Happier, healthier children. That's our goal. That's our impact.

Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey's services are based on best-practices in family support programming. In addition to preventing child abuse and teaching parents how to nurture and encourage their children, our programs have significant positive effects on family functioning and health. Some of the local outcomes of our work over the past year:

• 92% of parenting teenagers enrolled in the Parent Linking Program graduated high school.

• 92% of our Healthy Families-TIP babies were linked to a medical provider.

• 89% of target Healthy Families-TIP children were up-to-date on their immunizations.

• Almost 50% of mothers in these families breastfed their children.

• 75% of Healthy Families participants reported using family planning after the birth of their child.

• 1,400 family workers from impoverished preschools received training to increase skills and knowledge.

• 6,000 at-risk pre-school children and their families received services that enhanced their social and academic success.

• We created parent resource areas in 20 high-needs schools where nearly 10,000 parents visit to obtain parenting information, resources and computer/internet access and connect with school staff.

• 2,500 parents participated in a workshop session that promoted involvement in their child's education.

• 150 NJ families with young children received early literacy training, parent education and linkages to community resources through home visits provided by a trained parent educator.

• 12,526 students and their parents in 8 schools and 3 school districts improved parent involvement through local parent action teams in low-income communities.

• 12 public libraries received over 1,200 books and parent involvement materials.

• ….and all of the children we touched demonstrated healthier childhoods and parent child interactions.

The Devastation of Child Abuse in New Jersey

The consequences of child abuse are costly – in human and financial terms.

The New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services spends more than $500 million each year to investigate and treat child abuse and neglect. There were 11,000 substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect in New Jersey during 2007. Today, there are 50,000 children under state supervision because their well-being is threatened at home. As a nation, we spend $104 billion responding to child abuse and neglect each year. The cost in terms of human suffering is incalculable.

Victims of child maltreatment suffer not only the physical pain and emotional scars of abuse, but also disrupted growth and development. Children who have been abused or neglected are more likely to perform poorly in school, commit crimes, and experience emotional, sexual and substance abuse problems. Abused children are also more likely to become pregnant as teenagers. Recent studies correlate child abuse and neglect and chronic health problems, such as heart disease, later in adulthood.

Relative to the state’s overall economic status, children in New Jersey are especially at-risk for child abuse and neglect. The financial crisis affecting our state is challenging millions of mothers and fathers. This distress has a negative correlation with healthy family dynamics. The stress that flows from job loss or financial problems often pushes parents over the edge so their behaviors and interactions become harsh, or even abusive. Poverty is one of the strongest indicators of child maltreatment. Calls to the state hotline reporting child abuse were higher in June 2009 than they have been in that same month of the past five years. There are now more than 5,000 calls each month reporting suspected abuse.

Fortunately, child abuse CAN be prevented. Family support services that intervene with families, especially those who are vulnerable, can reduce risks, build family capacity and strengthen the ability to parent and nurture a child. These services build protective factors in families by teaching healthy coping and problem-solving strategies, offering parent education and support around appropriate ways to discipline and interact with their children, giving parents knowledge about child development so they have accurate expectations around how children learn and grow, and linking parents to health care and social services so that they have resources that will keep them strong and healthy caregivers.