When Amanda logs onto our call from a family shelter, she beams and lifts her newborn to the camera. “She’ll be two months on the fifth,” she says proudly.
It’s that same spark—steady, hopeful, determined—that defines Amanda’s story. A Bronx native, mom of three, and trained EMT, Amanda is working to rebuild her life and reunite with her daughters. Along the way, the CASES newSTART program has helped her find her footing and her way forward.
newSTART is a short-term alternative-to-incarceration program for adults facing frequent misdemeanor jail sentences. Participants complete three to five sessions that focus on accountability, independence and stability so they can exit the legal system permanently.
Amanda grew up in the Bronx, the youngest of three. Her mom, who was disabled, also cared for several foster children. “My mom was headstrong and nurturing,” Amanda recalls. “But there was violence in our family too. It wasn’t the worst childhood, but it wasn’t the greatest.” Even with instability at home, Amanda excelled in school and later enrolled at Lehman College. She learned early to rely on herself.
That independence served her well when she trained as an EMT. Working with patients across the Bronx Amanda found purpose in helping others heal. “Seeing children in pain was the hardest part,” she says. “But I loved the work.”
Then came a dispute with her building superintendent that ended with her arrest. Amanda’s daughters were placed in foster care, and she lost her home. In 2024, she was referred to newSTART, but after becoming homeless, she couldn’t finish the program. Months later, pregnant and cycling in and out of Rikers, Amanda decided she had to make a change.
“Rikers is no place for anyone, especially not someone expecting a baby,” she says.
After her release earlier this year, Amanda re-enrolled in newSTART—reconnecting with her original counselor, Tonie. “It felt like God was directing me,” she says. “Out of everyone, I got Tonie again.”
Together, they tackled one task at a time. newSTART provided a warm coat, toiletries, and—most crucially—a phone, so Amanda could reconnect with her children, ACS worker and attorneys. Tonie helped her replace key documents, secure prenatal care, enroll in shelter, and re-establish contact with her daughters’ caseworker. Incentives for completing milestones, MetroCards for appointments, and consistent access to food and clothing kept Amanda focused on progress.
“There were so many times I felt discouraged,” Amanda admits. “After leaving visits with my kids, I would cry. Tonie always told me, ‘Call me if you need someone to talk to.’ She was there in the morning, at night—whenever I needed her. She even came to the hospital to meet my baby. She’s more like family than family.”
Her newborn became her motivation. “My pregnancy was a blessing,” she says. “She reminded me that I’m a mom, that I can’t give up on my other two daughters.”
With her case now dismissed, Amanda is focused on regaining custody and creating stability for her family. “Not every action needs a reaction,” she reflects. “I had to learn that the hard way. But there’s always hope—and programs like newSTART give people the chance to find it.”
Looking ahead, Amanda imagines a home filled with peace and routine. “In five years, I see myself in my own apartment, waking up and getting my girls ready for school, going to work, and picking them up at the end of the day.” She plans to return to her EMT work and eventually become a paramedic.
“If I could tell any parent going through ACS [New York City’s child protective services] one thing,” she says, “it’s don’t give up on your children. Even when everything feels against you—keep showing up. Keep going. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.”
