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NEW ALTERNATIVES FOR CHILDREN INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133149298 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Large ($10M-$50M) · nackidscan.org
revenue
$35.9M
expenses
$34.9M
net assets
$16.0M
employees
455
volunteers
386
program ratio
87%
mission · from form 990

OPENING DOORS TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS.

profile · synthesized from sources

New Alternatives for Children (NAC) is a New York City-based nonprofit serving children with complex medical, developmental, and behavioral health needs and their families. The organization provides preventive services to keep families together, specialized foster care, adoption support, and comprehensive healthcare coordination. NAC operates through a multidisciplinary model integrating social work, nursing, mental health, and medical services to support children up to age 21.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $3.06M
    NAC PREVENTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES FAMILY STRENGTH-BASED SERVICES FOR BIRTH FAMILIES TO PREVENT THE PLACEMENT INTO FOSTER CARE OF CHILDREN WHO MAY BE AT RISK OF ABUSE/NEGLECT. NEW ALTERNATIVES PROVIDES INTENSIVE FAMILY SUPPORT AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN NYC. SERVICES INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING, GROUP SERVICES, AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 98% OF NAC CHILDREN IN PREVENTION DO NOT ENTER FOSTER CARE. ALL CASES ARE REVIEWED IN REGULAR CLINICAL CASE REVIEWS TO MEASURE PROGRESS AND GAINS. OUR EVIDENCED BASED BUILDING BLOCKS PROGRAMS HELP FAMILIES WITH BONDING AND ATTACHMENT ISSUES.
  2. #2 $2.71M
    CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH PROGRAM - NAC SERVES AS A CARE MANAGEMENT AGENCY AS PART OF THE NEW YORK STATE MEDICAID HEALTH HOME PROGRAM. WITH A TEAM OF MASTER'S LEVEL CARE MANAGERS, NAC'S CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH (C4CH) PROGRAM OFFERS INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND CARE COORDINATION TO CHILDREN UP TO AGE 21 WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS. CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH IS A FAMILY-CENTERED, VOLUNTARY HEALTHCARE SERVICE FOR NAC FAMILIES AND IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.
named programs · 9 · from sources

What they call their work

Champions for Children's Health (C4CH)
Medicaid Health Home program offering individualized case management and care coordination for children up to age 21 with significant medical, developmental, and behavioral health needs.
Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS)
Medicaid-covered services for children birth to 21 with mental health or developmental needs, provided in home, school, or community settings.
Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
Medicaid-funded program providing rehabilitative, in-home, and community-based services to help children with complex needs remain out of institutional settings.
Mobile Medical Clinic
Wheelchair-accessible mobile unit bringing preventive, acute, and developmental-behavioral care to children with special healthcare needs throughout New York City.
NAC Medical Clinic
NYSDOH-licensed Article 28 clinic providing comprehensive, trauma-informed primary and specialty care for children with medical complexity, located in midtown Manhattan.
Partners in Parenting (PIP)
Home and community-based aftercare program providing case management, counseling, and support services to families caring for children with complex medical or behavioral conditions.
Preventive Services Program
Provides family-strength-based services to prevent foster care placement for children at risk of abuse or neglect. Includes mental health treatment, psychological testing, group services, and educational services for parents and children.
Special Medical/Developmental Disabilities Foster Care
Places children with severe disabilities and chronic illnesses in specially trained foster homes with comprehensive medical and social support, including assigned nurses and social workers.
Treatment Family Foster Care (TFFC)
Serves children with chronic medical needs and serious behavioral/mental health challenges through therapeutic foster homes supported by social workers, nurses, and behavior specialists.
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Outpatient Mental Health Clinic Services 2 activities
    • Home and community-based therapeutic services for children with complex needs
      Provides intensive in-home and community-based therapeutic services, including individual and family therapy, crisis intervention, psychosocial rehabilitation, peer support, and behavioral health treatment for children and youth with medical, developmental, or behavioral health challenges. Services include 2–3 weekly therapy sessions over 3–5 months and 24/7 crisis support during treatment.
    • Specialized mental health services through a licensed clinic and mobile unit
      Operates a New York State Licensed Article 31 Mental Health Clinic offering outpatient evaluation and treatment, including psychological and neurodevelopmental assessments, psychiatric evaluations, trauma assessments, medication management, individual and family psychotherapy, art and music therapy, trauma-sensitive yoga, and multisystemic therapy. Coordinates care across medical, child welfare, and social systems.
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy Services 1 activity
    • Autism-specific services through the Peter Haje Center for Autism
      Provides specialized Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, autism diagnostic assessments (including ADOS), individual and group ABA sessions, parent training, and socialization skills groups for children on the autism spectrum through a center-based model established in 2018.
  • Medicaid Health Home Care Coordination 1 activity
    • Comprehensive care management and case coordination for children with significant health and developmental needs
      Operates as a Care Management Agency in the New York State Medicaid Health Home Program, providing one-on-one care management and care coordination for children up to age 21 with significant medical, developmental, and behavioral health needs. Activities include developing individualized Plans of Care, coordinating among providers, assisting with appointments and treatment compliance, and supporting transitions from hospitalization.
  • Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
    • Evidence-based programs for caregiver-child bonding and attachment
      Implements evidence-based Building Blocks programs and provides therapeutic services to support bonding and attachment between caregivers and children ages 0–5, including dyadic therapy, video-feedback interventions, individual play therapy for traumatized young children, and therapy for parents addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, and parenting challenges.
  • Comprehensive Community Service Hubs 1 activity
    • Integrated service delivery across five NYC boroughs
      Serves 5,593 children and family members annually across all five boroughs of New York City through a holistic model that integrates care management, mental health services, autism support, educational advocacy, tutoring, college readiness, recreational services, food assistance, LGBTQI+ support, and family wellness programs.
  • Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
    • Material and emergency support services for enrolled families
      Operates a Food Bank, Clothing Bank, and Toy Bank to distribute groceries, cleaning supplies, toiletries, diapers, baby items, clothing, toys, backpacks, school supplies, books, and holiday gifts. Also provides emergency and medical equipment grants, housing and public benefits assistance, homelessness prevention, and IRS/tax support.
  • Community Health Center Services 1 activity
    • Mobile and on-site medical care for children with special health care needs
      Provides extended, trauma-informed medical care via a fixed clinic in midtown Manhattan and the only mobile medical unit among child welfare agencies in NYC. Services include developmental-behavioral screening, preventive and acute care, confidential adolescent sexual and reproductive health services, care coordination, and assistance with school and program forms.
  • Child Welfare and Protection Services 1 activity
    • Preventive services to avoid foster care placement
      Delivers family strength-based preventive services to at-risk children and families in New York City, including mental health treatment, psychological testing, group services, educational services, and comprehensive family support, resulting in 98% of enrolled children avoiding foster care placement.
  • Specialized Summer Camps for Disabilities 1 activity
    • Recreational, cultural, and youth development programming
      Hosts annual recreational and cultural group activities, summer camp referrals and tuition assistance, mentoring, therapeutic youth development, and large-scale events such as the NAC Kids Olympics, which in 2026 served over 500 children with disabilities or developmental delays.
  • Comprehensive Adoption Services 1 activity
    • Support services for adoptive and guardianship families
      Provides professional health and social services to families formed through adoption or guardianship, including concrete supports, crisis de-escalation, safety planning, Lifebook Work, counseling, parent support groups, and access to a continuum of care such as mental health services, autism support, educational advocacy, tutoring, and food assistance.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$35.88M
Contributions & grants$10.23M28%
Program service revenue$25.86M72%
Investment income$22K0%
Other revenue$-226K
expenses
Total expenses$34.89M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$20.89M
Grants paid out$5.00M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$82.48M
Cash$7.31M
Investments$0
Liabilities$66.49M
Net assets$15.99M
Liquid reserves2.5 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +2.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 9
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ARLENE GOLDSMITH Founder 35 $399K
DAVID GOLDSTEIN Executive Director 35 $335K
KHALID KHAN DIRECTOR OF MENTAL HEALTH 35 $306K
ALEX OKUN MEDICAL DIRECTOR 35 $251K
Kshitija Sarpotdar Director of Finance 35 $191K
Caitlin Lavagnino PSYCHIATRIC PNP 35 $182K
TARA Brown PSYCHIATRIC PNP 35 $180K
DAWN SHAMMAS DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES 35 $179K
JENNY TRASLAVINA DIR DVELOPMENT 35 $161K
board members · 16
  • ADAM EPSTEIN — DIRECTOR
  • ADAM MILLER — DIRECTOR
  • ALLISON PENN — DIRECTOR
  • ASHLEY DAVIS — DIRECTOR
  • BRYAN BELLER — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID SORKIN — PRESIDENT
  • ELIZABETH PFORZHEIMER — FOUNDING PRESIDENT
  • EUGENE PINOVER — DIRECTOR
  • FERN KHAN — SECRETARY
  • GLENN RUFRANO — DIRECTOR
  • HAZEL CARTER — DIRECTOR
  • JENNIFER PERKINS — DIRECTOR
  • JILL GARNER — DIRECTOR
  • JONATHAN KNEE — VICE PRESIDENT
  • JOSEPH IANNIELLO — DIRECTOR
  • LAURA PARSONS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 35

Who they work with

  • Administration for Children’s Services Government — Refers children to NAC's foster care programs.
  • Affinity Government — Accepted Medicaid managed care plan for mental health services
  • Affinity Government — Medicaid managed care plan accepted for mental health clinic services
  • Amerigroup-Healthplus Government — Accepted Medicaid managed care plan for mental health services
  • Amerigroup-Healthplus Government — Medicaid managed care plan accepted for mental health clinic services
  • Art Therapy Outreach Center Partner — Partners to offer a monthly art therapy self-care group for families.
  • Champions for Children’s Health Partner — NAC’s Children’s Health Home program through which children are enrolled to access HCBS services.
  • Children and Family Treatment and Support Services Partner — PIP collaborates with CFTSS to provide integrated mental health and family support services.
  • Community-Based Agencies Partner — Collaborates with community-based agencies that provide healthcare or supportive services through referrals.
  • Community-based organizations Partner — Coordinates cases with community-based organizations to support adoptive families.
  • Early intervention services Partner — Coordinates cases with early intervention services to support adoptive families.
  • Emblem Government — Accepted Medicaid managed care plan for mental health services
  • Emblem Government — Medicaid managed care plan accepted for mental health clinic services
  • Fidelis Government — Accepted Medicaid managed care plan for mental health services
  • Fidelis Government — Medicaid managed care plan accepted for mental health clinic services
  • Health Facilities and Community Clinics Partner — Receives referrals from health facilities and community clinics providing specialty care.
  • Healthfirst Government — Accepted Medicaid managed care plan for mental health services
  • Healthfirst Government — Medicaid managed care plan accepted for mental health clinic services
  • Medical facilities Partner — Coordinates cases with medical facilities to support adoptive families.
  • Mental health clinics Partner — Coordinates cases with mental health clinics to support adoptive families.
  • Metroplus Government — Accepted Medicaid managed care plan for mental health services
  • Metroplus Government — Medicaid managed care plan accepted for mental health clinic services
  • NYCHA Government — Provides support to families applying for NYCHA housing programs.
  • New York City Administration for Children’s Services Government — Primary referral source for families enrolling in NAC’s Special Medical Preventive Services program.
  • New York Institute of Psychotherapy Training Partner — Provides training for Building Blocks therapists under the leadership of Dr. Phyllis Cohen.
  • New York State Medicaid Health Home Program Government — NAC operates as a Care Management Agency within this state-run program, serving eligible Medicaid beneficiaries.
  • New York State Medicaid Health Home Program Government — Participates as a care management agency in the state's Medicaid Health Home program to provide coordinated care for children with significant health needs.
  • New York State Office of Children and Family Services Government — Partnered to operate the Bridges to Health (B2H) Medicaid waiver program for children in foster care with complex needs.
  • Paksima Productions Partner — Collaborated with NAC to produce the Emmy-nominated video "Natalia’s Transformation."
  • Pediatric Hospitals and Rehab facilities Partner — Receives referrals from pediatric hospitals and rehabilitation facilities preparing children for discharge.
+ 5 more
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Based, Trauma-Informed Intervention Across Systems
    methodology: ecological_trauma_informed_care
    By intervening in natural environments—home, school, community—with trauma-informed, culturally responsive methods, the organization promotes behavior change and healing, because addressing youth needs within their full ecological context leverages existing strengths and reduces systemic disconnection.
  • Integrated Health and Social Services Across Developmental Stages
    methodology: integrated_continuum_of_care
    By delivering an interdisciplinary continuum of care that integrates medical, mental health, and social services, the organization improves long-term outcomes for children with special healthcare needs, because coordinated, early-intervention support addresses the full ecosystem of factors affecting health and development.
  • Strength-Based, Family-Centered Care to Prevent Foster Placement
    methodology: strength_based_family_preservation
    By using a strength-based and family-centered approach, the organization prevents out-of-home placements for children with complex medical needs, because building on existing family capacities and addressing systemic risks through supportive services promotes stability and resilience.