In 1989, John F. Kennedy, Jr. was challenged by his aunt, Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, to make a contribution to the developmental disabilities field. He met with experts, self-advocates, parents and professionals throughout New York, where he lived, and learned about the chronic workforce crisis that was frustrating efforts to provide a better quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. Staff turnover caused by low wages, minimal benefits, poor training and lack of career opportunities plagued non-profit service organizations. John came to believe that an experienced, educated, and motivated workforce was the single most important factor in meeting the needs of his fellow New Yorkers with disabilities. He understood that these hardworking women and men needed to believe they could get ahead and advance in their careers.

To address these issues, John F. Kennedy, Jr. founded Reaching Up, a non-profit organization.

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Enhancing access to higher education was a cornerstone of Reaching Up’s philosophy. In promoting higher education, John F. Kennedy, Jr. was a leader in the movement to professionalize the frontline workforce. At the same time, Reaching Up assisted dedicated staff in achieving the economic, social and personal benefits associated with going to college. He realized that the only sure way to get ahead financially and professionally was via higher education.

John enlisted the help of Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, former senior health and human services advisor to Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo and Dr. William Ebenstein, an expert in workforce development. His first step was to start the Kennedy Fellows Program, which provides scholarships and career mentoring to frontline workers in the health, education and human service fields who are attending a CUNY or SUNY school.

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JFK, Jr. met with James Murphy, then Chairman of CUNY’s Board of Trustees, and also a parent of a young man with developmental disabilities. Sharing a commitment to improve the lives of people with disabilities, they joined forces to support the creation of college-level courses in the area of disability studies.

It was natural that JFK, Jr. turned to The City University of New York, the largest urban university in the country. Each year 225,000 individuals enroll in credited courses offered through its system of public colleges. Part of CUNY’s mission is to enhance access to high quality, affordable higher education and professional training that prepares New Yorkers for the workplace and provides opportunities for their career advancement.

JFK, Jr. also worked closely with the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the NYS Department of Health, and other government agencies and non-profit organizations, such as the Young Adult Institute, United Cerebral Palsy and the Association for the Help of Retarded Children.

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The partnership between Dennis Rivera, president of the 1199SEIU Health and Human Service Employees Union and John F. Kennedy, Jr. focused on workforce issues related to hospitals, nursing homes, and home care agencies and resulted in the creation of collaborative education programs at CUNY designed to help nursing assistants become registered nurses.

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Bill Clinton appointed JFK, Jr. to The President’s Committee on Mental Retardation (PCMR). John used this forum to draw national attention to the workforce crisis in long-term care. With the PCMR, he also co-founded the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals, a national network of organizations that provides technical assistance to states in implementing worker education programs and creating career ladders for qualified staff.

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JFK, Jr. believed that paraprofessionals employed in public schools represent a valuable source of new teachers, especially in shortage areas such as special education. Having seen the successes of the Kennedy Fellows he knew that these mature individuals bring extensive experience and knowledge of the community into the professional ranks. John was able to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Education for a Reaching Up Paraeducator-to-Teacher program. He served as Principal for a Day at the Hungerford School in Staten Island to highlight its record in helping paraprofessionals become certified teachers.

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On an international level, John was interested in the ways that political, cultural, economic, legal, and social factors influence the development of health and human service delivery systems. Through Reaching Up he developed Citizen Exchange Programs involving professionals, frontline staff, and disability advocates in the U.S. and their counterparts in Vietnam, Jamaica, Ireland, and Argentina.

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In his keynote address at Reaching Up’s annual meeting, Governor George Pataki announced funding to expand the Reaching Up model to address the staffing crisis at public and private childcare and youth development agencies.

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John F. Kennedy, Jr.’s death challenged his colleagues and friends to carry on his work. His ten years of leadership in building the organization provided a foundation, and the memory of his enthusiasm and commitment served as an inspiration.

In March 2000 at a press conference attended by NYS Governor George Pataki, union leader Dennis Rivera, CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, Reaching Up president Jeffrey Sachs, representatives of the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation, and other friends and dignitaries, the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education was launched at CUNY.

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In April 2007, Dr. William Ebenstein, Executive Director of the Institute, was appointed University Dean for Health and Human Services. The JFK, Jr. Institute was integrated into the Office of the University Dean.