Forestdale

Forestdale is a social and child welfare organization, and immediately assists families with parenting, prevention, fostering, material assistance, health, career, and educational support.

Founded in 1854 as the Brooklyn Industrial School, Forestdale has a long history of supporting families and children in New York City. Originally focused on trade skills, they transitioned to residential care for abused and abandoned youth. With evolving needs, they shifted to foster care and adoption in the 20th century.

Today, Forestdale is the only Queens-based child welfare agency, serving both Queens and Brooklyn. They collaborate with schools, religious institutions, business owners, and community leaders to address the root issues causing families to be in crisis, alongside ensuring the well-being of abused and neglected children through foster care and adoption services. Their three-and-a-half-acre campus features open fields, a basketball court, and a JetBlue playground, providing families and children with a serene and enjoyable environment to connect. Each program at Forestdale is crafted to fortify families and, ultimately the need for foster care.

In 2020, Forestdale secured a multi-million dollar contract to oversee services across Brooklyn and establish offices around half a mile away from its original Brooklyn Heights site. Three offices now serve to better assist families in Brooklyn and Queens. Despite the challenges of launching new offices amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, they were honored to tackle the task and introduce their innovative services in new locations. Forestdale services go beyond the immediate crisis to help families become the families they want to be. They are dedicated to individual children and families but also to ending intergenerational trauma and poverty.

Forestdale remains committed to its mission of ensuring children and families have the resources they need to thrive. They see themselves evolving to create a more equitable future for all New Yorkers.