On Tuesday, July 3rd, I was thankful to have the opportunity to tour Rising Ground, formerly Leake & Watts, located in Yonkers, which is currently housing children who were separated at the border from their parents as well as other unaccompanied minors. To protect the confidentiality of minors, we were not able to speak to or meet with the children. 

Many concerned residents have been questioning how children separated from parents at the border are housed in facilities in New York without the knowledge of elected officials.  Non-profits like Rising Ground are licensed by the State Office of Children and Families, but  are not operated by the State of New York. These facilities have contracts with federal agencies like the Office of Refugee Resettlement and under the contract, provide temporary housing and supportive services to these young people. 

Having worked closely with Rising Ground in the past, I presumed, and through the tour was reassured again, that they continue to do the best they can for all the children in their care under these terrible circumstances. That being said, I am profoundly opposed to the policies of splitting up families, and I will continue to speak up against these and similar policies by our federal government.