MercyFirst
Do you own this business? Claim this listing to add more information.
Contact Information
525 Convent Road
Syosset, NY 11791
United States
Online Contact Form
Syosset, NY 11791
United States
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM-5 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
MercyFirst is a Sanctuary-certified, not-for-profit human and social service agency serving more than 3,000 children, teenagers, and families each year in the New York metropolitan area. Founded as an orphanage in the late 1800s by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst (a merger between Angel Guardian Home in Brooklyn and St. Mary of the Angels Home in Syosset) today offers a range of life-changing, trauma-informed interventions to children and families in need through a network of programs and services throughout New York City (Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) and across Long Island.
The staff of MercyFirst are professionally trained and prepared to respond to the complex needs of traumatized and neglected children, youth with serious emotional problems, teens and young adults without families who must learn to make their own way as adults, and families coping with poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental illness. We strive to provide a healing interval in the lives of the children and families we serve. We offer them a safe and healing environment and help them open doors and tap into resources, in an effort to develop their full potential. Here is how we help.
Services and information
- Traditional Foster Care
- Specialized / Therapeutic Care
- Emergency Foster Care
- Respite Foster Care
- Adoption
Requirements to become a foster parent
Raising foster children is a rewarding and life-changing experience. You can make a real difference in a child's life, helping them on a path toward success.
Remember that fostering affects the whole family, so talk to your partner and biological children if you're considering this journey. Learn more about what to expect and ensure it fits your lifestyle. You must be healthy and have enough time and energy to care for a child and meet their needs. This is important for gaining foster parent approval because every child must have this foundation of support.
Each state has requirements for foster parents. In New York, applicants must:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Live in a safe and stable environment
- Have enough space for a foster child
- Show financially stability
- Prove that all family members are in good health
- Pass a background check
- Clear a home safety inspection
- Attend required foster parent training
- Complete the Home Study process
- Provide a minimum of three character references
Foster families in New York can rent or own their homes. Adults can become foster parents no matter their marital or divorce status. All adults who are living in the home with foster children must pass the New York required criminal background check. Every adult must complete both state and federal background checks and undergo fingerprinting.
Interested candidates can make the first call to foster services and get the approval and licensing process started. Contact the New York Office of Children and Family Services (NYOCFS) or your local Department of Social Services (DSS). The first step after expressing interest will be to attend a foster orientation. Potential foster parents can learn about the approval process at the event and get questions answered by a foster child advocate.
The foster parent training requirement begins with pre-service training. After getting licensed, foster parents must participate in ongoing training and educational programs.
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
3.2 / 5| 5 | |
| 4 | |
| 3 | |
| 2 | |
| 1 |
May 10, 2020
I was in this detention center for over a year. The things that I witnessed happening to the children there were horrifying. Children Being dragged down to a secrete room called (CRT) and being beaten. Children being starved if they spoke their mind and the workers didn’t like it. Recently I found that governmental agencies are collecting data from these centers to see how easy it is to manipulate parents in having their children stay there. They are also selling information on the manipulation of young children. The Staff there have zero qualifications to be working with young children. This program is strictly to collect data for the government.
Dec 03, 2019
(Translated by Google) Just thank you very much to everyone for what you did for me and also thank you very much to
Mister: Jose
De Guillis
(Original)
Solo muchas gracias a todos x lo q isieron por mi y también muchas gracias a
Mister:José
De Guillis
Oct 27, 2019
I just want to say thank you mercy first and thank you Esperanza unity for support me and make me a better person, I hope you keep doing the same thing with my paisanos Guatemaltecos.
From: Bryan Lopez a great resident.
Sep 25, 2019
(Translated by Google) I can only say thank you for everything you did for me thank you very much
(Original)
Solo puedo decir gracias por todo lo que hicieron por mi muchas gracias
Jul 15, 2019
Many of my friends said that mercy first is worst then jail. The agency fails to help those in their care. They say they will help and they don’t. My boyfriend has been in there system since he was 14. One house was full of ants, and drug were being sold out of it. The next house they women running it would not give him his monthly allowance in he did what she said. And when he called the agency to inform them they said “ then leave and go to diss” it been taking them over 8 months to get his green card replacement. This agency is such a disgrace. Kids run away from the campus and live on the streets and say they are happier there.