A Hub of Hope in Staten Island
With a new school year in full swing, many families across New York City are experiencing a time of transition. Whether it’s the first day of kindergarten, a return to middle or high school, or simply the shift from summer vacation, this season can bring a mix of excitement, anxiety, and uncertainty.
For those already experiencing emotional, developmental, or behavioral challenges, the return to school isn’t just about new routines. It often means navigating systems that don’t listen, don’t see, or don’t serve them well. That’s where Vibrant’s Family and Youth Peer Support Services (FYPS) comes in.
FYPS offers free community-embedded support for NYC families and young people (up to age 24), which includes helping navigate school systems, special education services, Administration for Children’s Services orders, and beyond. The team is made up of Peer Advocates: people who experienced the very systems we now help others navigate so they don’t have to face challenges alone.
In September 2025, Vibrant celebrated the grand opening of a Staten Island site. Located just a block from the ferry, FYPS is a space where neighbors, partners, and families can come together to celebrate community pride, connection, and the belief that everyone deserves to be seen and supported.
The grand opening celebration drew proclamations from New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and New York City Council member Kamilah Hanks, along with community partners, families, and local leaders.
“I’m so honored to support and recognize the outstanding service to our great city and state, and for the great contributions that FYPS is bringing to our community,” said Senator Scarcella-Spanton.
For Program Director Jacqueline Jenkins, those contributions feel personal and familiar. “We are just like one another,” she said. “We have navigated these specific systems ourselves. We’re building the trust so that whatever the system did to you, we don’t make you repeat [it] here.”
Families and young people in the Bronx, Queens, and now Staten Island can engage at their own pace at FYPS. From Parenting and Youth groups to one-on-one advocacy and referrals, FYPS centers the voices of the people being served. We work in collaboration with parents, caregivers, and service providers to reduce stress, foster independence, and help families reach their goals.
“We are serving who I like to call the underdogs,” said Jenkins. “… those who everyone is kind of passing up, or saying ‘we cannot’, and pushing along the way. We want to ensure that those members of the community are being served. That’s what we do every day: we create a space where families like ours can speak, be heard, and be held authentically. I am literally who I needed growing up,” Jenkins reflected.
As a new school year begins, FYPS teams in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island are here to offer a hand to hold and hope through all of life’s challenges.
Need support this school year?
To connect with a peer advocate in the Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island, or to learn more about our services, visit Family and Youth Peer Support Services.
All locations offer services in English and Spanish. Additionally, our Bronx location offers French, and the Queens location offers Mandarin and Cantonese. Translation services are available for most other languages and dialects.
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