Mission
A Place for Kids is an educational institute providing quality cultural enrichment to support a child’s opportunity to succeed in the future.
A Place for Kids (APFK) is a 50 year old not-for-profit, tax exempt 501(C)(3) charitable organization which provides after-school programs at PS 2 and PS 34 and a summer program at PS 2 for children age's four to eleven. We serve a capacity of 133 at PS 2 and 100 at PS 34. Our families live or work in Lower Manhattan. The children under our care are predominantly recent immigrants from low-income families. The children's experiences are limited to within the immediate Chinatown and Lower East Side community due to the fact that the parents work in menial jobs and for long hours. The parents also have limited English verbal and literacy abilities, and lack the resources and the time to help their children academically, recreationally and with extracurricular activities.
We want to develop the minds and bodies of our children to their highest potential and to instill a sense of pride in their own roots and heritage while learning and appreciating the cultures and languages of other nationalities. It is our goal to teach them to appreciate and respect all of the differences of our world and to recognize the similarities. Over the years, we strive to implement a multi-cultural curriculum, provide enrichment projects, and integrate literacy activities which support the NYS Next Generation Learning Standards.
We want to develop the minds and bodies of our children to their highest potential and to instill a sense of pride in their own roots and heritage while learning and appreciating the cultures and languages of other nationalities. It is our goal to teach them to appreciate and respect all of the differences of our world and to recognize the similarities. Over the years, we strive to implement a multi-cultural curriculum, provide enrichment projects, and integrate literacy activities which support the NYS Next Generation Learning Standards.
History
A Place for Kids was founded by a group of community minded college students from the City College of New York, most whom had grown up in Chinatown. These students wanted to do something for the children of the Chinatown community, who were underserved by the conventional programs. They realized the dire need for free and low cost year round childcare for the children of new immigrants and low-income families. Originally named The Asian Children's Underground, our organization was created in 1971 in the basement of a church through a vision of commitment to the community and the spirit of volunteerism.
The on-going recruitment of volunteers, work study, fieldwork and service work students from colleges and high schools and utilizing students from the Summer Youth Employment Program enabled us to continue the childcare services to our families. In 1981, senior aides were assigned to work for us through the Department for the Aging. Renamed A Place for Kids, we evolved into a non-profit community based educational center. We are granted an absolute charter by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York on behalf of the State Department of Education. APFK @ PS 2 and @ PS 34 are registered with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and have been approved for child care voucher support payments by the New York City Administration for Children's Services.
We have been at PS 2, 122 Henry St. NYC 1002, since 2007 and have expanded to PS 34, 730 East 12th St, NYC 10009, in the spring of 2016.
The on-going recruitment of volunteers, work study, fieldwork and service work students from colleges and high schools and utilizing students from the Summer Youth Employment Program enabled us to continue the childcare services to our families. In 1981, senior aides were assigned to work for us through the Department for the Aging. Renamed A Place for Kids, we evolved into a non-profit community based educational center. We are granted an absolute charter by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York on behalf of the State Department of Education. APFK @ PS 2 and @ PS 34 are registered with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and have been approved for child care voucher support payments by the New York City Administration for Children's Services.
We have been at PS 2, 122 Henry St. NYC 1002, since 2007 and have expanded to PS 34, 730 East 12th St, NYC 10009, in the spring of 2016.