Good Shepherd Services

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, staff from our Prevention programs wore blue to show their commitment to child safety. 💙

Prevention is a shared responsibility. Our teams partner with families and communities to strengthen protective factors and connect caregivers to support.

Social Work Month Spotlight - Chenel Luten
In her practice, Chenel creates spaces where students grow academically, emotionally, and personally. She helps young people discover what they can achieve and who they can become. Let’s give a shout out to Chenel for her incredible work at Boys and Girls and her to supporting children and youth across .

On Monday, March 23, staff and partners gathered on the steps of City Hall with the Coalition for Equitable Education Funding to rally for continued investment in programs facing the loss of city funding in June 2026. Ahead of the City Council’s education budget hearing, advocates lifted up programs like Learning to Work ( ), which helps over-age, under-credited students earn their high school diplomas. $31 million in LTW funding is currently set to expire.

We were grateful to hear from Jhony, a participant at our Stevenson YABC, who shared powerful testimony about the importance of LTW and why this funding matters for students like him. Another rally is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on the Steps of Tweed.

Our CEO Michelle Yanche wrote an amny op-ed on why New York must address the poverty wages staff earn. It's a stark reality when the people we hire to help New Yorkers can’t afford their own bills. Good Shepherd Services is part of the Bring Up Minimum Pay (BUMP New York) campaign, pressing state leaders to raise base pay to $29 per hour, up from $17. Read the full piece here:

Op-Ed | Caregivers holding the system together have no safety net of their own | amNewYork Every day, approximately one million human service workers across New York State help families navigate life’s hardest moments. They guide struggling parents

Social Work Month Spotlight - Jennifer Rhoad

For Jennifer, is personal. Shaped by her own journey, she leads with empathy, listens with care, and meets people where they are without judgment. Thank you, Jennifer, for your to children, youth, and families in .

Good Shepherd's afterschool teams from MS45, MS447, Truman, Red Hook Beacon, PS297 and Brooklyn Scholars joined New York State Network for Youth Success in Albany on Wednesday with over 60 reps sending a clear message to lawmakers — fund now! We’re calling for the resources needed to close gaps left by current funding and expand high‑quality afterschool opportunities statewide. Huge appreciation to the organizations that also brought young people to share their voices and strengthen this collective push.

The Bronx Times featured Eric Thomas, founder of Chef Doula LLC and graduate of our Entrepreneurship Business Development Institute. The article highlights Eric’s work bringing together and postpartum care to support . Grounded in accessibility, his work reflects the mission‑driven we’re proud to support at GSS.

Eric Michael Thomas creates ‘Chef Doula’, a business combining maternal and nutritional support – Bronx Times Melrose resident Eric Michael Thomas is building his business, Chef Doula LLC, tackling the twin challenges of maternal health and nutrition in the Bronx.

Educational programs across NYC, including Young Adult Borough Centers ( ), are in danger of losing their funding after June 30, 2026. Spectrum News NY1 visited our Abraham Lincoln YABC site and spoke with Program Director Jennifer Aviles and recent alum Michelle Cabrera about why this funding is critical for students who need a proven alternative path to .

YABCs provide flexible schedules, personalized support, and opportunities that connect students to jobs.

Congratulations to recent YABC graduates from our nine sites in the and ! We’re proud to help hundreds of students earn their diplomas each year.

Nonprofits scramble to protect funding as city faces budget gap It's estimated the city faces a $6.5 billion budget deficit.

We were proud to join The Supportive Housing Network of New York and 200+ supportive housing advocates in Albany today to urge Governor Kathy Hochul and the NY State Legislature to fully fund supportive housing in the final budget.

Learn more about our advocacy priorities at bit.ly/NetLobbyDay26

Grateful to spend in conversation with City Year New York and AmeriCorps about what fairness in looks like in practice. Nickesha Francis, our Policy and Advocacy Manager, discussed why consistent investment in youth and healing-centered practices provides the stability students need to succeed.