Care-Ful

  • Made By CUP With:
  • Students
  • Tags:
  • Public Safety,
  • Mental Health

Supporting high school students to understand the impact the foster care system has on communities.

Students show off their final product.
Students ask Bronx community members what they think about foster care.

As of December 2021, there were almost 8,000 children in NYC’s foster care system. There are many cases in which children being harmed are moved to safer foster care settings. However, some people think foster care negatively impacts youth and families. Why do some people think the foster care system harms families and communities? What are youth and family rights in the foster care system? How can we better support impacted families?

In the winter of 2022, CUP’s Senior Youth Education Program Manager Fielding Hong collaborated with classroom teacher Ms. Akilah Clarke and the ICHS 12th graders to investigate NYC’s foster care system and its impact on children and families. Through artmaking, design thinking, and participatory action research methods, the students examined multiple perspectives on the issue. The group teamed up with CUP’s Fellow for Change in Design, Marisa Hetzler, and created the booklet Care-ful to teach others what they learned, how to support struggling families, and how to care for members of our community.

Check out more photos of students in action here!

Students write poems about home and family life.
Students interview Joyce McMillan about the impacts of foster care on families.

“I liked doing the interviews on the street. It will help me to develop the skill of speaking in front of others without being nervous.”

— Melanie Salvatierra, ICHS Student

Check Out the Project

The cover and spread of Care-Ful

Buy a Copy $5

Click here to buy

Download a Free Copy

Click here to download

Project Collaborators

Educational Partner

International Community High School
Akilah Clarke
Berena Cabarcas
Eva Sievert-Schiller


Students

Eduardo Aquino Nina, Enmanuel Arroyo, Adama Bah, Lisbeth Cedano, Maireny Corporan, Diana Cruz, Madiop Diop, Angel Dominguez, Hatouma Doucoure, Zenab Kaba, Zama Kabore, Thanwer Mahmud, Serigne Mbodj, Abimael Mercedes, Ashlier Merejildo, Yoni Miranda, Zabdy Orellana, Melany Ortiz, Melany Panchana Quinche, Joan Parada Franco, Enmanuel Paulino Alberto, Wilfred Quezada Chavez, Malory Quezada, Daniela Reyes, Geika Santos De La Cruz, Maria Santos, Silvia Wilson, Hisham Alamari, Mel Bravo, Claribelisa Catalan Gonzalez, Juan Cruz Baez, Erick Duarte Filpo, Jairo Fernandez, Yancreilin Francisco, Carolyn Guzman, Isarien Lopez, Lerins Martinez, Yovangely Mejia Lino, Leilany Ortiz, Michael Paredes, Náyelin Perez, Randy Polanco, Deryl Quezada, Lady Reyes Ojeda, Yenny Rodriguez Checo, Melanie Salvatierra, Mákale Toure, Derixander Vargas, Lidelis Vargas, Manuel Vargas, Pamela Vasquez, Gustavo Vazquez Pantoja, Lisbeth Acosta, Rasel Ali, Anabel Almanzar, Fatoumata Barry, Zakaria Billa, Renia Bonifacio Suazo, Rafael Candido-Juarez, Valenciano Chavez De Jesus, Hasly Cortes, Melany Del Carmen Diaz, Mirlemny Espino, Martin Espinoza, Danyeiris Garcia Rodriguez, Jean Guilengui Kiki, Habi Kane, Lesvi Orellana Mejia, Jensy Palacios Arriola, Juana Pena Vasquez, Jarison Polanco, Wilber Quezada Chavez, Victor Rumaldo, Amy Samb, Mouhamed Samb, Romaldo Sanchez, Babacar Signate, Emelin Taverez, Manifer Triunfel Castillo, Oumaru Batchilly, Esperanza Cabal, Lauriany Del Rosario, Bassirou Diop, Anarosa Encarnacion Quezada, Winston Estevez, Rafael Guaba, Joselyn Guaraca Tisalema, Heily Guzman Rodriguez, Alexi Heredia, Yeuri Iven, Cheikh Ka, Jonnathan Leon Cela, Danny Mercado, Ouleye Mbow, Oumou Nantoume, Magby Orellana, Lidia Pujol, Willybert Quezada Chavez, Herlin Raxtun, Crismeiry Sanchez, Krystal Solano, Houlaimatou Sow, Syeda Sumaiya

Special Thanks

Berena Cabarcas, Rocio Martinez, Joyce McMillan, Gina Onayiga

Product Details

16 pages, 5.5″×8.5″

Funding Support

This project was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and Council Member Diana Ayala.