New Alternatives for Children

What New Alternatives for Children does

New Alternatives for Children (NAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit child welfare agency founded in 1982 by Dr. Arlene Goldsmith and headquartered at 825 7th Avenue in Manhattan, with a satellite office in the Bronx. The organization specializes in serving children with complex medical needs, chronic illnesses, disabilities, and behavioral health challenges who are involved with the child welfare system. NAC operates 54 integrated programs organized around four service pillars: Family Support, Medical and Mental Health, Foster Care and Adoption, and Education and Youth Development. Its core delivery infrastructure includes an on-site Article 28 licensed medical clinic, an Article 31 mental health clinic, the Peter Haje Center for Autism, and specialized programs such as Special Medical Foster Care, NAC Futures (for adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities), and the Partners In Parenting aftercare program.

The organization serves 5,593 children and family members across all five boroughs of New York City and has expanded into Westchester County. NAC's technology footprint is limited to electronic health records and telehealth/virtual visit capabilities to support clinical service delivery; there is no disclosed AI/ML capability, public API, or proprietary technology platform. Outcomes data cites a 98% success rate for children in NAC Preventive Services avoiding foster care entry, indicating strong program efficacy in its primary mission area.

NAC's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure. It receives government funding through New York State Medicaid programs (CFTSS and HCBS) and contracts with the NYC Administration for Children's Services, supplemented by charitable donations from individuals and corporations, foundation grants (including from Seventh District Foundation and Robin Hood NYC), federal appropriations, and event-based fundraising such as the annual NAC Kids Can Gala (which raised over $2.2 million in 2025). Services are provided free of charge to clients, so the customer base is funders rather than fee-paying families. Marketing channels center on donor cultivation via the website, Instagram (@nackidscan), earned media (NY Emmy nomination, NY1, CBS, NY Times coverage), and signature events including the annual gala, Women for Women Luncheon, Night for NAC, and NAC Olympics.

Name

New Alternatives for Children

Legal name

New Alternatives for Children, Inc.

Website

https://nackidscan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

New Alternatives for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit child welfare agency founded in 1982 that provides integrated medical, mental health, foster care, and social services to children with complex medical needs and disabilities across New York City's five boroughs and Westchester County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Pediatric Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs Early Intervention & Preschool Programs (EDAKAAAE), Inclusive Early Intervention & Transition-to-Preschool Services (EDACAFAM), Behavioral Support & Positive Behavior Intervention Childcare (HSAAAIAF)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Special medical foster care
• Pediatric mental health
• Preventive family services
• Adoption support services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: NAC relies on donations from individuals and corporations to fund programs and services. The organization hosts fundraising events including an annual gala, Women for Women Luncheon, and Night for NAC young professional event.
2. Government Funding: NAC receives government funding through Medicaid programs including CFTSS (Children and Family Treatment Support Services) and HCBS (Home and Community Based Services), as well as contracts with NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS).
3. Foundation and Grant Funding: NAC receives grants from foundations including Seventh District Foundation and Robin Hood NYC, as well as federal appropriations secured through congressional support.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

New Alternatives for Children is a nonprofit child welfare agency that provides an integrated continuum of care for children with special healthcare needs, disabilities, and behavioral challenges involved with the NYC child welfare system. Its offerings span special medical foster care, on-site medical and mental health clinics, preventive and permanency services, adoption support, and education and youth development programs, all delivered free of charge to families.

Product overview

New Alternatives for Children (NAC) is a not-for-profit child welfare agency offering a comprehensive, integrated service model rather than a single product. The organization provides a continuum of care across four major service areas: (1) Family Support including Preventive Services, The Family Permanency Center, Partners In Parenting, Healthy @ Home, Family Wellness, and an Emergency Food Pantry; (2) Medical & Mental Health including an on-site Medical Clinic (Article 28), Mental Health Clinic, Peter Haje Center for Autism, Building Blocks, Health Home Care Management, Home-Based Supports, and MST; (3) Foster Care & Adoption including Special Medical Foster Care and Post-Adoption Services; and (4) Education & Youth Development including Education Services, Tutoring & Literacy, College Bound Program, Youth Development & Mentoring, Safe Haven, and Recreation & Social Enrichment. NAC also operates specialized programs including NAC Futures for adolescents with I/DD, NAC L.I.T. early literacy program, CFTSS/HCBS Medicaid behavioral health services, and Champions for Children's Health care management. The organization serves children with special healthcare needs, disabilities, chronic illnesses, and behavioral challenges throughout all five boroughs of New York City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Special Medical Foster Care
• Medical Clinic
• Mental Health Clinic
• Peter Haje Center for Autism
• Partners In Parenting (PIP)
• Prevention Services
• The Family Permanency Center
• Healthy @ Home
• Family Wellness
• Building Blocks
• Health Home Care Management
• Home-Based Supports
• MST (Multisystemic Therapy)
• Post-Adoption Services
• Education Services
• Tutoring & Literacy
• College Bound Program
• Youth Development & Mentoring
• Safe Haven
• Recreation & Social Enrichment
• NAC Futures
• NAC L.I.T. (Literacy in Tandem)
• CFTSS (Children and Family Treatment Support Services)
• HCBS (Home and Community Based Services)
• Champions for Children's Health
• NAC Emergency Food Pantry

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of children in NAC Preventive Services avoided entering foster care
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Paksima ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaksima Productions produced NAC's video 'Natalia's Transformation' which was nominated for a NY Emmy Award.
• Asphalt GreenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsphalt Green hosts NAC's annual Kids Olympics and Carnival events, providing facility space for inclusive athletic activities for NAC children.
• JetBlueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJetBlue donated round trip tickets as auction prizes at NAC's 2025 Kids Can Gala fundraising event.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The New York Foundling: One of New York City's largest child welfare and family services nonprofits, offering foster care, adoption, prevention, and behavioral health services; directly comparable to NAC in mission, geography, and integrated service model.
• Children's Aid Society: NYC-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, prevention, education, and health services to children and families; highly comparable in scope, geography, and integrated child welfare service delivery.
• Good Shepherd Services: New York City nonprofit operating foster care, preventive services, and youth development programs across all five boroughs; closely mirrors NAC's continuum-of-care approach for at-risk youth.
• Children's Village: NYC-area nonprofit delivering residential and community-based foster care, juvenile justice, and family services; comparable in child welfare focus and integrated clinical/educational programming.
• SCO Family of Services: Long-standing New York nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, early childhood education, and family support; directly comparable in service breadth and NYC child welfare contract reliance.
• Cardinal McCloskey Community Services: NYC-based nonprofit serving children and adults with developmental disabilities and child welfare needs; comparable in Medicaid-funded services and integration of behavioral health with social services.
• JCCA (Jewish Child Care Association): New York-area child welfare and behavioral health nonprofit offering residential, foster care, and mental health services; directly comparable in clinical and child welfare continuum.
• Sheltering Arms Children and Family Services: NYC nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, early childhood, and family support services; directly comparable in operating model and child welfare contract base.
• Graham Windham: Historic NYC child welfare agency offering foster care, adoption, prevention, and early childhood services; closely matches NAC's integrated family services approach.
• Rising Ground (formerly Leake and Watts): New York City human services nonprofit providing foster care, juvenile justice, education, and behavioral health; directly comparable in multi-service child welfare programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/nackidscan
• Xx.com/nackidscan
• Facebookfacebook.com/nackidscan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nackidscan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Alternatives for Children