Cost of Child Abuse Staggers to $104B
An economic impact analysis released in late January estimates the costs of child abuse and neglect to society were nearly $104 billion last year. _________ The Prevent Child Abuse America report documents pervasive and long-lasting effects of child abuse on children, their families, and society as a whole. The $103.8 billion cost of child abuse and neglect includes more than $33 billion in direct costs for foster care services, hospitalization, mental health treatment, and law enforcement. Indirect costs of over $70 billion include loss of productivity, as well as expenditures related to chronic health problems, special education, and the criminal justice system.

Calendar of April Activities
Participate in one of these events during Child Abuse Prevention Month!

Healthy Families NJ Earns Accolades
Time for Reform: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect, by Kids Are Waiting a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts, shows that while the economic costs associated with child abuse and neglect rose to a staggering $103.8 billion in 2007, merely ten percent of federal money dedicated for child welfare, approximately $741.9 million, can currently be used to prevent child abuse and strengthen families. __________________ The Kids Are Waiting report highlights Healthy Families New Jersey, our home visitation program working to strengthen parenting practices in high-risk families, as an effective prevention investment. Healthy Families reaches out to new parents, prenatally or around the time of birth, to connect them with health care and community resources and teach them positive, healthy parenting practices. Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey oversees Healthy Families New Jersey within a network of more than 30 home visiting programs across the state.

Healthy Families Perth Amboy Featured
Healthy Families in Perth Amboy is working to get parents off to the right start!