The New York City Council Committee on Children and Youth met on September 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM to vote on Resolution 0142-2026-A, which calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation establishing a Center for Fatherhood Initiatives within the Office of Children and Family Services. The committee approved the resolution by a vote of 3-0.
Good morning and welcome to today's New York City Council vote for the Committee on Children and Youth. At this time, we please ask that you silence all electronic devices. At no point in time is anyone to approach the front day as chair may begin. Good morning. I'm Council Member Baltia Stevens, Chair of New York City Council on Committee on Children and Youth. Thanks for joining us this morning for our committee vote on the proposed resolution number 142A. Um special shout out to my colleagues who are here on time, Councilmember Felder and Councilmember Joseph. So we are starting expeditiously and really about that. Um but back to this resolution. Resolution 4142A, sponsored by my colleague Kevin Riley. This resolution calls for the New York State to pass and for the governor to sign legislation that would establish the Center for Fatherhood Initiative under the Office of Children and Family Services. I have spent much of my career in the provider space directing directly serving young people and families in my community. In that work, I have seen firsthand the connection between strong potential involvement and positive youth development outcomes. Research supports that this children whose fathers are engaged, present and active in their lives experience positive youth development outcomes. This benefit includes strong cognitive and behavioral development, self-esteem, high self-esteem, and improved academic performance. Yet many fathers face the systemic barriers that prevent them from fully engaging in their children's lives. This is particularly true for those who are co-parenting or non-custodial parents, those who are incarcerated or undergoing re-entry, and young teen fathers. New fathers often have few resources to turn to turn at to in very moments where they are required the most support in their journey in new parents. I'm glad that this resolution is being brought to a vote in our committee today. I am hopeful that this new state office will provide a critical resource necessary to strengthen family dynamics and build community. I'd like to thank committee staff for their hard work in preparing for this vote and extend an excited um an excellent team back in District 16th and thanks to the excellent team back in District 16. I've also been asked to deliver remarks on behalf of Councilmember Riley, who is unable to join us today. Thank you, Chair Stevens. That would be me. You're welcome, Councilmember Riley. I want to give you my gratitude to the committee for um uh elevating resolution 142. This request that New York State establish a dedicated resource center for fathers. I'm excited to see this bill come to a vote at the council. I'm encouraged to see the conversation continue in Albany, and I want to thank Senator Bailey and Assemblymember Dais for their leadership as they continue to advocate for this program to come across the finish line in the state. Just a special shout out to Similima Deus. He's one of my assembly members. Look at him. As a son and a father now, I have come to understand that the father, fathers often navigate difficult social barriers than mothers and do not always have inherited knowledge of the services available for them and their children's followers certainly can benefit from tools to be involved and support their children's lives. Those centers were offered statewide support support for areas such as mentoring, job training, parent supports, truly helping fathers overcome barriers and strengthening families. This resolution is a great step towards fostering healthier communities and a more resilient city. Thank you to all my colleagues who have supported this legislation and Elizabeth Arts with the legislative division who helped to ensure that the resolution acknowledged their future positive outcome of this proposal. And with that, I conclude um I and that with conclusion of both my my remarks for councilmember Riley, and I will now turn it over to the clerk for call the roll. I Ben Jacobs committee clerk, uh roll call vote on resolution 142A. Uh Chair Stevens. Aye. Councilmember Joseph. Aye. Councilmember Osay. Councilmember Williams. Councilmember Felder. With a vote of three in the affirmative, no none of the negative and no abstentions. The item is adopted. The vote is closed.