What’s New?

Good news for children and their families in NJ FY2020 budget.

Posted on July 8, 2019

Good news! On June 30th, Governor Murphy signed into law the 2020 budget that included $9 million in increased child care funds, so providers can continue to care for children from low-income families, despite increases to the minimum wage. Last May, ACNJ highlighted this funding crisis with a news conference and petition collecting more than 1,100 signatures. Our hard work paid off! The Governor and Legislature has increased funds for human services workers across the board to offset the rising minimum wage. Read more on NJ Spotlight.

The 2020 budget also includes:

  • $68 million to expand preschool to additional districts, support existing preschool programs and assist in wraparound services
  • $9 million for state and local census outreach

Congratulations to all those who took action for children and families! These additional dollars would not have been available without your hard work as advocates! Now let's thank Governor Murphy for helping support programs that make a difference in the lives of children and families.  PLEASE, call or email the Governor today!

Click here to send Governor Murphy a message now or call his office at 609-292-6000.

Supreme Court Decision Blocks Citizenship Question, Helping Ensure Complete Census Count in New Jersey

Posted on June 27, 2019

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a victory for census advocates, keeping the citizenship question off the 2020 Census. Read opinion.

Encouraged by this ruling, non-profits and communities across New Jersey will continue our work to ensure maximum participation and inclusion in the 2020 Census — particularly among hard-to-count communities like people of color, urban and low-income households, immigrants, limited-English proficient populations and young children.

"The census clock is ticking. We must continue to remind our leaders of the widespread support of a fair and accurate census that does not include an untested, unnecessary and harmful citizenship question," said Peter Chen, policy counsel at Advocates for Children of New Jersey and coordinator of the Census 2020 NJ Coalition. "We must continue to raise our voices to ensure maximum participation and inclusion in the 2020 census — particularly among hard-to-count communities like people of color, urban and low-income households, immigrants, limited-English proficient populations and young children." Read more.

Report on Department of Children and Families’ Progress Released

Posted on June 26, 2019

Last week, the federal monitor released her latest report on New Jersey’s progress in working with troubled families and children in foster care and meeting the requirements of the Sustainability and Exit Plan (SEP). The report covers July to December 2018.  

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has now satisfied 42 of the 48 performance measures that are required as part of the court-ordered settlement plan, including, for the first time, the requirement to conduct monthly visits with siblings placed apart.

Read the monitor’s press release.
Read the monitor’s report. 

#2020Census – “This is the time to get involved.”

Posted on June 18, 2019

Visit 2020censusnj.org to learn how you can get involved.

Policy Counsel Peter Chen states that, though the 2020 Census seems far away, now is the time to act to ensure an accurate count. Otherwise, New Jersey risks missing individuals in known hard-to-count populations, particularly residents who are part of a racial or ethnic minority, who rent their home, who are immigrants, or who are children under 5. And the state stands to lose billions in federal funding if we have an undercount, including support for critical programs such as children’s health insurance, school funding, school lunch and breakfast programs, Head Start, highway funding, college scholarships, and housing programs.

Read the blog post on Center for Non-Profits about why the Census matters, and learn what steps you can take to help ensure an accurate count in New Jersey by visiting 2020censusnj.org.

NJ Fifth in Nation for Overall Child Well-Being

Posted on June 17, 2019

Read the report

New Jersey’s child population has increased since 1990, and it is more diverse than ever before, with more than 50 percent being kids of color. Although New Jersey ranks fifth overall in child well-being, wide racial gaps in educational outcomes, economic well-being and maternal and infant mortality persist. With this multicultural boom in our youth population, greater investments must be made to expand opportunities for all of our state’s residents.

The 2019 KIDS COUNT® Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation — the most comprehensive annual report on child well-being in the United States — notes measurable progress in New Jersey since the first Data Book, which was published in 1990. Nevertheless, more than 270,000 New Jersey children continue to live in poverty, a 27 percent increase since 1990. The Garden State has also seen other troubling trends in economic well-being, with a greater share of children living in families burdened with high housing costs.