What’s New?

NJ was selected as one of six states for the national Think Babies campaign

Posted on March 13, 2018

Advocates for Children of New Jersey chosen to lead a statewide effort to bring attention to what babies and families need to thrive in the state. 

NEWARK, N.J.— New Jersey has been selected as one of six states to take part in the Think Babies campaign, supported by national early childhood advocacy group ZERO TO THREE. The five other states selected include Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Washington.

The Think Babies campaign is designed to bring national attention to the many issues that affect what babies and families need to thrive. Key campaign priorities include: quality, affordable child care; time for parents to bond with their babies; healthy emotional development; and strong physical health and nutrition. Read more.

Among the initial activities of the campaign will be New Jersey’s “Strolling Thunder” event on May 21, 2018, which will bring families and early childhood advocates from across the state to Trenton to remind policymakers that success for our children begins at birth. This event is modeled after ZERO TO THREE’s national Strolling Thunder, which will be held earlier in May in Washington D.C.

Help us make this day a success. 

 

Register to attend.

Be a Partner. 

 

ACNJ joins forces to eradicate lead poisoning in children

Posted on February 23, 2018

State advocates came together in Trenton on February 14th and presented a $1.1 billion plan to eliminate lead exposure and poisoning in children within the next decade.

Read news stories:
NJ joins forces to eradicate lead poisoning in children
NJ’s 1.1 billion dollar plan to eliminate lead poisoning in children

ACNJ’s recommendations included requiring the state to share data on neighborhoods where lead-exposure risks are high. ACNJ’s Peter Chen stated, “Any successful lead-prevention strategy is going to require a strong data strategy to get information in the hands of the people who can use it best, we’re talking about local health department, nonprofits, community groups, and families themselves.”

Other recommendations consist of the following:

  • Require occupied housing to be certified as lead safe and undergo mandatory inspections
  • Create a New Jersey Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund as a dedicated source of money for remediation
  • Find funding mechanisms to replace lead service pipes and update water infrastructure
  • Provide services to at-risk families
  • Require state agencies to share data and increase early childhood screening
  • Support Medicaid investment in lead poisoning prevention and removal among other items

NJ failing to make significant progress to serve school breakfast to more low-income students

Posted on February 21, 2018

As a new national report shows New Jersey failed to make significant progress toward serving more low-income students school breakfast, Advocates for Children of New Jersey and the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition are calling on the state Legislature to require high-poverty schools to serve breakfast during the regular school day.

Known as breakfast after the bell, this method is far more effective in ensuring that all children begin their school day with a healthy meal.   Read more

View School Breakfast Scorecard – 2016–2017 School Year

View School Breakfast: Making it Work in Large School Districts

For resources and to learn more about school breakfast in New Jersey visit schoolbreakfastnj.org

 

 

Cradle to Kindergarten Roundtable

Posted on February 12, 2018

Advocates for Children of New Jersey held Cradle To Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality book signing and panel discussion on January 29, 2018. The roundtable discussion was informative and thought provoking. View the roundtable discussion. 


View and share video of the Cradle to Kindergarten roundtable discussion.

At this event we also launched the Right From The Start NJ, our new advocacy and public awareness campaign to ensure every child, birth to 3, has the opportunity for the early relationships, environments and experiences they need to support their healthy growth and development.

View the handouts from the event:

View photos of the event.

You can get involved and help to promote Bright Beginnings and Healthy Futures for babies in New Jersey by visiting RightFromTheStartNJ.org.

Please share the link to the roundtable from January 29th with friends and colleagues.