November 7, 2025

Dear Families,                               

Last spring, I wrote about a new mental health partnership for our school.  That partnership is about to begin.

The Northside Center for Child Development will open an office in our school building.  It’s a private space about thirty feet away from the cafeteria.

Northside’s services are a part of its Clinic in Schools program.  There will be a therapist, Emilia Herrera, focused on mental health.  Emilia can meet with children during the school day, so families do not have to take their child to and from appointments after school.  Families also can be connected to Northside’s other services, such as medication management.  Of course, all work with Northside is confidential.

Emilia provides therapy in both English and Spanish.  She will introduce herself in person at our Café Comunitario on Friday, November 14.  Emilia also wrote this letter of introduction.

One downside is that Northside currently does not take all forms of insurance.  Northside accepts Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Medicaid- or CHP-managed care through Affinity, Fidelis, Healthfirst, Health Plus, Emblem, MetroPlus, Molina, United Health Care, and Wellcare.

Last year, when we began talking with Northside and the citywide Office of Mental Health, there was a promise to expand insurance options soon.  As of now, Northside does not take private insurance, but will help families get started with mental health providers who accept private insurance.

I wish the Clinic in Schools program did not have to ask about insurance in the first place.  Overall, it’s good to see a comprehensive mental health program getting started.  If you are interested in having your child participate, please reach out to Tina (tina@cpe1.nyc).

Food During the Federal Shutdown

You already know the pain many families are feeling because of the federal government shutdown.  This week, it’s becoming clear that the federal government will not rush to support more than 40 million Americans who rely on SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  Food prices were already high.  Now, there is even less money for groceries.

New York State has released $65,000,000 in emergency assistance for food pantries and food banks.  The emergency aid should help to fill the shelves in food banks.

Food Bank for NYC offers a very clear and thorough map of pantries and meal service.  For food pantries near you, click here.

Common Pantry is located at 8 East 109 Street.  Over the years, our fourth and fifth graders have volunteered there many times, including last year, when a 4/5 lemonade sale raised money that students used to make and donate sandwiches.  I just donated to Common Pantry because I am lucky: I work for the city, so I’m still getting my paycheck.  If your family also is in a position to donate, Common Pantry is helping our neighborhood through stressful times.

As always, school meals are free for all students.  Many kids eat school lunch, but not as many eat breakfast.  From 8:00 to 8:20, children can get hot breakfast, cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruit.  (This morning, the cafeteria offered red grapes, green grapes, fresh pineapple, sliced strawberries, and blueberries.)  Remind your child at the gate (in front of Yamilka) to go inside the cafeteria to eat up at the start of school.

Our school gives children ten free meals a week; some of their grown-ups are eating less.  Please reach out to Tina (tina@cpe1.nyc), Yamilka  (yamillka@cpe1.nyc), me (gabriel@cpe1.nyc) or any other staff member if your family needs help finding food.