irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.12MYOUTH DEFENSE PRACTICE: THE SAME CITY AGENCY THAT RUNS THE FOSTER SYSTEM ALSO RUNS THE TEENAGE INCARCERATION SYSTEM. WE REPRESENT PRIMARILY BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH WHO ARE CRIMINALLY CHARGED IN FAMILY COURT OR "YOUTH PARTS" IN QUEENS, MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX WITH THE SAME INTERDISCIPLINARY MODEL WE BRING TO FAMILY DEFENSE. OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP YOUTH HOME, WITH THEIR FAMILIES TO AVOID THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF SEPARATION AND INCARCERATION.
- #2 $2.10MCOMMUNITY ADVOCACY PROJECT (CAP) 608,249: CAP PROVIDES 'EARLY DEFENSE' TO PARENTS FACING A CITY INVESTIGATION OF MALTREATMENT, WITH THE GOAL OF AVOIDING A COURT PROSECUTION ALTOGETHER AND KEEPING FAMILIES INTACT AND CONNECTED TO SERVICES. CAP ALSO PROVIDES PARENTS WITH REPRESENTATION TO MODIFY THE STATE RECORDS THAT CORRESPOND TO A FAMILY POLICING INVESTIGATION; THE RECORDS OFTEN PREVENT PARENTS FROM SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN FIELDS WHERE EMPLOYERS REGULARLY CHECK THESE RECORDS. WHEN A PARENT'S FAMILY DEFENSE CASE IS DISMISSED OR THEY HAVE OVERCOME CHALLENGES THAT LEAD TO MALTREATMENT CHARGES, CAP ASSISTS PARENTS WITH AMENDING THESE RECORDS, THUS EXPANDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CLIENTS. HOME FOR GOOD 1,488,767: CFR FAMILIES OFTEN FACE SEVERAL CHALLENGES IN ADDITION TO A FAMILY COURT CASE AND OFTEN NEED ASSISTANCE IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING (TO PREVENT EVICTION AND OBTAIN STABLE HOUSING), IMMIGRATION (TO ACHIEVE LEGAL STATUS AND ACCESS CULTURALLY COMPETENT SERVICES), PUBLIC BENEFITS (TO SECURE AND SUSTAIN IMPORTANT BENEFITS LIKE MEDICAID), AND IN CRIMINAL COURT (TO DEFEND ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO THEIR FAMILY COURT CASE). CHALLENGES IN ANY OF THESE AREAS CAN LEAD CHILDREN TO ENTER, REMAIN IN, OR RE-ENTER THE FOSTER SYSTEM. OUR HOME FOR GOOD INITIATIVE GIVES FAMILIES AN EFFICIENT ONE-STOP SOLUTION TO PROVIDE THEM WITH NEEDED ADVOCACY IN THESE OTHER AREAS AND SO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES STABLE. OUR CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TEAM, IMMIGRATION TEAM, AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE TEAMS ASSIST MORE THAN 650 FAMILIES ANNUALLY TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOME FOR GOOD.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Advocacy Project (CAP)
Offers 'early defense' to parents facing city investigations of maltreatment to prevent court prosecution and family separation; also assists parents in modifying state records from child welfare investigations to improve employment opportunities.
Home for Good
Provides integrated legal and social services in housing, immigration, public benefits, and criminal defense to help families stabilize and prevent entry into or re-entry into the foster system.
Immigration Defense
Represents immigrant parents at risk of deportation and those applying for immigration benefits, ensuring coordination with family and criminal defense teams to protect family unity.
New Family Reunification Project
Represents NYC-based parent sponsors of children in ORR detention, advocating for reunification and defending against detention and removal, including through habeas litigation.
Youth Defense Practice
Provides interdisciplinary legal and social work representation to Black and Brown youth criminally charged in Family Court or "Youth Parts" in Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, with the goal of avoiding incarceration and family separation.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Family and Juvenile Legal Defense 5 activities
- Deliver integrated criminal defense services alongside family defenseProvides criminal defense representation to approximately one-third of family defense clients who face related criminal charges, with coordinated advocacy across Family, Criminal, and Supreme Courts. Services include pre-arrest consultation, arraignment representation, voluntary surrender coordination, bail advocacy, and aligned decision-making between criminal and family court outcomes.
- Operate Family Reunification Project for parents of children in federal custodyRuns a specialized Family Reunification Project that represents NYC-based parents whose children are in Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody, advocating for family reunification through legal representation, procedural guidance, and habeas litigation. Accepts referrals from legal providers nationwide and directly from affected families.
- Provide interdisciplinary legal and social work representation to families in the child welfare systemProvides free legal representation and comprehensive social work services to over 3,000 low-income families annually across the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, with a focus on Black and Brown parents facing ACS investigations or prosecution. Each client is assigned an interdisciplinary team including attorneys, social workers, and parent advocates with lived experience to prevent family separation and support family stability.
- Represent youth in juvenile delinquency and probation proceedingsProvides legal representation for children and youth in Family Court delinquency and probation adjustment proceedings across multiple NYC boroughs, using interdisciplinary teams of attorneys and social workers. Services include arraignment representation, bail advocacy, coordination with family defense, and connecting youth to counseling and other support services.
- Support clients in amending or sealing child welfare recordsProvides legal representation to parents and caregivers seeking to amend or seal indicated reports in the State Central Register (SCR) of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. Services include filing appeals, reviewing SCR contents with clients, representing them in Fair Hearing proceedings, and advocating for record sealing to reduce barriers to employment and housing.
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Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
- Advance workplace inclusion through organizational certificationReceived organizational certification in Workplace Inclusion from the Human Resource Standards Institute (HRSI) in 2024, demonstrating adherence to global standards for diversity, equity, and inclusion in employment practices.
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Tenant Legal Advocacy & Support Services 1 activity
- Advocate for clients in housing and public benefits mattersProvides legal representation in housing court and administrative proceedings to prevent eviction and secure safe housing, while also assisting clients in obtaining or maintaining public benefits such as SNAP, cash assistance, and Medicaid through direct representation and appeals.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Conduct appellate advocacy in family and criminal casesFiles appeals and petitions for appointment of counsel, reviews transcripts and evidence to draft appellate briefs, and presents oral arguments in appellate courts to challenge erroneous court orders. Provides clients with full explanations of decisions and guidance on next steps post-appeal.
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Provide immigration legal services to immigrant familiesOffers comprehensive immigration legal representation to immigrant clients, including affirmative applications, deportation defense, and advice on minimizing immigration risks in family and criminal cases. Approximately one-third of family defense clients are immigrants, and services include habeas litigation for detained parents, removal defense, and trauma-informed social work support.
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Child Welfare Professional Training & Capacity Building 1 activity
- Train practitioners in interdisciplinary family defense modelTrains over 1,000 legal and social work practitioners annually in its evidence-based, interdisciplinary family defense model, promoting best practices in holistic representation for families involved in the child welfare system.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$23.68M
Contributions & grants$23.43M99%
Program service revenue$2K0%
Investment income$262K1%
Other revenue$-21K
expenses
Total expenses$23.43M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$19.21M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$24.34M
Cash$887K
Investments$7.39M
Liabilities$15.55M
Net assets$8.79M
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +15.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 11
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEHRA COLES | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $259K |
| ALICIA WILLIAMS | CHIEF OPERAT | 40 | $213K |
| CHRISTINE WAER | MANAGING DIR | 40 | $194K |
| CAROL SIEGEL | LITIGATION S | 40 | $192K |
| ALEXANDRA ROSIN | LITIGATION D | 40 | $188K |
| SANDEEP KANDHARI | LITIGATION D | 40 | $187K |
| WANJIRO GETHAIGA | MANAGING DIR | 40 | $186K |
| ARI CHIARELLA | SOCIAL WORK | 40 | $184K |
| WENDELL CRUZ | LITIGATION D | 40 | $169K |
| SAMANTHA MIELE FROM 52424 | CHIEF FINANC | 40 | $167K |
| GENEVIEVE CHRISTY UNTIL 52324 | CHIEF FINANC | 40 | $96K |
board members · 14
- CHERYL JAMES FROM 120524 — BOARD MEMBER
- CHRISTOPHER G KARAGHEUZOFF ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- CLAIRE E JAMES ESQ — SECRETARY
- HOWARD SEIFE ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- INBAL HASBANI UNTIL 372024 — BOARD MEMBER
- JANE M SPINAK ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- JEFFREY L KESSLER ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- LAURA J GORDON — BOARD MEMBER
- MARGARET A DALE ESQ — VICE CHAIR
- MARGERY GREENBERG FROM 120524 — BOARD MEMBER
- MARTIN GUGGENHEIM ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAELA M KENNY — TREASURER
- NANCY WEINER — BOARD MEMBER
- PEGGY COOPER DAVIS ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- ACS Government — Adversarial legal relationship in appellate cases involving access to client records and family court decisions.
- ACS Government — Interacts with ACS in the context of investigations or prosecutions involving clients.
- ACS Government — Interacts with the Administration for Children's Services in Family Court cases involving child welfare investigations and family separation.
- ACS Government — Interacts with the Administration for Children's Services in the context of family rights and child welfare proceedings
- ACS Government — Represents families in cases involving investigations by the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) in New York City.
- ACS (Administration for Children's Services) Government — Advocates for clients in interactions with ACS, including securing language access and equitable treatment for immigrant families.
- Administration for Children’s Services Government — Federal agency whose indicated investigations are challenged through SCR appeals on behalf of clients.
- Administration for Children’s Services Government — Government agency that conducts child abuse and neglect investigations in New York City, which CFR clients interact with and are defended against.
- Department of Homeland Security Government — Engages with DHS offices on behalf of clients during the family reunification process.
- Family Court Government — Attorneys represent children in delinquency proceedings and probation adjustments in Family Court.
- HRSI Government — Verified CFR's Inclusive Workplace Certification through HRSI standards.
- Human Resource Standards Institute Government — Granted organizational certification in Workplace Inclusion to CFR in 2024.
- ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Government — Engages with ICE on behalf of clients to advocate against detention and removal and to support clients’ immigration cases.
- LSPs (Legal Service Providers) Partner — Accepts referrals from legal service providers representing detained children nationwide for the Family Reunification Project.
- New York City Government — Provides criminal defense services within New York City court systems
- New York City Administration for Children's Services Government — Represents clients in cases involving the city agency that operates both the foster care and teenage incarceration systems.
- ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement) Partner — Represents parent sponsors of children in ORR detention through the Family Reunification Project.
- Office of Refugee Resettlement Government — Represents parents with children in ORR custody as part of a family reunification project.
strategies · 4
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.
- Anti-Poverty Support Over Punishmentmethodology: anti_poverty_support_modelBy meeting poverty with resources and empathy rather than punitive interventions, the organization prevents family separation, because treating economic hardship as a need for support—not neglect—enables parents to safely care for their children and engage effectively with services.
- Critical Language Reframing for Systemic Changemethodology: critical_language_reframingBy using terms like 'family policing system' instead of 'child welfare system,' the organization challenges dominant narratives and raises awareness of racialized surveillance and coercion, because language shapes perception, policy, and professional behavior—reframing enables resistance, empowers clients, and supports broader advocacy for decarceration and racial justice.
- Interdisciplinary Holistic Defense Modelmethodology: holistic_defense_modelBy pairing clients with an attorney, social worker, and parent advocate with lived experience, the organization provides integrated legal and social support that addresses root causes of family separation, because combining legal defense with social services and peer advocacy increases client engagement, improves outcomes, and reduces foster system involvement.
- Lived Experience as Relational Advocacymethodology: lived_experience_integrationBy employing parent advocates with lived experience in the family policing system as core team members, the organization builds deeper client trust and more effective representation, because shared experience enhances communication, reduces power imbalances, and strengthens client-centered advocacy.