Our Story
In 1974, The Martin de Porres Group Homes was established by the de La Salle Christian Brothers to provide residential and preventive programs for youngsters according to the philosophy of St. John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and St. Martin De Porres, patron.
Martin de Porres Group Homes has provided community-based services for at-risk youth in Queens, New York since 1974. Martin De Porres Group Homes is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, and a member organization of the Child Welfare League of America, and the Council of Family and Child-caring Organizations (COFCCA). Historically, the organization contracted with the Administration for Children’s services, NYS Division for Youth, and now the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, to provide community-based group home care and supervision for dependent, neglected, abused, and adjudicated youth from 1974 to the present. Because of the small size of the agency and the presence of committed staff, the agency was able to adjust to many challenges between 1974 and the present. Initially, most of the youth placed at Martin de Porres were voluntary placements, persons in need of supervision, with a small number of adjudicated youngsters. As the “crack epidemic” disrupted families in the 1980’s, the agency was able to provide services to youngsters placed by Family Court because of findings of abuse or neglect against the caregivers. During the 1990’s, preventive services helped to decrease the demand for residential beds, and there was an increase in referrals from the Family Courts for placement of juvenile delinquents.
In 1998, NYC department of Probation officers in Queens and Brooklyn met with agency personnel and requested that the agency develop a program for juvenile sex offenders since many agencies refuse to work with this population. Staff members were trained, and the juvenile sex offender program began in the fall of 1998. Martin de Porres remains as the only residential program located within the five boroughs of New York City that will work with this specialized population. Referrals now come not only from ACS Office of Placement, but also from probation officers, legal aid and private defense attorneys, the Corporation Counsel, and judges at the Family Courts.
In 2000, Martin de Porres Group Homes initiated the Martin de Porres Youth Hospitality and Enrichment Center, an after-school youth development program, academic, and a weekend sports program for the youth of Southeast Queens. Community youth are invited to attend these programs regardless of adjudication status or history, or special education status. The organization was the recipient of grants from NYS OCFS Advantage Afterschool Program to conduct these youth development afterschool programs.
In 2008, Martin de Porres became a Waiver Service Provider agency in the NYS Bridges to Health program to provide in-home wrap-around services to high risk youth in both the foster care system, and those being discharged from OCFS DJJOY State facilities. In order to provide these B2H services, Martin de Porres recruited over 30 part-time young men and women from the community to serve as mentors, skill builders and crisis workers for the B2H clients and families.
In 2011, after being awarded a 6-bed specialized residential program under the ACS Request for Proposals, Martin de Porres converted its Springfield Gardens AOBH to provide service for ACS custody teens.
On March 30, 2012 the Close to Home legislation was signed as part of the 2012-2013 New York State Budget. The passage of Close to Home paves the way for youth found to have committed a delinquent act to be placed by the New York City Family Court in or close to their communities in the City. The State Office of Children and Family Services approved the non-secure plan on July 5, 2012. MDPGH was awarded 18 Non-Secure Placement beds for the Close to Home initiative, for which two new residences were opened and the Elmhurst residence was converted to serve these youths.
On June 30, 2015, the founder and first Executive Director of MDPGH since its inception retired after 41 years. A new Executive Director who was selected by the Board of Directors became head of the agency on July 1, 2015.
In 2017, Martin De Porres and Columbia University Work Place Center piloted the Young Adults Work Opportunities for Rewarding Careers (YA WORC) program. The purpose of this partnership was to connect our youth to meaningful careers and prepare them for economic self-sufficiency by helping them to plan a career path and gain the skills and knowledge to move along the path.
In 2017, Martin de Porres began providing Discharge/ Reunification with a Family Mentor to support to our youth who are transitioning out of our group foster care program. The Family Mentor provides enhanced services to support youth and families to mitigate the challenges that arise as youth in our care transition back to their home and community after placement.
In 2018, Martin de Porres Group Homes agency became a Trauma Informed Care practice. In 2016, Martin de Porres Group Homes partnered with the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Work to undergo the process of having all staff trained in Trauma Informed Care. After almost two years of agency-wide staff training, the entire agency is now fully trained in Trauma Informed Care it has been incorporated into our Lasallian Culture of Care® model.
In 2018, Martin de Porres began providing aftercare services for youth who are transitioning out of our juvenile justice and foster care programs. Aftercare provides essential services for youth and families as the youth transitions back into the family’s home and the community.