Our Work with Schools and Communities

Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice

ERP teddy bear graphicThe Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice at Bank Street works with schools, child care centers, and other programs to create supportive learning environments that nurture children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. We help educators, administrators, and social workers understand children’s emotions and behaviors through child development and life experiences. This helps create safe, caring communities where kids can thrive. Our approach is unique because we also focus on the mental health of the adults who care for children, ensuring they are better equipped to meet children’s emotional needs.

Partner With Us!

The Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice is experienced in addressing the emotional needs of all children from infancy through adulthood, and our services are adaptable to all types of programs. If you’re interested in scheduling a consultation, please email us at erp@bankstreet.edu or call 212-961-3430.

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Safe and Sound Schools Conference audience

The Emotionally Responsive Schools Conference

This annual conference invites professionals from elementary schools and early childhood programs to engage in a deeply interactive study of ERP. Participants learn about child development, the social and emotional foundations for learning, parent engagement, and the mastery of supportive techniques for building safe and nurturing school communities.
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A Word From Our Partners
Every child has the right to be supported by their parents/caregivers, teachers, school leaders, and community to grow, learn, and develop. When all children, regardless of their social histories, are educated together, with a shared and inclusive program like ERP’s Teddy Bears in Classroom Practice, everyone benefits. It helps build empathy, compassion, and community that allows for student voice, expression, and engagement… to foster a supportive, caring environment where students feel safe that they can learn and where teachers feel they can teach.
Reginald Higgins
Deputy Superintendent, District 2, New York City Public Schools
A Word From Our Partners
Incorporating the Teddy Bear Curriculum at PS 65 has been instrumental in supporting the emotional, social, and academic needs of our young scholars. Our teddy bear program has helped bring a greater sense of safety and warmth into the classroom as students are learning to develop positive attributes, such as caring, sharing, and helping. Providing for these teddy bears has afforded our students to put their thinking and caring into action, which fosters the development of building friendship, acceptance, diversity & inclusion.
Jasmine Gonzalez
Principal, PS 65, Mott Haven, New York City Public Schools