Events & Resources for Public School Families
Track COVID-19 cases in New York City public schools by clicking here.
3-K + Pre-K Applications
Families can begin submitting applications for free, full-day 3-K and Pre-K for the 2021-22 school year on February 24th.
Apply online at MySchools.nyc; or by phone at (718) 935-2009. Applications accepted in multiple languages.
- Pre-K application deadline: April 7. All children born in 2017 can apply.
- 3-K application deadline: April 30. All children born in 2018 can apply.
- Not all school districts have 3-K sites.
- Families who meet income requirements can apply for free or low-cost Pre-K and 3-K programs with an extended day and year.
- Sign up for DOE email updates at schools.nyc.gov/Sign-Up.
- Families seeking an open 3-K or pre-K seat for the current school year can call (718) 935-2009 or email [email protected] to learn about available options in their community.
It's Time to Apply to High School! All current eighth grade students in NYC must apply to high school by February 23, 2021. Log in to MySchools.nyc to explore high schools and apply. Learn more about the application process.
NYC Dept of Education Virtual High School Admissions Events. DOE representatives explain high school admissions in NYC, and changes to the process due to COVID-19. Watch the video series here.
February 11th On-line Workshop: Navigating the High School Admissions Process. Presenters from the DOE's Office of Enrollment and the Panel for Education Policy will explain changes to this year's admissions process, provide tips on researching schools, and more. Click here to learn more and register.
Have questions about applying to middle or high school for students with IEPs? Watch Advocates for Children of NY's recent webinar about the application process for students with disabilities.
The Student Leadership Network provides free resources to help guide high school seniors through the college application process. Click here to learn more
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Community Resources & Upcoming Deadlines
Apply for City Council Funding
A reminder that the application period for City Council FY22 expense funding for non-profits is now open. Programmatic or expense funding includes operating expenses, supplies, and/or personnel costs. Deadline for submission: Tuesday, February 16th.
The City Council also provides funding for capital --bricks and mortar-- projects. Please visit my website to learn about our specific requirements and for funding applications.
Musical Storefronts
From January through March, Kaufman Music Center brings live music back to the UWS with a new pop-up concert series featuring more than 100 of our city’s finest performers, including chamber musicians, Broadway stars, soloists and artists you’ll know from the Merkin Hall stage. To limit crowd size and ensure social distancing, artists and programs will be announced at the storefront on the day of performances. Learn more here!
Health Coverage: NYS Enrollment Period Extended to March 31st
If you have lost your health insurance or have not had coverage, go to https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ for a comprehensive list of affordable options -- including subsidized individual health plans and Medicaid. New York State's current open enrollment period has been extended until March 31st, 2021. New Yorkers can enroll in Medicaid all year long.
Free Vision Screenings: University Eye Center
Free screenings are available Thursday, February 11, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.
Screenings are by appointment only. All ages welcome. Infants under 18 months can have a complete eye exam done for free instead of a screening.
- Phone (212) 938-4001, Monday - Friday (9am - 5pm) and Saturday (8:30am - 4:30pm)
- Location: University Eye Center, SUNY College of Optometry, 33 W. 42nd Street
Free Tax Prep Services for New Yorkers
If you earned $68,000 or less in 2020, you can file for free— including from home — with the help of an IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer. Preparers can help you file your taxes safely now, and transmit the returns to the IRS when they open the tax season on Friday, February 12, 2021.
Learn more at nyc.gov/taxprep; or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance. Services available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, and Russian. Additional languages available through phone interpretation.
Important: Any preparer promising a tax refund BEFORE February 12 may be selling you a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL), which may come with fees and high interest rates.
Additional Tax Season Resources:
Cash Assistance: You may be eligible for an emergency cash grant if it will meet certain special needs. For more information call the NYC Human Resources Administration’s Infoline at (718) 557-1399 or visit: https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/.
Cash Assistance for Restaurant Workers
The Robin Hood Foundation, in partnership with ROAR (Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants), is offering cash assistance for restaurant and food service workers who have lost employment as a result of the pandemic, including recent indoor dining shutdowns. Funds are being disbursed through the Family Independence Initiative’s UpTogether platform.
Cash assistance ($500 per individual) is available for qualified applicants on a first come, first serve basis, until funds are exhausted. Funds are intended for households in greatest need; with annual incomes below $49,000. Open to part- or full-time restaurant workers who a) lost work or wages because of COVID-19 and its economic aftermath and b) live in one of NYC’s five boroughs. Apply Here.
Partial Unemployment Benefits
Governor Cuomo recently announced a plan to ensure that unemployed New Yorkers who accept part-time work are not penalized. Learn more here.
Financial Empowerment Services
- The City of NY's "Financial Empowerment Centers" provide professional financial counselors who can help you manage your bills and credit. Most financial counseling sessions will be conducted over the phone. Book an appointment here.
- The NY Legal Assistance Group can help you improve your finances and remove barriers to economic security—for free. NYLAG financial counselors and coaches assist New Yorkers in developing strategies to pay off debt, manage personal finances more efficiently, navigate through financial crises, and build long-term financial stability. Click here to learn more and make an appointment.
Federal Relief for Small Businesses
The NYC Dept of Small Business Services is connecting small business owners to federal relief funds, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance.
Available resources include:
- Daily webinars to review the PPP and EIDL Advance programs and how to apply
- One-on-one assistance to find the best financing options and get help applying
- Connections to PPP lenders
- Information about additional SBA resources
Resources are available in multiple languages, including Spanish and Chinese. Businesses can learn more about the PPP and available assistance by visiting www.nyc.gov/ppp or calling the SBS Hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC.
Information about federal relief continues to be released -- check the Small Business Administration's website regularly for updates.
2021 Manhattan Community Board Applications: Deadline Extended
Do you want to serve your local community? Joining your community board is a great way to get involved in improving quality of life, and bringing forward your concerns and those of your neighbors.
New York City's community boards are the front-line of local government. They encourage and facilitate the participation of residents within their neighborhoods -- providing a forum to evaluate new development, zoning changes, street & sidewalk planning, and more. The boards work directly with City agencies, and are essential to the efficient and effective delivery of municipal services. Apply on-line here. Deadline: Monday, February 22nd (5pm).
Stay Connected!
Are you missing your library? Click here for the latest on-line and telephone-based programs and services from St. Agnes Library.
Mental Health Support
As we all know, this is a profoundly stressful time. If your symptoms of stress become overwhelming, please reach out for support and help. One option is NYC Well, the City's confidential helpline for mental health and substance misuse services. Trained counselors can provide you with support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 200 languages. Click here; call: 1-888-NYC-Well (1-888-692-9355); or text: “Well” to 65173.
Since 2016, ThriveNYC programs have served New Yorkers who might otherwise go without needed mental health support:
- 165,000+ people harmed by crime, violence or abuse
- 19,000+ people living in homeless shelters
- 2,600+ older adults
- 7,000+ veterans
- 13,600+ young people in runaway and homeless youth residences
- 180,000+ students
- 3,500+ people with serious mental health needs through mobile treatment teams.
Read Thrive NYC's 2020 Progress Report here.
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Donate Your Devices!
Devices for Students
Thousands of NYC public school students have struggled to obtain working devices for use in remote learning. CB7 is partnering with Goddard Riverside to collect devices and related accessories, which Goddard Riverside will distribute to children and students who are enrolled in one of their educational programs -- from age 3 to college students.
Goddard Riverside will be accepting devices on Tuesday, February 16th between 5-7 pm at the Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center. Location: 250 W. 65th St. (between Amsterdam and West End Aves, side door).
Please note that these dates are only for dropping off donated devices, not to request one. Both laptops and tablets are needed, as well as accessories such as headsets and chargers. Devices must be in good condition, and must be wiped of all personal information prior to donation. Additional donation days will be scheduled. Click here for more information.
Devices for Seniors
TeleHealth for Seniors provide seniors and low-income communities with devices, instructions, and free tech-support to connect them to their physicians, friends and family, and wellness tools.
TeleHealth for Seniors accepts iPhone 4s and above, as well as 2nd generation iPads and above. They also accept Android models and laptops. Learn more and donate here!
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We're Here to Help
My office assists people with housing issues, seniors, the disabled, the recently un (or under) employed, the food insecure, and all those suffering the many consequences of this pandemic, to help in any way we can. We also provide on-going advocacy with our public schools and other public services.
Please call (212) 873-0282, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible; email [email protected]; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com. We update it on a regular basis with information about public benefits, non-profit resources, and health facts Upper West Siders need to get through this crisis.
Warmly,
P.S. Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, or have them subscribe to my e-blasts here. Also, follow my social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram.
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