Mark rufeh biography

Knowing that Black and Brown people face the worst systemic racism, we are committed to furthering anti-racist efforts centering on anti-Black racism. Progress on anti-Black racism is progress for all. We carry out intentional inclusiveness for all, in celebration of all races, genders, religions, beliefs, sexual orientations, identities, and ethnicities.

We are committed to continuous self-reflection, self-care, and best practices that promote our growth. We accept that setbacks are part of growth and behavior change and take every opportunity to celebrate progress made by children, youth, families, and ourselves.

We call for justice for the improvement of communities most harmed by structural oppression and we allow everyone to define their own needs, which may include safety, family, education, health, wellness, opportunity, and a healing environment.

All of us – children, youth, families, foster parents, staff, and members of the communities we partner with – lead by our words and actions. We take ownership and are accountable for what we do, how we do it, and the results. We own our successes, acknowledge our mistakes, and follow through on our commitments.

Isabella Graham, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Joanna Bethune, and Sarah Hoffman found The Orphan Asylum Society of the City of New York and start an orphanage in Greenwich Village. The mission of the organization is to care for children who have lost their parents, marking the beginning of Graham Windham’s legacy of service to children, youth, and families facing some of life’s most difficult obstacles.

Mrs. William A. Tomlinson, Mrs. James Boorman, Mrs. Littlefield, and Mrs. Wheeler establish the Society for the Relief of Half-Orphan and Destitute Children. The organization aims to assist single parents or relatives unable to care for their children due to health issues or financial difficulties.

The Orphan Asylum Society moves from New York City to Hastings-on-Hudson in Westchester County. The new facility utilizes a new form of housing known as the “cottage system” with smaller, home-like residences supervised by house parents. The innovative cottage system acts as a model for many childcare institutions across the country. 

The Orphan Asylum Society is renamed the Graham School in honor of Isabella Graham and her commitment to the organization.

The Society for the Relief of Half-Orphan and Destitute Children moves to the Bronx. The organization is renamed the Windham Society for the Care of Boys after its previous location in Windham, New York.

The Windham Society for the Care of Boys merges with Protestant Children’s Services, Inc., becoming the first emergency foster care for babies and children. This organization is also the first to secure placement for African-American children.

After the merger, the organization changes its name to Windham Children’s Services and expands its services over the years, adding an adoption program and a daycare center.

The Graham School is renamed the Graham Home for Children. It becomes the first child welfare organization to care for children regardless of religious affiliation.

The New York State Legislature establishes the Greenburgh-Graham Union Free District, offering comprehensive elementary and secondary programs that culminate in a high school diploma for campus residents and other students.

The Graham Home and Windham Children’s Services merge, forming Graham Windham. This merger allows the organization to better address the evolving needs of children and families, focusing on preventive services to keep families together and support those in crisis.

Volunteers in Westchester County come together to form the New York Friends of Graham Windham, known today as the Bronxville Friends. The Friends foster community and support the residential students attending the Graham School.

Graham Windham celebrates its 200th anniversary with a Bicentennial Ball, attended by notable figures including Hillary Rodham Clinton, Laura Bush, George Pataki, and Senator Chuck Schumer. This milestone highlights Graham’s enduring commitment to supporting children and families.

Graham Windham transfers its historical archives, spanning over two centuries, to the New York Historical Society. That same year, Graham introduces the Solution-Based Casework (SBC) model to NYC, which focuses on pragmatic solutions to difficult situations.

Graham Windham launches the Family Success Initiative and the Forever Families program.

Graham Windham launches the innovative Graham SLAM initiative, which helps youth in foster care successfully transition to adulthood. The initiative provides comprehensive, long-term support to young adults in 8th grade through college or vocational school and onto a living-wage career path by age 26.

At a benefit at the Museum of Modern Art, Graham Windham honors key figures for their support of Eliza Hamilton’s legacy, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, his father Luis A. Miranda, Jr., Hamilton actors Phillipa Soo and Morgan Marcell, and the historian and biographer Ron Chernow.

The O.U.R. Place Family Enrichment Center opens in Hunts Point, the Bronx. O.U.R. Place is one of three centers included in a pilot project to provide support to families.

Graham is instrumental in the creation of Fair Futures, a coalition of 100+ organizations and young adults that successfully advocates for expanding the SLAM model, along with a NY Foundling tutoring approach, to all young adults in foster care across NYC. The City ultimately invests $30M to reach over 3,000 young adults per year.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Graham’s staff are declared essential workers by New York City. The organization shifts resources to provide for the basic needs of community members. Workers deliver groceries, masks, and cleaning supplies directly to the homes of people who must remain quarantined. During the summer of 2020, Graham launches the Scholars of Service initiative, offering paid internship opportunities for young adults.

Kimberly Watson is named President and CEO-elect. Kimberly previously held the titles of COO and Vice President for Foster Care and Adoption at Graham. She is the first Black woman to lead Graham and one of few Black women at the helm of human services organizations in New York.

ACS brings Parents Empowering Parents to scale across all 26 foster care organizations in NYC. This model, which pairs advocates with parents whose children are in foster care, is largely modeled after Graham’s Family Success Initiative.

Graham co-hosts The Reckoning convenings alongside Good Shepherd Services, The New York Foundling, The New York City Narrowing the Front Door Work Group, and the Redlich Horwitz Foundation. This impactful series delves into the history of child welfare, the impact of family surveillance and separation, and ways to end harm and leads to similar conversations in NYC’s child welfare system.