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Anfry’s Story: Developing Character Through Faith and Relationships

Posted on May 7, 2025

This is video 4 of the Y.E.S. (Youth Expert Stakeholders) video Series.

Anfry’s story makes it clear: Rela­tion­ships play a pow­er­ful role in youth devel­op­ment and suc­cess. It truly takes a village to raise a youth, and caring positive adult role models at school or at a faith-based program can be an invaluable resource in a child’s social-emotional character development. These trained professionals can help guide a child to stay in school, learn healthy behaviors and develop the skills necessary to build resilience and even mental and spiritual wellness. Social-emotional character development is a whole-child approach that builds capacity for positive relationships and emotional responses.

Click to learn more about the Y.E.S. video series

Anfry came to America at a young age from the Dominican Republic, and he found adapting to life in a new country to be a challenge.

Anfry: “It wasn't expected for me to move out of a different country and come into a new environment where I would have to obviously adapt to a different form of government structure and language barrier. Some of the challenges included adapting to the adverse environment that I had been introduced to and the people that I had to come in contact with."

Yet, the bilingual courses offered at Anfry’s middle school gave him the foundation he needed in order to adjust and also succeed at academics.

Anfry: “The school that I went to provided the opportunity of bilingual courses. So that’s where I started off at, taking bilingual courses from 6th grade to 7th grade. Then moving on to my 8th grade year, I already was equipped enough to be able to take courses with those who speak fluent English fluently. It was really helpful.

The encouragement of caring teachers who went out of their way to make a connection with Anfry made a significant difference and impact on his life.

Anfry: "Mr Reese was a really good professor because I wasn't that much of an academic student growing up, especially when it came to math. But Mr Reese was real lenient with me through the process, through the journey of it. So he definitely helped me grow and mature as well as finding my interests and my common ground. He was not just doing just a job for money but also doing it out of care and respect."

Despite the academic support, Anfry still had a hard time at school, but support from his peers inspired him to work towards improving his grades.

Anfry: "Freshman year started off rocky, I was not necessarily an academically, disciplined student, but towards the end of my freshman year, I had came across somebody who helped me get back on track academically. My girlfriend was far more academically disciplined than me, so when she had showed me her grades, we had a conversation, it actually inspired me to want to do better for myself."

As Anfry matured and faced growing pains and other adverse experiences, he learned to lean on his faith and the faith-based youth organization, UrbanPromise Trenton, to stay steady.

Anfry: "Moving on to college a downturn happened, but then that's when eventually encountering my faith in college really empowered me and helped me grow up much more maturely in eloquence, and the choices and decisions that I chose to make in the way that I live my life as well."

"UrbanPromise Trenton focused on helping us grow and mature, as leaders, to grow academically, be able to grow financially, even if it was not much they still taught us, teaching us the basic things of financial literacy, and spirituality as well, too."

At UrbanPromise Trenton, Anfry was inspired by the kindness and guidance of the organization’s Street Leader director to live a more positive life. Her intervention helped Anfry become a youth leader in the organization, and to develop the skills he needed to build towards a positive life.

Anfry: "Her name is Ms. Elise, she looked out for me… she herself attended college as well too, so she looked out from the perspective of like Mr Reese, with friendship. She's developing that friendship, personal relationship with the youth….so just developing that with them is really what encourages you. The things that you watch them do."

It truly takes a village to raise a youth, and caring positive adult role models at school or at a faith-based program can be an invaluable resource in a child’s personal development. These trained professionals can help guide a child to stay in school, learn healthy behaviors and develop the skills necessary to build resilience and even mental and spiritual wellness.

New Jersey Kids Count 2025 State Fact Sheet

Posted on May 5, 2025

Federal cuts will have significant impact on a crucial resource for youth development

Posted on May 5, 2025

Isaiah-Fudge-2024_5-cropped-web

By Isaiah Fudge
Director
Positive Youth Development 

For more information on this topic, contact Isaiah at ifudge@acnj.org

On April 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice terminated $811 million in funding to programs across the nation that support essential services for youth, including mental wellness, rehabilitation, and school safety. One critical resource in New Jersey—community-based violence intervention and prevention (CBVIP) programs—has lost over $35 million in federal funding, inevitably impacting a large percentage of the over 2 million children in the state.

What’s Being Lost
As gun violence garners attention as a public health crisis, violence intervention and prevention (VIP) has emerged as an essential, whole-child health initiative capable of responding to such an issue. According to the State of New Jersey, “CBVI programming reached more than 16,000 community members through strategic partnerships with schools, community events, group and one-on-one programs, and responses to violent incidents.” Such efforts from CBVIP reduce the strain on entities like schools and law enforcement. Consequently, as VIP work has proliferated, N.J. has seen decreases in school referrals to police for weapons, and a steady reduction in gun violence. Specifically, 2024 crime data showed a 16% decline in shootings from 2023—reflecting a record low since tracking began in 2009. This followed a 13% decrease from 2022 to 2023, continuing a steady downward trend.

Additionally, N.J.’s chronic absenteeism rate continues to fall due in part to CBVIP efforts to protect youth as they go to and from school. Many youth who experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) encounter VIP programs that positively impact them. These organizations frequently offer community education and employment opportunities, affording disconnected youth opportunities to establish, or reestablish, themselves within their communities.

Who These Cuts Will Affect

  • Youth in economically insecure communities across the state
  • Victims of crimes
  • Organizations addressing root causes of violence
  • Caregivers of the youth in these communities
  • Youth in schools across the state
  • Faculty and staff in schools and other youth-serving institutions
  • Youth diverted from detention and into rehabilitative programming
  • Youth seeking mental wellness supports
  • Law enforcement agencies and other public safety officials

Key Impacts in New Jersey
(To explore the following data and more, view ACNJ’s Kids Count 2025 Pocket Guide.)

  • There are 1,379,988 students in N.J.’s schools. Schools will now have more strain placed on them to address issues such as discipline, safety, and access to mental health resources.
  • The youth arrest rate has fallen by 26% since 2020. Law enforcement will face pressures to sustain this without CBVIP’s support.
  • As CBVIP jobs are cut, families will face increased economic insecurity, contributing to an already rising food insecure child population.

Read more on the CBVIP cuts.

Read our latest updates on Positive Youth Development

Did you know Early Head Start offers home visiting too?

Posted on April 25, 2025

image of Habibah Johnson

By Habibah Johnson
Co-Chair, ACNJ Parent Leadership Council (PLC)

For more information on home visiting, contact Senior Policy Analyst Diane Dellanno at ddellanno@acnj.org.

The Unsung Role of Head Start in Home Visiting

Classrooms filled with eager young children, preparing for their journey into school – this is what people often picture when thinking of Head Start. But one of Head Start’s most powerful and often overlooked components happens to take place outside the classroom, right in the homes of families. Home visiting, a core element of Early Head Start – a program of Head Start specifically for infants and toddlers under the age of three, their parents, and pregnant women – has been transforming lives for decades, yet it remains a lesser-known part of the program.

As Bonnie Eggenburg, President of the New Jersey Head Start Association, explains, "Home-based Early Head Start has always been about the idea that parents are their child’s first and most important teacher." Unlike traditional home visits, where an educator simply engages with a child, these visits focus on empowering parents with tools and strategies to support their child’s development.

Early Head Start home visitors don’t just arrive with lesson plans; they bring support, guidance, and connection. They help parents navigate the challenges of early childhood, from handling toddler tantrums to fostering early language development. "It’s not a home visitor going in and playing with the child for 90 minutes," Eggenburg explains. "It’s the home visitor going in and talking with Mom about how things are going, giving her strategies, and helping her engage in activities with her child that she may not have thought of before."

This approach is particularly critical during the first three years of life – when brain development is at its peak. Many parents, especially those in underserved communities, may not realize how much simple, everyday interactions, like narrating daily routines or playing peek-a-boo, contribute to their child’s cognitive growth. "We help parents understand the importance of talking with their child, even about the simplest things like changing a diaper or making breakfast," says Eggenburg. "It builds language skills and strengthens bonds."

Despite its success, Head Start’s home-based model has seen a decline in recent years. "From 2010 to 2024, the number of home-based slots in New Jersey dropped from 46% to just 17%," Eggenburg notes. Much of this shift is driven by economic realities. With more parents working full-time jobs, home visits aren’t always feasible. Some families also hesitate to invite educators into their homes, fearing judgment or exposure of personal struggles.

Yet, Head Start continues to adapt. Even families enrolled in center-based programs benefit from at least two home visits a year, allowing teachers to better understand each child’s home environment. "Going into a home where you see real-life challenges, like a family struggling with housing conditions, helps us tailor support for both the child and the parent," Eggenburg shares.

One of the most valuable aspects of Head Start’s home visiting model is the community it fosters. In addition to one-on-one visits, parents often gather for group sessions, creating informal support networks. "They develop relationships with other parents who are going through the same experiences," says Eggenburg. "That sense of community is so important."

Unfortunately, awareness of these services remains a challenge. Many parents learn about Early Head Start home visiting through word of mouth rather than formal outreach. "We do social media advertising and networking, but a lot of parents don’t hear about us until they already have a child," Eggenburg notes. Expanding awareness could ensure that more families access these critical early childhood resources when they need them most, enhancing outcomes for both children and parents.

While home visiting may not be as visible as classroom-based learning, its impact is undeniable. It strengthens family bonds, supports child development, and fosters resilient communities. But as Eggenburg emphasizes, the program needs continued investment. "We need to recognize that Early Head Start has been doing this work for decades and should be at the center of conversations about early childhood education."

For families who want to give their children the best possible start, Head Start’s home visiting program offers something invaluable: partnership. A partnership between parents and educators, built on trust, support, and a shared commitment to a child’s future.

Let’s bring more attention to the incredible work happening in the homes of families across New Jersey.

Read our latest updates on maternal and infant health.

NEWS RELEASE: NJ Kids Count Data Highlights What’s at Stake for Children with Looming Cuts to Medicaid and Other Essential Services

Posted on April 23, 2025

CONTACT: 
Lana Lee
llee@acnj.org
973-643-3876

NEWARK, NJ – With nearly 860,000 children receiving health insurance through NJ FamilyCare, roughly 401,000 students relying on free or reduced-price school lunch, and close to 360,000 children accessing food assistance through SNAP, looming federal cuts to Medicaid and other essential services would devastate federal programs that support the healthy development of our children, according to Advocates for Children of New Jersey.

Its annual data publication, NJ Kids Count 2025: The State of Our Counties, provides a comprehensive snapshot of how well children are faring in the Garden State, underscoring the impact of federal investments on children and families in meeting their basic needs. The data report provides 63 measures of child well-being across 21 counties in the following areas: demographics, family economic security, child health, child protection, child care, education, and teens.

“Without a doubt, if enacted, these deep federal budget cuts will affect you and someone you know. This includes 1.8 million New Jerseyans who rely on NJ FamilyCare, the state’s publicly-funded health insurance program financed through federal and state Medicaid dollars. Slashing Medicaid will have lifelong consequences for New Jersey’s children and youth, denying them of life-saving care and essential services like well-child visits, immunizations, as well as treatments for chronic ailments such as asthma and dental services,” said Mary Coogan, ACNJ President and CEO.

“Advocates for Children of New Jersey has been a longtime champion of NJ FamilyCare, which now covers nearly 20% of all residents living in the Garden State. Medicaid also covers about a third of all New Jersey births annually. These budget decisions will reverberate not just throughout our healthcare system, but will have a ripple effect on our economy, our education and our future,” Coogan added.

Medicaid funding represents a significant portion of state budgets, with New Jersey alone receiving $14 billion in federal Medicaid dollars. As the state legislature and governor work to finalize the state budget, any potential cuts in federal funding will have direct and substantial implications for New Jersey's fiscal decisions.

“This is a pivotal moment to ensure children's needs are prioritized. With the gubernatorial and general assembly elections approaching this November, and the state budget deadline of June 30 looming, ACNJ's #NJVotes4Kids campaign is encouraging voters to engage with all candidates. Whether attending a town hall or community event, your advocacy matters. Together, we can ensure that New Jersey's children aren't just part of the conversation—they're at the very center of our lawmakers' priorities," Coogan said.

Numbers at a Glance

Demographics

  • New Jersey is home to over two million children, and every one in four is under the age of 5.
  • Essex County has the largest child population with 198,853 children under 18 years of age, followed closely by Bergen County at 198,334.
  • In five counties, more than 40% of children speak a language other than English at home: Bergen (42%), Hudson (57%), Middlesex (47%), Passaic (50%), and Union (47%).

Family Economic Security

  • Roughly 13% of New Jersey children live below the federal poverty level, which in 2023 was $30,900 for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children).
  • New Jersey’s median family income with children is $126,827. Morris and Somerset have the greatest estimated median family income with children of more than $185,000, in steep contrast to Cumberland’s median family income of roughly $62,000.
  • The state unemployment rate was 4.4% in 2023.
  • An estimated 263,260 children in New Jersey were estimated to be food insecure in 2022.
  • In 2024, 20,466 children lived in families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), more commonly referred to as welfare. The program provides cash assistance to needy families through a federally funded block grant given to individual states.
  • In October 2024, of the students participating in free or reduced-price lunch, 57% were also participating in free or reduced-price breakfast. More than half of the counties in the state have rates below that of New Jersey.

Child Health

  • In 2022, 73% of expectant mothers received early prenatal care, a 2% decrease from the previous year.
  • The infant mortality rate–the rate at which a baby dies before their first birthday–was 4.0 for every 1,000 live births from 2017 through 2021. Data disaggregated by race shows the infant mortality rate for Black babies to be more than double at 8.7 per 1,000 births.
  • The number of NJ FamilyCare recipients under age 19 declined by 8% between 2023 and 2024.
  • Of the 824 dental practices listed in 0-6 year old MCO directories, only 49% had accurate information on practices that provide dental care for 2-year-olds and only 63% had accurate insurance network information.

Child Protection

  • In 2024, only 2% of the 94,801 children reported to the state child abuse hotline were found to be substantiated or established cases of abuse/neglect.
  • Of the nearly 3,000 children living in foster care, there remains an over-representation of Black children in out-of-home placements at 43% compared to Hispanic and White children at 26% and 24%, respectively.

Child Care

  • In 2024, New Jersey had 4,092 licensed child care centers, with the largest number of centers located in Bergen (440) and Essex (480).
  • The number of registered family child care providers–those who care for children in their own homes–increased 14% between 2021 and 2024 with 1,362 statewide. Middlesex County saw the highest jump from 81 providers in 2021 to 153 in 2024.

Education

  • During the 2023-24 school year, 60,365 3- and 4-year-olds were enrolled in state-funded public preschool.
  • In 2023-24, 1 in 10 of New Jersey’s pre-K-12 students was considered to be a multilingual learner–a student whose primary language is other than English and does not have English language proficiency in listening, speaking and writing.
  • Between 2019-2023, about 43% of the state population ages 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher. The counties where more than half of the population ages 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher are Somerset (57%), Morris (57%), Hunterdon (56%), Bergen (53%), and Monmouth (51%).
  • For the 2023-24 school year, the percentage of third graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments was 44% for English Language Arts and 48% for Mathematics. A closer look at the data shows wide disparities in proficiency among counties, ranging from a high of 59% (Morris) and 58% (Bergen) to a low of 21% (Cumberland) and 29% (Atlantic) in English Language Arts.
  • For the 2023-24 school year, the percentage of eighth graders meeting or exceeding expectations on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments was 53% for English Language Arts and 19% for Mathematics.

Teens

  • Births to adolescents and teens ages 10-19 remain at 2%. Cumberland had 7% of its total births to adolescents and teens.
  • According to the 2019-2023 five-year American Community Survey (ACS) estimates, 5%, or 23,803, NJ teens ages 16-19 are neither working nor in school. Cumberland is estimated to have 14% of its teens not working nor in school.

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ABOUT ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN OF NEW JERSEY (ACNJ)
Advocates for Children of New Jersey is the trusted, independent voice putting children’s needs first for 45 years. Our work results in better laws and policies, more effective funding and stronger services for children and families. And it means that more children are given the chance to grow up safe, healthy, and educated. For more information, visit www.acnj.org.