Susanti Sarkar

New York

NYC reporter @theimprintnews | Investigative journalism alum🕵️‍♀️ @MedillSchool | for stories or tips, [email protected]

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Articles

Final NY Budget Helps Low-Income Families Meet Basic Needs

6 days ago | imprintnews.org | Susanti Sarkar

Against the backdrop of a federal government taking aim at public spending on low-income children and families, New York lawmakers have agreed to significant investments in these working poor households. Both houses of the state Legislature passed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s state budget late Thursday night — a $254 billion spending plan finalized after more than a month’s delay.
NYC’s New Office of Foster Care is Making Headway

1 week ago | imprintnews.org | Susanti Sarkar

Bronx foster mom Jean Pennant is used to the hectic routine of school pickups and dropoffs. She has taken care of 14 foster children over the last decade. Currently, she has five children in her home, including a 2-month-old baby and an 11-year-old on the autism spectrum who must be taken to school in his old neighborhood more than an hour away in Queens — on top of frequent visits to a neurologist.
‘What Are You Doing for Us?’ NYC Youth Ask Mayoral Candidates

3 weeks ago | imprintnews.org | Susanti Sarkar

At a virtual public forum Thursday, New York City youth pushed mayoral candidates on their plans to improve the lives of foster, immigrant and homeless populations often overlooked by politicians. Zaqanah, 22, described feeling helpless while she continues to move in and out of shelters, unable to qualify for youth housing programs or find livable apartments even with a housing voucher. “Landlords ignore me.
NY Budget Fails to Address Looming Child Care ‘Crisis'

1 month ago | imprintnews.org | Susanti Sarkar

Concerns persist as April 1 budget deadline is extended. As New York’s budget negotiations draw to a close, advocates and lawmakers are fighting for millions of dollars in funding to support thousands of families across the state who are on the brink of losing access to affordable child care.
Foster Youth and Advocates Rally to End Use of Trash Bags

1 month ago | imprintnews.org | Susanti Sarkar

Former foster youth joined lawmakers for a rally on the steps of the state Capitol this week after a New York bill that sought to end the practice of giving foster youth trash bags to transport their belongings failed to make it onto the Legislature’s budget proposals for the coming fiscal year. Advocates held the rally to demand passage of legislation that calls for providing proper luggage to thousands of foster youth around the state.
NYC Stands Out for Tallying Foster Youth on Psych Meds

1 month ago | imprintnews.org | Michael FitzGerald |Michael Fitzgerald |Susanti Sarkar

Part 2 in The Imprint series Medicated in Foster Care: Who’s Looking Out? Read Part 1 here. Nearly one in four New York City foster youth ages 7 to 17 is placed on psychiatric medications — a powerful class of drugs including stimulants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants. In group facilities, it’s one in three, and there’s a growing number of school-age kids receiving multiple meds at once.
NYC Appeals Court Says CPS Can't Go After Abused Parents

Feb 7, 2025 | imprintnews.org | Susanti Sarkar

In a far-reaching decision, a state appellate court has ordered a stop to New York City’s child welfare agency practices that subject domestic violence victims to caseworker supervision when the only accusation against them is that they have an abusive partner. The Wednesday ruling by a four-judge panel of the State Supreme Court’s appellate division in Brooklyn will impact rulings in family court statewide, according to legal experts.
Child Welfare Leaders Alarmed by Trump’s Call to Freeze Spending

Jan 28, 2025 | imprintnews.org | Sara Tiano |Nancy Spears |Susanti Sarkar |Jeremy Loudenback

In a swipe at social spending that stunned state and local officials and advocates for the poor nationwide, the Trump administration ordered a halt to virtually all federal spending on social services issuing a directive that sought to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding.
Homelessness Among Students in New York City Hits Record High

Jan 28, 2025 | imprintnews.org | Susanti Sarkar

About one in every eight New York City public school students — nearly 146,000 children — experienced homelessness during the 2023-24 school year, data released late last year from the nonprofit Advocates for Children of New York has revealed. That figure, a 23% jump from the year before, marks the ninth consecutive year that more than 100,000 students were identified as homeless. They included children living in hotels, motels and shelters, or temporarily sharing housing belonging to others.
Biden Appointee Now Leads NYC’s Oldest Child Protection Group

Jan 21, 2025 | imprintnews.org | Susanti Sarkar |Michael FitzGerald |Michael Fitzgerald

Aysha Schomburg’s recently concluded three-year tenure as one of the nation’s top child welfare officials is among the most historic: Child poverty and calls to Child Protective Services plunged to historic lows after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.