Press Releases & Op-Eds
A Call to End Use of Spanking to Discipline Children
an Op-ed by Rush Russell, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey
During the past week, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued an updated policy statement calling on parents to end spanking as a form of discipline. The Academy is an organization of 67,000 pediatricians nationwide committed to the optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Although studies are finding that fewer parents are using spanking to discipline their child, a Harris poll in 2013 found that 70% of parents supported a statement that “a good hard spanking is sometimes necessary to discipline a child.”
While many parents believe spanking is a harmless or even effective form of discipline, the research is becoming overwhelmingly clear that spanking is not only ineffective, but that it increases the child’s risk for an array of alarming and destructive outcomes…ones any parent hopes to avoid in raising their children. Parents will also say they were spanked … and “turned out all right”. But again the research paints a different picture.
Robert D. Rotondi Elected President of PCA-NJ Board of Directors
Wall Township Resident Robert D. Rotondi elected President of the Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey Board of Directors.
The Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey Board of Directors elected Robert D. Rotondi as President. Rotondi, of Wall Township, is Head of Business Management and Transformation in Global Liquidity and Cash Management for HSBC Bank USA, N.A. He has been a member of the PCA-NJ Board of Directors since 2012, having most recently served as Vice President. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University.
“PCA-NJ is extremely fortunate to have in its new Board President such an experienced and passionate leader,” said Rush L. Russell, Executive Director. “Rob has been a tremendously active board member. Over the past six years, he has participated on our Executive, Membership and Program Committees. I look forward to continuing to work with Rob to strengthen families and build brighter futures for all New Jersey children.”
Rotondi succeeds Catherine P. Wells, Esq., Member of the Firm at Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi, as Board President. Wells had served four years as President and will continue to serve on the Board. “I can’t say enough wonderful things about Catherine’s leadership these past four years,” Russell stated. She has been a great pleasure to work with and has been an inspiration to her fellow board members, to me, and our entire team.”
For more information about Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, please visit www.preventchildabusenj.org or call 732-46-8060 x123.
Gov. Murphy Signs Bill to Protect N.J Kids in Schools
Bill will close hiring loophole, keeping sexual abusers out of schools
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – April 12, 2018 – Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law which will better protect students in New Jersey schools from sexual abuse.
Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey (PCA-NJ) and the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA), led the advocacy efforts for S414/A3381, which prohibits a school district, charter school, or contracted service provider holding a contract with a school district or charter school from employing a person serving in a position which involves regular contact with students unless the employer conducts a review of the employment history of the applicant by contacting former and current employers and requesting information regarding child abuse and sexual misconduct allegations.
Rush Russell, Executive Director of PCA-NJ stated, “New Jersey has taken a giant step forward to better protect students from sexual abuse which may be committed by school employees. This important bill stops the secrecy that protected offenders from hiding behind nondisclosure agreements and moving on to other jobs in other schools….and abusing more children”.
An Epidemic of Sexual Harrassment: Our Role to Protect Children
Stories about sexual abuse and harassment are making headlines nearly every day. Due to recent media reports regarding allegations against Hollywood celebrities, elected officials and thousands of women telling their own stories through the hashtag #MeToo, there has been a lot of conversation about this problem online, in the paper, and in our workplaces.
On Sunday, April 12, Olympic Gold Medalist Aly Raisman added to that conversation when she shared her own story on 60 Minutes. In speaking out against the sexual abuse she experienced as a child at the hands of former U.S. Olympic team doctor Dr. Larry Nassar, Aly highlighted the importance of sexual abuse prevention programs and the need to teach young children about personal body safety. Continue reading
Joint Statement in Support of A4442/S2917
Opinion: Critical Program for Families with Young Children at Risk of Being Cut
In the past decade, New Jersey has made tremendous progress in expanding universal, full-year kindergarten programs for children ages four and five. These programs build on the growing body of research demonstrating that education needs to start early to enhance school achievement, and that preschool programs provide a structured learning environment that helps both families and children during these crucial early years.
Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey Named New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs Special State Project
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – May 25, 2016 – The New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC) recently announced its selection of Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey (PCA-NJ) as its Special State Project for 2016-18 at its annual convention in Atlantic City. NJSFWC is the largest volunteer women’s service organization in New Jersey with nearly 7,000 members statewide. The entire Federation votes to designate a specific charitable organization as the beneficiary of its advocacy, volunteer and fundraising efforts every two years. Continue reading
Stressed Brains Can’t Learn: Paper Tigers, a Documentary Film by James Redford on Trauma-Informed Education, to Screen at the Middlesex County Fire Academy
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – March 31, 2016 – In observance of national Child Abuse Prevention month, Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey is hosting a screening of Paper Tigers: a film that captures the pain, danger, beauty and hopes of struggling teens—and the teachers armed with new science and fresh approaches that are changing lives for the better. Paper Tigers follows a year in the life of an alternative high school in Walla Walla, WA that has radically changed its approach to disciplining its students, and in the process has become a promising model for how to break the cycles of poverty, violence and disease that affect families. Continue reading
National Child Abuse Prevention Month Observed at the Iconic Rutgers College Avenue Gym with State and Community Leaders Planting New Jersey’s BIG PINWHEEL GARDEN
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – March 28, 2016 – Dozens of community leaders, children’s advocates and university students will join Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey (PCA-NJ) on Friday, April 1, 11 a.m. at the Rutgers College Avenue Gym (130 College Avenue, New Brunswick) to call the citizens and State to act in support of ensuring Great Childhoods for all children. Continue reading
Prevent Child Abuse-NJ Partners with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to Educate Community Members on Ending Human Trafficking
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – FEBRUARY 3, 2016 – On January 27th, Prevent Child Abuse-NJ, in collaboration with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and other partners, hosted the third in a series of community forums: “Human Trafficking Let’s Make This the End of the Road” Part III. This session coincided with Human Trafficking Awareness Month, observed nationally each January. Continue reading