on at the board as chair emeritus, according to a press release. Scharf currently works at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a consultant to the Ethics Committee and Public Affairs Department, according to the press release. Brad Silver and Jay Nydick were also appointed to the board.

Oct. 1 was also the first day for the new chief operating officer Daniel Shacknai, who “will serve as a key member of the leadership team and will focus on ensuring Children’s Aid has the operational and technical controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and people systems in place to ensure operational excellence,” according to a Sept. 12 press release. He was previously a first deputy commissioner at the New York City Department of Housing Development and Preservation.

The Chinese-American Planning Council urged New York City to slow down its plans to build a new jail in Chinatown. More community input is needed before the process to construct the facility should continue, according to testimony given at a city hearing on Sept. 27. “A majority of New Yorkers held in our jails are there pre-trial. The individuals arrested and unable to make bail disproportionately come from communities of color, immigrant, low-income, or non-native English speaking communities,”

said Amy Torres, director of policy and advocacy at the Chinese-American Planning Council. “We cannot talk about alleviating the physical impact that jails have on neighborhoods without first talking about the impacts the criminal justice system and over-incarceration has had on communities of color. We need investments that support existing communities and those returning home. Our conversations must happen together.”