What’s New?

We would like your input to inform our discussions on ACNJ’s priorities for children

Posted on January 13, 2023

Posted 1/13/2023

Mary E. Coogan, Esq.,
ACNJ President/ CEO

Mary Coogan, Esq.
ACNJ Pres/CEO

Happy New Year! The staff and board of Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) are assessing the progress made on ACNJ’s 2021-2023 Policy Agenda and developing its 2024-2026 Policy Agenda. We would like input from you - our partners and members of our network - to help inform our discussions.

This feedback will help ACNJ establish our priorities for the next three (3) years. We want to know what issues facing children and youth you believe need to be addressed or prioritized. What is required to improve outcomes for children and youth? What programs are working, what are not, and do you believe other programs and services are needed?

Please help us by completing our short 10-minute survey.

I look forward to working with you to continue giving every child a chance to grow up safe, healthy, and educated.

Warmly,

Mary Coogan
ACNJ Pres/CEO

Share with us your experience with the NJEDA child care facilities improvement grants.

Posted on January 5, 2023

NJEDA Child Care Facilities Improvement Program Grant Survey
We would like to hear from child care providers by January 20th.

The NJ Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) is currently providing nearly $25 million in grants between $50,000-$200,000 for licensed child care programs under the Child Care Facilities Improvement Program. The grants will cover the costs of facility improvements that will contribute to high-quality early childhood learning environments. These interior and exterior improvements can include, but are not limited to, installing energy efficient windows, creating additional classroom space, purchasing new playground equipment, replacing flooring, remediating environmental hazards such as lead or mold, or putting in child-height sinks or toilets. Child Care Facilities Improvement Program - NJEDA

Advocates for Children of New Jersey(ACNJ) and the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children (NJAEYC) want to make sure that every available dollar goes towards improving child care facilities that serve young children. We are interested in your opinions on the opportunities and challenges in applying for and moving forward with such a grant.

This is a short ANONYMOUS survey and we want to hear from you --- whether you have applied, plan to apply or will not apply for the grant!

Please complete the survey as soon as possible but no later than Friday, January 20th!

New Brief Details Ways NJ Can Improve Infant Mental Health

Posted on January 4, 2023

Learn more about the current programs supporting the mental health needs of infants in New Jersey, and explore ways that we can improve the social-emotional development of the state's youngest residents.

Join us for the Trenton Kids Count 2023 Release

Posted on January 4, 2023

Trenton Kids Count 2023 Invite

 

Wednesday, January 25, 2023
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Smith Family Foundation
471 Parkway Ave, Trenton, NJ 08618

Registration starts at 9:30AM. The program begins at 10:00AM with a  data presentation and panel discussion.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Eleanor Horne, Trustee Emeritus of the Princeton Area Community Foundation.
Panelists:
Dr. Rachael Evans, Chief Medical Officer of the Henry J. Austin Health Center in Trenton
Superintendent James Earle, Trenton Public Schools
Asw. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, NJ Assembly, District 15

We are also excited to have Mayor Reed Gusciora give his remarks on the report.

Trenton Kids Count is a one-stop source for data on children in the state’s capital city. The data book includes the latest statistics, along with data trends, in the following areas: demographics, family economic security, child health, child protection, child care, education and teens.

Registration

Watch the Webinar – Family First Prevention Services Act Hosted in Partnership with NJDCF

Posted on December 22, 2022

This webinar, hosted by Advocates for Children of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families on Thursday, December 15, 2022, explored the federal Family First Prevention Services Act and New Jersey's prevention plan.

In 2018, the federal government enacted the Family First Prevention Services Act to begin to shift federal support for child- and family-serving systems towards proactive, prevention-oriented services and supports which are available to all families, regardless of their status within their jurisdiction’s child protective services agency. New Jersey has long been a leader in prevention-oriented programming, and we now have an opportunity to connect our efforts to federal funding and support. We are working towards submitting New Jersey’s Family First 5-year prevention plan to the federal government by the end of January 2023.