ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey builds a brighter future for children by promoting family wellness, positive parenting, healthy child development, and nurturing communities.
The Child Wellness Institute builds resilience and social-emotional health in children and families.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every child has a happy, healthy, and safe childhood—free of abuse and neglect.
Our Values
RESPONSIBILITY: We accept our responsibility as adults to help ensure New Jersey children have healthy, abuse-free childhoods.
INTEGRITY: We act with integrity in everything we say and do.
RELATIONSHIPS: We believe everyone has a role to play in prevention, and welcome partnerships and alliances to benefit the children and families we serve.
FAMILY: We provide a family-friendly work environment and promote wellness for our staff.
INNOVATION: We embrace change using data and research when it contributes to a healthier, safer world for children.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION: Our commitment to DEI fuels our spirit and work, as we embrace the strengths and excellence that come from a diverse body of individuals.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION:
We teach parents about positive parenting, and we educate professionals about how to support parents in raising healthy children.
CONNECTIONS MATTER:
We provide training and technical assistance to a statewide network of 100+ facilitators reaching every county to prevent and heal from Adverse Childhood Experiences and promote Positive Childhood Experiences.
ESSEX PREGNANCY AND PARENTING CONNECTION (EPPC):
We link expectant and new parents in Essex County to a range of supportive services, including home visiting.
GROW NJ KIDS:
Our Technical Assistance Specialists coach and mentor early childhood education professionals in 7 counties as they work to improve the quality of their infant/toddler, preschool and family childcare programs.
The Grow NJ Kids quality rating and improvement system will help parents to make more informed decisions about their child’s education.
HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA (HFA):
This national home visiting program promotes child well-being and prevents abuse and neglect of children through family-focused and empathic support provided in the home.
Our evidence-based home visiting programs are the most effective strategy known to prevent child abuse and improve a broad array of child health and development outcomes. Healthy Families America and Parents as Teachers are in all 21 NJ counties.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION:
We educate those who work with youth about the danger of commercial sexual exploitation
of children.
PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT):
This national home visiting program builds strong communities, thriving families, and children who are healthy, safe and ready to learn. We also support PAT affiliates throughout Maryland, New York, Vermont and Washington, DC.
PARENT LINKING PROGRAM (PLP):
We provide adolescent parents at 8 schools with the support needed in order for them to graduate high school and strengthen their parenting skills.
PEACEFUL PRACTICES:
Via our Child Wellness Institute, we teach students techniques to help them self-regulate.
PERIOD OF PURPLE® CRYING:
We prevent shaken baby syndrome
(abusive head trauma) with the evidence-based Period of PURPLE® Crying Program and Click for Babies campaign, providing educational materials and infant hats
to partnering agencies.
YOUNG PARENT COALITION
We increase access to evidence-based prevention programs for young parents and improve overall fathering practices for young dads ages 14-21.
Parents
HOME VISITING
76% of families stay enrolled for at least 1 year (increased from 67% of families in FY23)
85% of primary caregivers screened for IPV
96% of primary caregivers screened for depression
87% of families initiate breastfeeding with their newborn
365 families graduated from their program in FY24
EPPC
92% of referrals were for pregnant women/expectant families.
EPPC received referrals from 20 of the 22 municipalities in Essex County
180+ new parents and new community partners reached through Community Advisory Board meetings.
Early Childhood Specialists attended 64 plans of safe care meetings to provide input for families with substance affected newborns.
200 families were referred from Department of NJ Department of Child Permanency & Protection.
Our Community Alignment Specialist connected with over 65 community resources to provide information for a database nurses will access to support families.
We hosted five Monthly Community Information sessions on topics related to maternal health and parenting an infant including: effective communication, sex after birth, equitable birth support, preeclampsia, and the Lamaze 6 care practices.
Child Wellness Institute
impact of trauma on children’s developing brains, Positive Discipline Techniques, and the significance of self-care.
We reached 1,600+ educators and other adults working with children — social workers, family workers, and security guards — providing training on trauma-Informed topics and Human Trafficking Prevention.
These initiatives reflect our commitment to supporting and empowering individuals and communities to create safe, nurturing environments for children’s holistic development.
Parent Linking Program
impact of trauma on children’s developing brains, Positive Discipline Techniques, and the significance of self-care.
605 group sessions were held last year for teen parents to learn about child development, parenting, healthy relationships, and life skills.
60 students from 7 high schools attended our annual Teen Conference in May.
98% of teen parents did not have another pregnancy while in high school after joining PLP.
93% of participants agreed with the statement “PLP has helped me become a better parent.”
Young Parent Coalition
2 high school students, joined the Young Parent Coalition as Young Parent Leaders.
8 young fathers completed the Young Fathers United group sessions. 4 young fathers are featured receiving their certificates of completion.
Community Education
65 parents were provided Positive Discipline workshops on healthy and safe parenting strategies.
“This program helped me become a better father”
“Being a teen parent is not easy and having support is a real blessing”
“Because of you (PLP staff) today we are able to continue our studies and pursue our education”
Youth
Grow NJ Kids
Grow NJ Kids Technical Assistance Specialists provided over 4,000 hours of coaching and support to improve the quality of children’s daily experiences in 399 early childhood programs throughout the counties of Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Somerset. Services were delivered to 204 childcare centers, 32 family childcare providers, 106 Department of Education sites, and 57 Head Start sites.
Home Visiting
99% of children have a primary care provider
97% of children have health insurance
90% of families read, tell stories, or sing with their children every day
Child Wellness Institute
learning engaging ways to regulate their minds and bodies, effectively manage stress, and prepare for learning.
Parent Linking Program
86 out of 175 (49%) children utilized PLP childcare.
90% of our children have an identified primary care provider
Community Education
2,940 purple caps were distributed to newborns throughout 15 hospitals across NJ to raise awareness of the Period of PURPLE Crying to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome and infant death.
Child Wellness Institute
We remained steadfast in our support of the Trenton School District as they embarked on their third year of becoming trauma informed. Under the guidance of CEO/ED Gina Hernandez, we worked closely with 25-30 administrators from Trenton each month, delving deep into the principles of trauma-informed care and strategies to support children. We commend Trenton’s unwavering commitment to embracing trauma-informed practices, and their dedication is clearly reflected in the positive data outcomes shared with us. Key highlights from the data include:
96% of staff are actively implementing Trauma-Responsive Strategies with their students
84% have reported increased confidence in managing dysregulated students
93% of staff recognize challenging behaviors as a symptom of an unmet need or a form of communication
89% attribute challenging student behaviors to past experiences
92% emphasize the importance of addressing social and emotional needs before learning can occur
92% acknowledge that relationships have a greater impact on behavior than rules
96% agree that students perform better when they have positive relationships with their teachers
90% indicate that they are fostering more positive relationships with students following Trauma-Informed Care professional development
96% approach dysregulated situations with empathy, considering the question, “What happened to you?”
Our trainers Jillian Faulks and Maria Vasquez delivered Trauma-Informed Trainings to 91 family childcare providers. These providers are now equipped with invaluable tools for understanding the importance of mental health in early childhood development, benefiting 434 children from 36 families across Essex County.
Professionals
Parent Linking Program
Connections Matter
14 NJ organizations (bringing total trained to 128 facilitators from 38 organizations)
Facilitator network reached 1,199 professionals and community members throughout NJ through
59 trainings
98% of participants rated the overall quality of Connections Matter training as high or very high
96% of participants found the Connections Matter training useful to their work with children and families
Community Education
310 professionals trained on the prevention of child abuse and neglect
More than 1,700 pieces of educational materials/activities distributed to professionals to integrate prevention into their work with parents/caregivers.
Young Parent Coalition
We held 12 meetings bringing together 137 partners across the state to collaborate on service delivery to adolescent parents
Our Annual Summit united representatives from all 3 regional coalitions.
Grow NJ Kids
Grow NJ Kids Technical Assistance Specialists provided 4,000+ hours of coaching and support to improve the quality of children’s daily experiences in 399 early childhood programs throughout the counties of Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Somerset. Services were delivered to 204 childcare centers, 32 family childcare providers, 106 Department of Education sites, and 57 Head Start sites.
Home Visiting
1 Healthy Families program re-accredited through Healthy Families America
79 site visits provided to HF and PAT program sites to support quality services for families
30 training opportunities provided to home visitors, supervisors, and managers throughout the HF and PAT networks, including 7 model certification courses
Collect and monitor monthly HF-TIP and PAT data 10 CoPs offered on topics such as accreditation, quality improvement, peer supports, and program fidelity.
Coordinated with partners to offer training on perinatal mental health and mood disorders and on safe sleep practices.
2 Parents as Teachers programs were awarded Blue Ribbon status
42 program sites received restructured contracts to reduce caseload sizes and increase the pay of professionals because of the advocacy of PCA-NJ with state partners and legislators. This resulted in decreased staff turnover, with a 45% reduction in vacant positions over the course of the year. Reduced staff turnover increases the likelihood that families will stay enrolled and receive critical supports throughout their child’s early years.
Northeast Regional
Parents as Teachers Hub
19 affiliate programs supported in Washington DC, Maryland, New York, and Vermont
22 CoP sessions supporting supervisors and managers
233 individual support sessions
3 affiliates were awarded Blue Ribbon Status
PCA-NJ supported the development of a new affiliate in Washington DC
Jen Romero and Dr. Jacquelynn Duron (Rutgers School of Social Work) presented a workshop on our partnership to conduct research of the Parent Linking Program at the APSAC 2024 Colloquium in New Orleans. Their workshop highlights the strength and resilience of adolescent parents, and positive outcomes that result with supportive services like PLP that build from their strengths.
We are pleased to partner again with Rutgers University School of Social Work Center for Research on Ending Violence to evaluate the implementation of this new program to support young parents throughout NJ.
The East Orange Family Success Center offered our Young Fathers United group, using the 24/7 Dad curriculum, for young fathers aged 14-21 in East Orange.
We are pleased to partner with 38 organizations across the state of NJ to deliver Connections Matter with far-reaching benefits. We are part of a larger national network of 8 Connections Matter state partners. We joined the Resilient NJ Taskforce spearheaded by NJ DCF’s Office of Resilience.
We co-hosted a conference: “Birth Equity and Beyond: Reshaping Birth Outcomes & Childhood Experiences in South Jersey” sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb in collaboration with Stockton University, the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, Postpartum Support International NJ Chapter, AtlantiCare, and the American
Academy of Pediatrics NJ Chapter. This full day event brought together 112 birthing and social service professionals to explore strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting equity in the birthing process, early childhood, and parenting. Topics included reproductive justice, behavioral health, grief and loss, and the role of the child welfare system.
NJ Diaper Network
Numerous organizations generously hosted diaper collection drives for our NJ Diaper Network, which provides concrete support in times of need for local parents and babies.
We thank these corporations, schools, and houses of worship for their support.
Child Abuse
Prevention Month
Pinwheels were spinning throughout NJ during April, the national observation of Child Abuse Prevention Month, via our Pinwheels for Prevention campaign. Pinwheels were “planted” statewide to form pinwheel gardens demonstrating support for happy and healthy childhoods.
THANK YOU
to these agencies, funders and organizations for their support
ACNJ
AME Ebenezer Church
AtlantiCare
Attitudes in Reverse
Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
Community Medical Center
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
CrafTech Computer Services
DiLeo Family Foundation
Education Association of Nutley
Firmenich Charitable Foundation
George W. Bauer Family Foundation
Guilford Publications
Healthy Families America
Holman
Inspira Medical Center
Investors Foundation
Jacobi Family Foundation
James B. Boskey Memorial Foundation
Jersey College School of Nursing
JPMorganChase
Katz JCC Community Center
Kiwanis Club of The Haddons
Manasquan Turkey Trot
Medford Vincentown Rotary Club
Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center
Monmouth Medical Center
National Center for Shaken Baby Syndrome
National Football League
New Jersey Department of
Children & Families
New Jersey Department of
Human Services
New Jersey Natural Gas
New Jersey State Federation
of Women’s Clubs
Nisivoccia & Co.
NJM Insurance Group
Ocean First Foundation
Old Navy
Pajama Program/NJ Chapter
Pechter Foundation
Pellegrino Construction Services
Penn Medicine at Princeton
Medical Center
Prevent Child Abuse America
Pro Bono Partnership
Ravitz Family Markets
Republic Bank
Rite Aid Healthy Futures
Riviera at Freehold
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Rotary Club of Haddonfield Foundation
Rutgers University GlobeMed
RWJ University Hospital –
New Brunswick
RWJ University Hospital – Somerset
Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Sax LLP
Shiloh Baptist Church
St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center
Stockton University
Sunrise Optimist Club of Freehold
The Ocean is Female Foundation
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
University Hospital
Verizon
Virtua Memorial Hospital –
Mt. Holly
Virtua Voorhees Hospital
Wells Fargo
West Morris Regional High School
Youth Consultation Service
THANK YOU
Individual Donors $500 and above
Bala Chandrashekar &
Chandra Balaraman
Lori & Steven Bernknopf
Nicholas D. Borrelli
Jena & Jeff Calabrese
Barbara Cali
Joan & Robert Campbell
Patrick Chong
Jeanne & Joseph Colford
Monique Collier Nickles &
Leroy Nickles
Jason Consorti
Karen DeChristopher
Jane Diamond
Lazaro Diaz
Brooke & Christopher L. Formica
Kelly & Lucien Foster
Helen Hadzitheodorou
Alice Higgins
Worlue Kokro
Chet Kolton
Ruth & Charles Larsson
Susan Lauritsen
Marie & Harvey Lermack
Audrey & James Liebler
JennyLynn & Anthony Maiorano
Justin McManus
Tracy & Jason McTaggart
Rev. Dr. Lael Melville
Chris Palmer
Douglas Palmer
Elizabeth & Steve Pellegrino
Natalia & Craig Rothman
Diane Schreyer
Terry Shannon
Pamela & Brian Stalcup
Susan Staloff
Michael Tatro
Judith Tell Feldman
Tommi & Troy Vincent Sr.
BOARD & EXECUTIVE STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Harvey Lermack, President
Christopher L. Formica, Vice President
Steven Bernknopf, Treasurer
Worlue Kokro, Secretary
EMERITUS
Nicholas D. Borrelli
HONORARY
Robert Campbell
MEMBERS
Rev. Dr. Darrell L. Armstrong
Jeff Calabrese
Barbara Cali
Patrick Chong, CPA
Joseph E. Colford, PhD
Monique Collier-Nickles, MD
Lucien Foster
Altisha Glaster, MPA, MSW
Alycia M. Guichard, Esq
Jason D. McTaggart
Quinton N. Robinson, Esq
Natalia Rothman, DC
Allison Scaduto, Esq
Maura Somers Dughi, Esq
Susan Staloff
Scott Stein
Michael Tatro
EXECUTIVE STAFF
CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Gina Hernandez, MA, LPC, CCTP, ACS
VICE PRESIDENT
Veronica Ford, PhD, LPC, ACS, CCTP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
AND COMMUNICATIONS
Pamela Stalcup
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
James Eodice, MBA, MHRA
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
John Quinn, CPA
DIRECTOR OF GROW NJ KIDS
Kim Haigh, MA
DIRECTOR OF HOME VISITING AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Eva Szmutko, MPA
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
Carrie Speiser, MPA
DIRECTOR OF ESSEX PREGNANCY & PARENTING CONNECTION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS
Jillian Faulks, MS
THE NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA
State Headquarters: 103 Church Street, Suite 210 • New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Telephone: 732-246-8060 • Fax: 732-246-1776
www.PreventChildAbuseNJ.org • www.ChildWIN.org