The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA)

Toll-free, multi-lingual hotline: 1 (800)-566-7636. Calls are confidential and anonymous.

Hotline operates from 9 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday.

Standing Strong: New Safety Guidance for School Districts

Standing Strong Resources for ICE Encounters

Upcoming Community CTLE Events:

This virtual module will focus on best practices for supporting students of immigrant origin in PreK-12 classrooms. We will learn how to identify possible trauma indicators in our learning communities, explore trauma-informed pedagogical practices, and come up with plans to support students and their families.

All educators are encouraged to apply: social workers, paraprofessionals, teachers, school leaders, and others are welcome!

Sessions

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 6:00pm-8:30pm on Zoom

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 6:00pm-8:30pm on Zoom

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | 6:00pm-8:30pm on Zoom

Deadlines

Application deadline: Friday, February 13, 2026

Confirmation of Placement on: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

An additional 6.5 hours of asynchronous group and independent work.

Instructor: Ashley Busone-Rodríguez

Standing Strong: A Roadmap for ICE Encounters & Detainment

60-minute webinar designed to equip school staff and community members with the tools, protocols, and confidence needed to respond effectively to immigration enforcement activity on or near school grounds. Participants will learn how to prepare before an encounter, respond in the moment, and support students, families and staff in the aftermath of detainment. We will share how we navigated the difficult detainment of one of our own students – highlighting our approach, lessons learned, and strategies for effective communication and media engagement.

Wednesday, February 25 – 6 pm

Thursday February 26 – 12 pm

Thursday March 5 – 12 pm

Register Here

Resources for Educators with Immigrant Students

The New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG), New York State Education Department (NYSED), and the Governor’s Office have updated (as of Dec 2025) joint guidance to reaffirm school districts’ obligations under state and federal law and to support schools as a safe haven where all students are welcomed and provided a free public education.