Relationship-First Development

Awards $8,000 annually in college scholarships to U.S. high school seniors through an essay contest highlighting independent thought, speech, or action, receiving over 4,000 submissions in 2026.

Supports policy change by advocating for "Reasonable Childhood Independence" laws, contributing to the passage of such bills in eleven states and inspiring federal "Let Grow" legislation.

Developed and distributed a Clinical Therapy Manual (also called Independence Therapy Manual) based on a pilot study showing increased independence as an effective intervention for childhood anxiety.

Provides free, ready-to-use curricula—including The Let Grow Experience and implementation support—for K-12 students and parents to build agency and confidence through independence, available via shared Google Drive and direct distribution.

Delivers a structured program in public and private K-8 schools that encourages children to independently try new tasks, supported by a free, full-year curriculum for students and parents accessible via shared Google Drive.

Provides a searchable Community Toolkit with resources, outreach tools, and external links to support local efforts in promoting child independence.

Runs school-based Play Clubs where children engage in unsupervised, screen-free play before or after school with minimal adult intervention beyond safety oversight; includes programs such as the twice-weekly club at Discovery Ridge Elementary with 72 participating students.

Hosts a recurring challenge inviting children to submit photos, videos, and stories documenting their independent activities to promote confidence and self-reliance.

Shares crime statistics and other evidence-based information with parents to counter fear-based parenting and support safe, independent childhood experiences.

Distributes free materials including the Independence Kit, "Four Weeks to a Let Grow Kid" guide, Independent Action Cards, a 10-week family action plan, and the Kid License in English and Spanish to support parents in fostering independence.

Supports access to childcare, after-school, and summer programs by accepting diverse payment methods—including DSS and union funding—and providing free transportation to participants through a partnership with the Yonkers Transportation Department.

Provides long-term, supervised childcare services for children from Pre-K through 8th grade in a centrally accessible location in Yonkers, NY, including year-round operational capacity and enrollment support through downloadable forms.

Provides a structured summer camp program for children ages 3 to 14, including breakfast and lunch, educational enrichment, arts and crafts, music and dance, talent shows, water games, outdoor sports, and organized day trips to venues such as Funplex, Medieval Times, and swimming locations.

Provides supervised after-school care and programming for children in Pre-K through 8th grade, including homework help, tutoring, and indoor/outdoor activities, running from September through the school year with free transportation via partnership with the Yonkers Transportation Department.

Conducts comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluations for children ages 3–5 to assess developmental delays, including psychological, educational, social, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy assessments, with evaluations performed at the agency, home, or daycare, followed by referral to the NYC Department of Education for IEP planning.

Provides related services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling in home, school, or center settings based on IEP recommendations to support children with disabilities in maintaining academic and developmental progress.

Operates a Universal Pre-Kindergarten program for four-year-olds in Brooklyn that serves both typically developing children and those with disabilities, promoting kindergarten readiness through cross-curricular, multi-sensory learning and inclusive classroom environments aligned with New York State learning standards.

Offers integrated special education classes that combine children with disabilities and typically developing peers to promote academic readiness, language development, and social-emotional growth in alignment with New York State learning standards.