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Sign Up and Testify at DHS’ Virtual Budget Listening Session

Posted on December 8, 2020

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND PARENTS, LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!

The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) has scheduled an opportunity for individuals and groups to provide oral and written testimony to inform DHS’ budgetary process for 2021-22. Particularly at this difficult time, it is critical that DHS hear from those most affected by the Department’s budgetary policies.

The Listening Sessions are scheduled for:

  • Monday, December 14th between 3 PM and 5 PM
  • Tuesday, December 15th, between 10 AM and 12 PM

There are two ways to have your voice head:

  • Testify virtually: Individuals who would like to testify virtually must sign up for a time slot by first emailing humanservices@dhs.nj.gov. You must include your full name, phone number and organization, if applicable. You should prepare to testify for NO MORE THAN 3 MINUTES!
  • Provide written testimony: Written testimony should be emailed no later than December 14th to humanservices@dhs.nj.gov.

DHS needs to hear you personal experiences, stories and recommendations.

Your voice is important and will help inform their decision making as they plan future funding. See sample bullet points below that may be included in your testimony to complement your individual experiences and stories:

For Child Care Providers

  • Because of the impact that COVID-19 continues to have on the child care system and individual programs serving low income working families receiving subsidies, DHS budgetary policies must continue to reflect the realities of this struggling system and not return to funding policies, such as subsidy based on attendance that often makes state funding an unreliable funding source.
  • The January 1st DHS plan to return to child care subsidy payments based on attendance is made worse with the reliance on parents to make daily calls to confirm their child’s attendance. The implementation of e-childcare required significant staff training and support for families. Under the current Department of Children and Families emergency standards, families cannot enter child care facilities, which minimizes contact between staff and families. At a time when families are experiencing their own difficulties, this additional burden is unnecessary and potentially places the funding of individual programs in jeopardy.
  • Finding qualified staff was difficult prior to the pandemic. Since the pandemic, finding and keeping staff has become a bigger struggle, as salaries at or near minimum wage have made other employment options at the same or higher salary, far more appealing to existing or potential employees.
  • The lack of health care coverage for many staff members only adds to finding and keeping staff. DHS needs to develop policies that will help provide additional funding directly to staff members to incentivize them to begin or continue to be child care professionals.

For Parents:

  • Families who have returned or are returning to work need to know that their child care choices can be relied upon to care for and educate their children. Subsidy policies, need to stabilize the funding of this industry so that parents can be assured that the future of their child care’s existence is secure. Moreover, those policies, especially during this difficult time, should strive to reduce the burden on parents to produce a list of verification documentation, as well as the resulting back and forth with local agencies that delay the approval process and payments to providers.
  • Parents need increased child care options and DHS funding policies should reflect that need. Such policies should include ways to stabilize existing programs and expand child care options including family child care.
  • Most families continue to struggle with the cost of high quality child care. DHS funding for quality child care should recognize this struggle and view increased funding as a down-payment for children’s futures.
  • The new DHS policy scheduled for January 1st requiring parents to call-in their child’s daily child care attendance is an additional burden on families, many of whom are already struggling during this pandemic.

Please do not let this opportunity slip away! Providing oral and/or written testimony to DHS ensures that your voice will be heard and your professional expertise and understanding of the issues will be considered in their planning for future funding. If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Rice at crice@acnj.org.

Rewatch: ACNJ’s 5th Annual Breakfast

Posted on December 6, 2020

The 2020 election season was unlike any other. It came amidst a pandemic, a stifled economy, deep political divisions and racial unrest. Yet we also saw unprecedented levels of voter turnout and civic engagement. How do we continue the momentum to push for change for children? What does the post-election landscape look like for child advocacy on the federal level?

On Tuesday, December 1st, Advocates for Children of New Jersey’s 5th Annual Breakfast went virtual and featured an insightful discussion on racial equity and child advocacy in the current political climate. 

Watch recording below:

8:00 a.m. | Preshow

8:30 a.m. | Welcome

8:37 a.m.| What’s Next: Insights on the Post-Election Landscape for Child Advocacy

9:05 a.m. | ACNJ honors its child care heroes

9:08 a.m | Discussion on Racial Equity: How can we remove barriers to racial equity and social justice so that all children can have a strong start?

 

 

Find Your Roar Advocacy Training

Posted on November 23, 2020

Science tell us that what happens between birth to 3 -- when a baby's brain grows the fastest -- lays the foundation for the rest of a child’s life. New Jersey needs policies that support parents with young children during this time of rapid development to unlock the potential of every child in New Jersey to grow up healthy, safe and educated. But to make change for babies, state leaders want to hear from parents!

Are you a parent, guardian or grandparent of a child ages 0 to 5 willing to commit to be a voice for parents of young children? Participate in a training that will help you understand the system and strengthen your skills to tell YOUR story to policymakers. Register for one of our three scheduled sessions in the form below.

We value your time! Participants that complete a 2-day session will receive an e-book on how to find your roar, a certificate of completion and a $100 gift card.

Find Your Roar Advocacy Training-Header2

REGISTRATION FORM

Infant Mental Health: Supporting a Baby’s Social-Emotional Development by Embracing the Essential Role of the Caregiver

Posted on October 27, 2020

#CelebrateBabies! 

During the week of October 19, ACNJ and partners hosted Celebrate Babies Week! 2020's theme was “Embracing the Essential Role of the Caregiver.” During the pandemic, our caregivers have been essential workers, supporting the social and emotional growth of our babies every day during a stressful time. Let’s celebrate the important role caregivers play in fostering the emotional health of babies every day! The strong relationships they form early in life will have a lasting effect on how they grow up as adults.

Webinar: On Friday, October 23rd, ACNJ held a webinar with Dr. Gerard Costa, Director of the Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University, as he discusses the science behind the essential role of the caregiver in all aspects of infant and toddler development, health and well-being. View the recording.

Celebrate Babies Week is an initiative of the Association for Infant Mental Health to bring awareness to the needs of our youngest children.

Thank You to Our Amazing Partners:
NJAEYC: @NJAEYC (Facebook/Twitter)
NJ-AIMH: @NJAIMH (Facebook/Twitter)
MSU CAECMH: @montclairstatecaecmh (Facebook)
CITE: @Coalition.Infant.Toddler.Educators (Facebook), @CITEprez (Twitter)
SPAN: @parentadvocacynetwork (Facebook), @SPANadvocacy (Twitter)
NJ Breastfeeding Coalition: @New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition (Facebook), @NJBFCoalition (Twitter)