Posted on October 11, 2022
Register for the annual 2022 NJ DCF Fall Forum, hosted in partnership by Advocates for Children of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. Attendees will receive updates on the latest news and data regarding the Department's efforts, and learn about forthcoming opportunities to further assist involved children and families.
Join us via Zoom
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Posted on September 28, 2022
When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I was relatively new in the US and did not have any friends or family to offer me support or guidance. My husband worked long hours and I felt very alone, which led to severe prenatal depression. My doctor informed me about the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program, a voluntary home visiting program available in my community, and asked if I would be interested in free support and guidance. I signed up right away! Needless to say, that was a turning point in my life as a mother.
My NFP nurse visited my home once every month and offered me companionship and support. I would read all kinds of things related to pregnancy online and ask her endless questions and she would always happily answer them. She would tell me facts from fiction and give me the right and accurate information. My nurse was there for my baby’s first bath, first solid food, first birthday, and more. At every step, she encouraged and motivated me that what I was doing was great and that I was an awesome mom.
I credit Nurse-Family Partnership for my healthy pregnancy, my positive outlook toward motherhood and the confident upbringing I am providing to my children now. I went from being depressed and not being sure if I even wanted a child, to having a healthy family life and two beautiful girls. But this might not have been possible if I did not have the support of a home visitor. I know women who do not have this opportunity because they do not qualify for a home visiting program for various reasons. I see the difference between my life and theirs. I see the difference in how I raised my newborns. A friend recently gave birth and had serious complications because she did not have postpartum help.
Home visitation programs such as NFP are evidence-based and show that they lead to a healthy mother and child, a safe and stable family, increased school readiness and family economic self-sufficiency, fewer children involved in the child protection and juvenile justice systems and subsequently, a thriving community. Unfortunately, only about 5,000 NJ families actually benefit from home visiting services like NFP each year. Since there are approximately 300,000 infants and toddlers in our state, that means just 2% of families welcoming a new baby into their home receive these services.
That is why it is critical to support The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Act of 2022 (HR 8876). Named after the late Congresswoman, a true champion of home visiting who tragically passed away this summer, this legislation reauthorizes the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program for five years and would provide the first-ever increase in funding to the program since its creation over a decade ago. Flat funding of this program has also prevented programs from reaching all the families with infants and toddlers who could benefit from these services and has caused widespread recruitment, retention and compensation issues with the home visiting workforce.
Reauthorization of this legislation is a smart investment in children and families - one that will surely pay off over time. A robust and timely reauthorization of the program by September 30, 2022 is needed so that families like mine can continue to receive these critical resources.
Posted on September 28, 2022
For this year’s Mom Congress in Washington, D.C., approximately 180 women and men from 29 states called for legislators to change “mortality into vitality”.* From September 18th to 20th, delegates gathered to advocate for federal bills to address pivotal issues - the shortage of midwives, maternal mental health, the trauma of stillbirths and discrimination against pregnant women.
The bills demand federal support for:
Emotions were high, determination strong and passions renewed to make a change for mothers from all walks of life. During the three days, women shared stories of personal losses, empowerment and hope. They networked to form stronger coalitions, working to ensure the nation overcomes its obstacles in becoming a leader in maternity and maternal-related programs, services and research.
First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy, Tennessee state Senator London Lamar, Centers for Disease Control Associate Director for Science in the Division of Reproductive Health Shanna Cox, and the author of Pay Up, Reshma Saujani, spoke about the ways their particular areas of expertise promoted maternal well-being, while also listening to the attendees for opportunities to improve.
Everyone said the same thing: there is work to be done for the women living in the US. The statistics are jarring: 84% of pregnancy-related deaths could have been preventable in recent years. Mental health-related conditions was the top reason for pregnant women deaths in most races, exceeding the number of deaths caused by cardiac- and coronary-related conditions and hemorrhage. One in five women suffer from mental health disorders such as postpartum depression and less than 15% receive treatment. Anxiety and depression have risen 37% in teen girls, which will only make matters worse in the future.
The dismal statistics did not end with mental health issues. Approximately 34% of families with young children reported having difficulty finding child care in 2021. Child care costs is estimated to be 17-20% of a family’s 2022 income. The average center-based infant care is estimated to cost $14,740 annually, which in some states is more than state college tuition fees.
The dearth of affordable child care and lack of paid leave (the US is the only developed country in the world with no federal paid family leave program) were also highlighted as obstacles leading to poor family conditions, and consequently, stress and anxiety.
NJ’s First Lady said the state ranked 47th in the nation in terms of maternal health. Statistics show that women of color are seven times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women, and Black children are three times more likely to die before their first birthday compared to white children. She admitted statistics proved it was a racial problem. Nevertheless, she also stressed that her program “Nurture NJ” is focused on bringing change. Forty-three pieces of legislations had already been passed to help reduce the maternal mortality rate by 50% in the next five years.
Senator Lamar received several standing ovations during her speech. She asked the delegates to channel their trauma into making a change in the community and to let personal stories fuel the drive towards advocacy and strategies.
Speakers at the various sessions time and again stressed the need to speak up and demand change.
ACNJ staff and Parent Leaders Council members met with their state representatives to bring attention to these issues affecting mothers. The NJ delegates also shared their personal stories to stress on the need for family-friendly state programs: the need to reauthorize the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, which funds home visiting programs around the country, the importance of affordable child care and the continued support and regulations for paid leave benefits.
*“Mortality into vitality” was a phrase from CEO of Irth Kimberly Allers Seals during her presentation at the opening day soiree.
Posted on September 26, 2022
In early 2022, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) received funding from several national associations to support and engage child care providers who were less likely to apply for the stabilization grant funds, including family child care providers, small child care centers, providers who speak a language other than English and faith‐based programs. The goal was to ensure that all child care providers had equitable access to the stabilization grants, supplementing the outreach and support being provided by New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS). ACNJ used a variety of strategies, ranging from informational webinars to one-on-one technical assistance, to reach these providers. The lessons learned from this experience with child care providers were informative, not only in their ability to access the stabilization grants, but to broader issues about how to best support and sustain child care.
Posted on September 23, 2022
The Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, the primary source of funding for New Jersey’s robust home visiting system, expired on September 30, 2022. While MIECHV has been included in the Continuing Resolution through December, Congress must act now to ensure the program is reauthorized and there is no lapse in funding. Otherwise, more than 5,000 New Jersey families annually stand to lose effective home visiting services that improve children's health, school readiness and economic security.
Advocacy efforts have led to the introduction of The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Act of 2022 (HR 8876), named after the late Congresswoman, a champion for home visiting. It reauthorizes the MIECHV Program for five years, providing the first-ever funding increase to the program since its creation over a decade ago. This legislation must pass to ensure families in New Jersey and across the country will continue to receive these critical services. Send a message to your Members of Congress asking them to support/co-sponsor this legislation now.
