ABOUT US

Community Connections for Youth (CCFY) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the South Bronx dedicated to ending youth incarceration. Through community-led alternatives to incarceration, we are on a mission to disrupt the youth prison pipeline by delivering direct support, advocacy, mentoring, training and building partnerships. Our dream is to see local communities take the lead in creating a future where no child is behind bars.

Community Connections for Youth is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. CCFY’s tax identification number is 26-4482112

#NoKidsInCages

CCFY envisions a world in which incarceration is no longer a primary response to children when they do something wrong.

Recognizing that overreliance on the juvenile justice system is a harmful, ineffective, and costly, CCFY upholds the community as the most effective and reliable means for changing the trajectory for youth.

Our methods are based on the values of love, relationship-building, advocacy, presence, support and community-rootedness.

MISSION & APPROACH

Being a Lifeline in the South Bronx

When someone from your hood shows up for you in your hardest moment, that can be a life-changing experience. We seek to be this for family-court involved youth and their caregivers.

Community Building and Connections

Leaning on restorative practice models, we believe that healing and repair are critical elements in the wellness that leads to freedom. We are an established space where growth and connection happen.

Equipping Change-Makers

Everyone can play a part is ensuring a world where no child is put behind bars. From program participants to community and system partners, we are an entity with experience in training, facilitating, and coaching others in creating a prison-free future.

We believe that life-giving connections to one’s own community is the most valuable asset for breaking free of the cycle of incarceration.

Our nation’s judicial system is overly leaned upon to respond to the needs and actions of youth, often pushing them deeper into the system and further away from those who can help them. At CCFY, we hold tight to the belief, that what youth need most is nestled within their home communities; these are the people who know them, understand them, and possess the life-experience to guide them through their adolescence and toward true-self discovery. We are an organization committed to advocating for the community to be the first response when things go wrong.