A top federal official faced questions about Trump policy and child trauma

A new homeless shelter is coming to Upper Manhattan. The City reports that the Department of Social Services will give a presentation to a Manhattan Community Board 12 committee on the proposed project at 286 Audubon Ave. The 175-bed shelter is slated for completion this summer.

Want more info? We’re told the Dept. of Social Services will give a presentation about the new shelter at Community Board 12’s Housing and Human Services Committee meeting tomorrow (Thursday) night. That’s at 7 p.m. at Alianza Dominicana at 530 W. 166th St. on the 6th floor.

— Rachel Holliday Smith (@rachelholliday) March 6, 2019

Services for the UnderServed has received a $858,958 contract from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The money will fund efforts to provide families with supportive and permanent housing, according to the City Record. Boro Park Jewish Community Council will provide $35,000 worth of legal services on behalf of the Department of Social Services to help immigrants pursue citizenship and permanent residency. The agency also has a new $260,000 contract with Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation to provide legal services for the working poor.

DHS chief has little to say about child trauma. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was a key figure in the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance” approach to border crossings last year, which resulted in thousands of children being separated from their parents and placed into the care of nonprofit contractors.

She testified before Congress yesterday – for the first time since Democrats took the U.S. House – and at one point admitted that she was unfamiliar with how separating parents from children can harm the mental well-being of the latter.

From The Cut: “Nielsen’s responses seemed to indicate that the secretary was either not aware of the severity of the treatment of migrants in the United States – particularly children – or she was intentionally giving misleading answers to obfuscate the endless reports of abuse against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol.”

Here is one of the key exchanges:
 

Under questioning from @RepUnderwood, Nielsen admits she was broadly unfamiliar with research indicating kids are traumatized by being separated from their parents before DHS implemented its "zero tolerance" policy pic.twitter.com/tGWnIOQm9S

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 6, 2019

An executive at the Mental Health Association of Westchester has been nominated to the state Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children. The New York State Court Appointed Special Advocate put up the name of Jackie Boissonnault on Feb. 28, with Chief Judge of New York State Janet DiFiore appointing her to the post, according to a press release. Boissonnault currently serves the director of children’s advocacy at the Tarrytown-based Mental Health Association.

The commission is a 30-year-old body charged with improving the lives of youths tied up in the court system. Its members include judges, activists, physicians, legislators, and other officials.

“It is an honor to represent CASA on the Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children,” Boissonnault said in the press release. “Throughout my years of service within the child welfare and judicial systems, I have witnessed the impact of the research, policy and implementation of services as a result of the tremendous work of the Commission.”