What’s New?

Be Part of DCF’s Youth Council

Posted on March 17, 2021

The NJ Department of Children and Families is accepting applications for its Youth Council, beginning in Fall 2021. Young people between the ages of 16-32 who have been involved in the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), formerly known as DYFS, the NJ Children’s System of Care or CSOC, (also known as CMO) and/or DCF”s Office of Education, or a DCF Regional School are eligible to apply. If you are interested in creating change in the policies and practices in one of these systems and want to elevate youth voice in case planning, please click here and apply TODAY!

DCF Youth Council Application

We’re Live! Updates to the Kids Count Dashboard

Posted on March 16, 2021

Logo_KidsCount

For more than 20 years, ACNJ has produced KIDS COUNT data reports to bring you the most current data relating to the well-being of children. In an effort to continue to highlight important trends impacting our state's children, ACNJ created the NJ KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard, which will now be updated on a quarterly basis. We encourage you to use these data to inform your programs, write grant reports, and educate members of your community.

Data updates for this quarter include:

  • NJ Earned Income Tax Credits, Recipients with at Least 1 Dependent Under Age 19 (# of credits issued and average claim amount)
  • Federal Earned Income Tax Credits, (# of credits issued and average claim amount)
  • Unemployment Rates
  • Infant Mortality Rates
  • Teens Ages 16 to 19 Not Working and Not in School
  • Youth Admissions to County Detention
  • Youth Commitments

Unsure how to navigate the dashboard? Check out this short video to help you get started. Jump to 4:05 mark to learn how to print the data that interests you!

Have any questions? Contact ACNJ's KIDS COUNT Coordinator, Alana Vega at avega@acnj.org. And be sure to check back next quarter for new updates!

Enter the NJ Kids Count Data Dashboard

Mental Wellness Spotlight: Resources for Youth & Families in New Jersey

Posted on August 28, 2024

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Isaiah Fudge
ACNJ Director,
Positive Youth Development

Recently, an Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) blog post captured a snapshot of the nationwide mental health concerns of Generation Z (Gen Z). These are individuals born between 1997 and 2012. The post acknowledges that about 75% of mental illnesses develop between the ages of 10 and 24. They also note that 65% of people from this age group reported at least one mental wellness issue in 2021 and 2022, compared to 51% of Millennials, 29% of Gen Xers, and 14% of Boomers. In New Jersey, 8% of youth have anxiety, and 5 of every 1000 youths’ emergency visits are for self-harm. AECF ranks N.J. number 3 in the nation for child health. However, in economic well-being and in family and community–two areas not always measured as factors contributing to mental wellness–N.J. ranks much lower. But there are resources available to support youth and families. Below is a list of some initiatives that can be accessed to combat mental health crises they may be experiencing.

Mobile Response & Stabilization Services

Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) provide on-call crisis intervention services 24/7, 365 days a year. The project is funded through the Department of Children and Families, and gives youth and families access to immediate behavioral or emotional crisis and de-escalation services without needing to navigate several systems. However, in order to receive help, a youth between 18-21, or the caregiver of a youth under the age of 18 must dial 1-877-652-7624 and interface with PerformCare (a system administrator contracted by New Jersey Children’s System of Care) for an initial assessment. Afterwards, calls will be routed to the local MRSS team nearest to the family. Services are provided within 1 hour of contact, and can be conducted in the youth’s home or over the phone. Following the immediate intervention, a follow-up assessment is conducted, with planning for stabilization and linkage to services rounding out the support. Learn more: Mobile Response Stabilization–Casey Family Programs

988 Helpline 

Funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered by Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant), the nationwide 988 helpline is a service people can utilize when experiencing emotional distress or a suicidal crisis. The line can be reached by the individual experiencing the crisis, or by someone on behalf of another individual. Trained Crisis Counselors are available 24/7 for confidential support. Learn more: https://njhopeline.com/what-we-do-2/

Blue World Mental Health Day Instagram Post (1)

2NDFLOOR

2NDFLOOR is a confidential and anonymous helpline for New Jersey's youth and young adults. The organization helps youth between the ages of 10-24  find solutions to the problems they face at any location they may be (home, school, work, etc.). Youth and young adults can receive support in areas including: cyberbullying, dating & relationships, sexuality & personal identity, substance use and misuse, and much more. To access services, youth and young adults can text or call 888-222-2228, or visit the 2NDFLOOR website and post to their message board.

Note: Messages posted on 2NDFLOOR’s website are NOT anonymous, and posters must be 13 years old or older. Learn more: 2NDFLOOR: Youth Helpline of New Jersey

Substance Abuse & High-Risk Intervention:

Bill S4250/A5326, the “Seabrook-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act” established legislation enabling community-led responses to non-violent mental health and substance abuse issues. Organizations such as Salvation and Social Justice in Trenton; Reimagining Justice, Inc. in Paterson, and Transformative Justice Initiative in Camden can be contacted for restorative healing work for youth and adults experiencing immediate substance abuse issues. Further, community based violence intervention and prevention (CBVIP) work reduces harm in communities without the consequences of arrest and incarceration. The high-risk intervention unit of the Newark Community Street Team in Newark responds to incidents of violence based on referrals from the community and law enforcement. Their responses include support for mental health related issues leading to violence. The NCST also has an overdose response unit. Referrals can be made through their hotline at 1-833-254-6278. Learn more at https://www.sandsj.org/ | Home - Reimagining Justice | https://www.newarkcommunitystreetteam.org/

Food Insecurity

New Jersey is ranked 26th in the nation in children’s economic well-being, with 13% of children living in poverty; 24% whose parents lack secure employment; and 35% living in households with a high-housing cost burden. All of these factors seem to lead to an increased food insecure child population. In 2020, 9% of N.J.’s children were estimated to be food insecure, but in 2021, that percentage increased to 9.8%. Lack of food can lead to poor mental health. When people experience hunger at any level, their attention can shift to focus solely on survival. Hunger is never an excuse for harmful or destructive decisions, but it does contextualize them. Fortunately, N.J. is rich with resources to combat food insecurity amongst families. Rutgers Against Hunger’s website lists food pantries in every county in New Jersey. Find your Local Food Pantry.

Education Spotlight: The Full-Service Community School Model’s Impact in Schools

Posted on July 8, 2024

Isaiah-Fudge-2024_5-cropped-web

Isaiah Fudge
ACNJ Director,
Positive Youth Development

Many issues in public education continue to persist. Among them are chronic absenteeism, student discipline, and teacher retention. Data quantifying these problems are alarming. As of the 2022-23 school year, New Jersey has a 16.6% chronic absenteeism rate, lower than many other states, but still strikingly high. Out-of-school suspensions—only one category related to student discipline—are up by 6,470 from 2021-22, with 44,261 suspensions reported across the state. Also, there were actually more full-time teachers reported for the 2022-23 school year than the 2013-14 school year, but the data shows gradual decline in teacher workforce in ELA (-8.37%) and Math (-7.97%). Additionally, 10% of total teachers exited the profession in 2022-23, compared to 7.4% in 2013-14. 

In its recently released national Kids Count Data Book, the Annie E. Casey Foundation highlights the effectiveness of community schools—a potential answer to the issues named. Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) are traditional public schools that utilize resources from the community to improve the school climate and the well-being and success of students. Through a four-pillar system, FSCS in areas of New Jersey (such as Jersey City, Orange, Paterson, and Trenton) and many other states, positively impact the performance and well-being of students, their families, and their local communities. The FSCS model is most effective with legislation and/or proper funding and support. Further research shows the benefits this model has in crucial areas.

What are Full-Service Community Schools?

Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) are traditional public schools that leverage resources from the community to improve student wellness and outcomes; to improve school climate and decrease staff burden; and to improve access and opportunity for the entire local community. Services in each school vary, as all FSCS reflect the distinctive needs of the communities they serve. Still, each school mobilizes critical resources from the community to improve students’ physical, mental, emotional, and academic wellness. FSCS are also designed to reprieve overburdened faculty, staff, and administration, and support the wellness of all people in the community. While each school is unique, all FSCS share four characteristics—the 4 pillars of the full-service model. They are:

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  1. Integrated student supports
    Community schools provide a mix of different services that are specifically tailored to the particular needs of the students and families of their respective communities. A dedicated staff member coordinates customized supports with examples including health services; tutoring; parent education classes, job training and placement services; housing assistance; and nutrition programs.
  2. Expanded learning time and opportunities
    The schools provide increased access to after-school tutoring, physical activities, and experiential learning, all of which have lasting impact on students’ attendance, behavior, and achievement. Higher graduation rates, development of social, emotional, and leadership skills, and reduced involvement in systems are also residual effects of expanded learning time and opportunities.
  3. Family and community engagement
    When schools, parents, and communities engage, the bonds between them become stronger, schools become hubs, and the outcomes for students become greater. Schools improve when families participate in their programs, as they get to witness their conditions first hand. Parents become involved in decision making, and because of clearer understanding of the schools landscape, lend more support for their children’s education.
  4. Collaborative leadership and practice
    Collaborative leadership and practice involves shared decision making between teachers, administrators, students, staff, and families. It guarantees inclusive implementation, and creates shared ownership of the work. Local assets become more crucial because of the knowledge locals have about them, or because of the need they have for them. Schools become better equipped to serve the community when everyone is included in decision making; everyone works together in harmony and youth become more likely to succeed.

The Work of Full-Service Community Schools In and Around New Jersey:

In New Jersey, Jersey City Public Schools (JCPS), Orange Public Schools (OPS), Paterson Public Schools PPS), and Trenton Public Schools (TPS) have formal FSCS arrangements with any of the schools in their respective districts. Nonprofits including Mercer Street Friends (TPS), St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation (PPS), and Center for Supportive Schools (JCPS) lead work in their respective locations. State colleges have also gotten involved, with Montclair State University, The College of New Jersey, and others contributing to FSCS work across the state. Organizations like New Jersey Community Schools Coalition work to unite supporters and advocates of FSCS around its aid and expansion in the state. A school could be deploying all four pillars effectively, essentially making it a community school, even without state-level support.

Of the 697 educational agencies in the state, 593 being school districts, only four districts—Jersey City Public Schools, Orange Public Schools, Paterson Public Schools, and Trenton Public Schools—are known to formally implement a full-fledged FSCS model in any of their schools.

Still, many schools in New Jersey school districts function similarly to a FSCS– they capitalize on teaming with local organizations. In New Brunswick, for instance, several schools partner with the local nonprofit, PRAB, to combat issues like low academic performance.  In Camden, the Campbell’s Soup Company helps address students’ nutritional wellness through its Full Futures partnership.  Several schools in Newark engage local resources like South Ward Promise Neighborhood and the Newark Community Street Team to combat chronic absenteeism and youth safety. Nationally, several states have FSCS in their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan:  Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Additionally, in states like California, Colorado, Kentucky, Maine, Vermont, and Virginia, and in D.C., they have administrative, financial and/or legislative commitment to implementing FSCS, having established an “Office of Community Schools,” technical assistance centers, and/or other avenues supporting the model. 

How are FSCS implemented?

The most effective FSCS receive sufficient funding and technical assistance. Funding allows for effective planning, hiring, asset coordination, and support for programmatic implementation. The Biden-Harris administration has consistently earmarked at least $75 million to fund FSCS nationally. States can support the model through competitive grants, entitlement funding, or supporting technical assistance centers. Effective FSCS show clear evidence of all four FSCS pillars, implementing them purposefully. The process starts with a thorough needs assessment, something that can be as simple as beginning to document recurring issues among students and their families in the community. This could be anything from violence intervention, to substance abuse issues, to food insecurity. The assessment is customized to that specific school’s needs. All school stakeholders—students, families, community members, teachers, administrators, staff—must be part of the initial needs assessment, in addition to thorough collection and examination of school data. Administrators coordinate with the local or national organizations that could address their school stakeholders’ needs, leveraging funding and/or legislation that supports the partnership. A lead partner—led by a Site Coordinator or Community School Director—coordinates all services within the school, collaborating on leadership items with school administrators, families, and other school stakeholders.

The Impact of FSCS

Research shows that the FSCS model positively impacts youth development. Nationally, the FSCS model increases safety, reduces chronic absenteeism, increases teacher retention, and boosts student academic performance, among other benefits. In 2019, 85% of students at Felicitas & Gonzalo Mendez High School in Los Angeles, California, reported feeling safe at school, 15 points higher than the national average. Hoover Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reduced referrals for disruptive behavior, and increased English Language Learners’ growth on language acquisition tests by 30 points in 2022-23. Many other national successes can be highlighted. In N.J., despite the few FSCS, there are data that highlight FSCS’ effectiveness in the state. In 2021, for example, Mahatma K. Gandhi School, PS #23 in Jersey City, reported an increase in school attendance by 10 points, to reach 90%--higher than the current state attendance rate of 83.4%--only three years after becoming a FSCS. That same school also retained 95% of its teachers for the 2022-23 school year, despite the state’s ongoing teacher shortage crisis. From 2011-2015, suspension rates at Paterson Public Schools’ Reverend Dr. Frank Napier Academy dipped by 17%. Since its inception in 2017 through 2019, chronic absenteeism decreased by 18% at Luis Munoz-Rivera Community Middle School in Trenton. Additionally, students saw a 13% increase in their average daily attendance rate from the 2020-21 school year to 2021-22 school year. The school-wide grade point average also increased 8%.

What's Next?

In January 2024, S2243 was introduced to the N.J. legislature. This bill would establish a five-year community schools pilot program in N.J. S2528—which would create an “Office of Community Schools” in N.J, and would appropriate $10,000,000 to do so—has also been introduced. It remains to be seen if this legislation will pass. If legislation isn’t passed, but funding is allocated, N.J. could see a rise in the amount of technical assistance provided to schools already doing FSCS work. This would drastically improve the effectiveness of some of the de facto work FSCS being done. Regardless, the FSCS model is worth further exploration, as it appears primed to catapult success.

Peter Chen Explains How the COVID-19 Tax Relief Lifts Children Out of Poverty

Posted on March 12, 2021

Peter Chen, Policy Counsel

Peter Chen, Esq.
ACNJ Policy Counsel

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The New Federal Child Tax Credit: A Historic Achievement in Cutting Child Poverty

A Policy Brief

As the nation continues to dissect what is included in the American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief bill, one lesser-known tax provision will potentially cut child poverty by one-third in New Jersey. Tax credits are often mysterious and technical, but in practice, they can serve as a powerful tool for getting money back in the hands of taxpayers and workers, recognizing the minimum basic needs to help all children grow up healthy and safe - no matter their circumstances.

 

The Child Tax Credit has been the focus of proposals from both Republicans and Democrats to reduce child poverty and assist families in making ends meet. But the new plan makes dramatic changes that will benefit almost all families with children nationally. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, increasing the Child Tax Credit and making it fully refundable will lift 4.1 million children above the poverty line, including 89,000 New Jersey children. That is an astounding statistic, lifting more children out of poverty than the entire child population of Mercer County in one fell swoop.

To show the impact of these credits, here are a few scenarios for sample New Jersey families. For comparison, the USDA estimates that in the urban Northeast, annual housing costs for children are roughly $4,380 per child in a middle-income family.

Table 1: Child Tax Credit Scenarios

Family and Household Income Scenarios Current Child Tax Credit Credit Under the American Rescue Plan Net Increase
Single parent (laid-off waitress), 1 child age 3, $2,000 a year $0 (does not qualify for minimum income) $3,600 +$3,600
Single parent (cashier), 2 children (ages 8 and 5), $10,500 a year, receives tax refund $2,400 (15 percent of income, over $2,500 per child) $6,600 ($3,000 for age 8 and $3,600 for age 5) +$4,200
Married couple (warehouse worker and child care worker), 2 children (ages 16 and 14), $60,000 a year $2,800 (maximum of $1,400 refundable per child) $6,000 +$3,200
Married couple (computer engineer and electrician), 1 child (age 10), $150,000 $2,000 $3,000 +$1,000
Note that these scenarios are hypothetical! Real-life tax scenarios are often more complicated, so consult your tax preparer, as individual cases may vary based on income, family situation, etc.

The Problem: High Child Poverty

Child poverty has remained a persistent problem in New Jersey, despite our state ranking 2nd nationally for median family income for households with children at $108,400. Meanwhile, as of 2019, roughly 12 percent of New Jersey children live in households in poverty, defined as an annual household income around $25,700 for a family of four or $21,330 for a family of three.

Although child poverty has declined since its peak during the last recession, more New Jersey children still live in poverty today than did in 2002. As these data are from before 2020, they do not account for the huge economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families and children.

Poverty for children, especially in early childhood, can cause negative child outcomes for health, educational attainment and eventual lifetime earnings. Early-life economic circumstances may even affect brain development.

Figure 1: Child Poverty Remains High in New Jersey

2000-2019_NJ_Child_Poverty_Rate

Source: KIDS COUNT Data Center: https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/43-children-in-poverty-100-percent-poverty?loc=32&loct=2#detailed/2/32/false/1729,37,871,870,573,869,36,868,867,133/any/321,322

Child poverty in New Jersey is also disproportionately concentrated in Black and Hispanic/Latino children. Black and Hispanic/Latino children are roughly three times more likely to experience child poverty than non-Hispanic white or Asian/Pacific Islander children.

The new changes improve financial stability for almost all Black and Hispanic/Latino children in New Jersey. Although the new changes will benefit most children in New Jersey (around 82 percent of children statewide), 241,000 Black children and 487,000 Hispanic/Latino children will receive additional benefits under the new law, according to Center for Budget and Policy Priorities analysis.

Figure 2: Child Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

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Source: National KIDS COUNT, K.IDS COUNT Data Center, datacenter.kidscount.org, A project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation

The Previous Child Tax Credit: A Good but Limited Benefit

The Child Tax Credit, created in 1997, allowed qualifying families to receive a maximum of a $2,000 credit per child. This means that when a family filed their taxes, they could reduce their tax owed by $2,000 depending on how much income they earn. Roughly 90 percent of American children benefitted from the credit.

But the previous Child Tax Credit had serious shortcomings that limited its antipoverty effects:

  • First, only $1,400 per child out of the $2,000 was “refundable.” This means that for families who got a federal tax refund, the maximum amount of the credit was much lower than it would be for families who still owed federal taxes after deductions and credits.
  • Second, the amount of the credit depended on income, meaning that lower-income households actually got less back in credit than higher-income households. On average, the lowest 20 percent of income earners had a much smaller credit than the highest 20 percent of earners.
  • Third, there was a minimum income requirement of $2,500 to qualify for the Child Tax Credit. Children living in these households in extreme or deep poverty likely needed financial support the most to meet their basic needs, yet were shut out of the credit.
  • Fourth, because the Child Tax Credit came as part of the annual tax refund check, it was a lump sum payment. But the costs of children, especially emergency costs, occur year-round. Research on other tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, show that periodic payments reduce financial stress.

How the New Tax Credit Reduces Poverty

The expanded Child Tax Credit fixes these problems by becoming a more universal program. In short, it reduces child poverty by giving parents an income supplement that more closely matches the real cost of raising a child, which is estimated at between $10,000 and $12,000 in the urban Northeast. Although the $3,000 (for children ages 6-17) and $3,600 (for children 0-5) credit amounts are not close to the real cost of raising children, they more closely approximate basic needs than the previous sliding scale based on income.

This credit helps close some of the gaps in the previous Child Tax Credit and gets more back in the hands of families who need it.

  • First, by being fully refundable, the new Child Tax Credit will put the financial support directly in the pockets of families who need it without requiring them to have remaining tax liability at the end of the year. Roughly eight in ten taxpayers receive a refund. In the old system, these taxpayers would not be eligible for the full amount of the Child Tax Credit. Now, all taxpayers with child dependents can claim the full credit amount, regardless of whether they get a refund or not.
  • Second, the higher payment amounts ($3,600 for children under age 6, $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17) will be fixed and not dependent on income except as a phase-out for higher-earning households (starting at $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples). That means our hypothetical single parent with two children earning $14,500 would get back $6,000, just like their married couple counterparts earning $150,000.
  • Third, there will be no minimum income requirement, so any parent can theoretically apply, even if they earn very little income. This will assist parents living in extreme poverty who could not qualify previously.
  • Fourth, the Internal Revenue Service will have to determine how to offer the payment “periodically” rather than as a lump sum payment. This means families might receive advance payments starting in July 2021, rather than waiting until they file their taxes in 2022.

What's Next?

The expanded Child Tax Credit is only a one-year proposal, not a permanent one. After 2021, the old structure of the tax credit will return, and these reductions in child poverty could reverse as well.

However, the expanded Child Tax Credit provides a vision for how government supports for families with children could look in the future – less dependent on how much parents earn, and more linked with the basic needs that we know children have to meet in order to grow up healthy and successful.