What’s New?

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.

Trenton Kids Count 2019 shows mixed progress in child well-being

Posted on June 13, 2019

 

In the face of pervasive poverty, fewer Trenton infants and toddlers have elevated blood lead levels, more children are enrolled in preschool and the city’s high school graduation rate has improved significantly, according to Trenton Kids Count 2019: A City Profile of Child Well-Being, released today.

However, substantial disparities in education and health outcomes persist, threatening a child’s ability to thrive and succeed. Read more


Join us for our Trenton Community Conversations!

Trenton parents, community members, city leaders and advocates are invited to participate in a series of community forums to help the City’s children. Register by clicking the links below.

 

 

 

ACNJ delivers child care petition with more than 1,100 signatures

Posted on May 30, 2019

With the first increase in the minimum wage set to rise to $10 an hour on July 1, ACNJ delivered a petition with more than 1,100 signatures, urging Governor Murphy and legislative leadership to take immediate action to increase the state child care subsidy investments, or risk centers serving fewer families, reducing staff hours or even closing their doors entirely.

“Child care workers have an enormous responsibility, nurturing and educating the children of New Jersey families. The additional compensation due to the minimum wage increase will be a tremendous lift for child care workers, but the reality is that providers will be unable to pay them without more state support. Higher wages for child care workers must come with higher state investment,” said Cecilia Zalkind, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) president and CEO.

At the news conference, ACNJ called for $19 million in additional child care subsidy funding to be included in the FY2020 state budget before the June 30 deadline.

News Coverage

The Star-Ledger | Workers deserved a raise. But Murphy’s not doing the full job, endangering the most vulnerable | Editorial

The Bergen Record | Child care centers warn of risks from higher minimum wage

FIOS 1 News | Calls to fund affordable child care

News 12 NJ | ‘Strolling Thunder’ rally held to draw attention to affordable child care

NJ.com/ The Star-Ledger | ‘Baby protest’ pushes Trenton to fix big day care problem caused by minimum wage hike

NJTV | Child care workers fear effects of increase in minimum wage