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Join Us Celebrating Babies: Embracing the Essential Role of the Caregiver

Posted on October 19, 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.

Additional Resources from Dr. Costa:

Help Spread the Word

You can still help by sharing posts and graphics. Remember to use hashtags whenever possible. Use the hashtag #CaregiversAreEssential to follow along and share/retweet posts highlighting infant mental health!

One of the guiding principles of infant mental health focuses on early brain development. Everyday interactions can have a big impact! Learn about "serve and return," an easy way for caregivers to support brain growth! https://youtu.be/KNrnZag17Ek

Share on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Did you know that our brains are wired for relationships? Learn about relational, social + emotional development. Check out this great resource from @ZEROTOTHREE on how you can support young children in building relationships. https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/227-tips-on-helping-your-child-build-relationships
Stress and trauma in early childhood can have lasting effects but a caregiver can help mitigate impacts. #CaregiversAreEssential

Caregivers play a critical role in reducing the impact of stress and trauma. Check out this infographic by @montclairstatecaecmh on simple strategies you can use to support young children! #CaregiversAreEssential
Social and emotional development does not happen in a vacuum but in the context of the family and community. Check out this video about supporting cultural traditions within a #childcare system. https://youtu.be/quy4Dsf_Qm0
Today is all about reflection. To best support our babies, we as adults must reflect upon our own experiences. Are you a professional caring for young children and in need of space to reflect?

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)

Webinar: CACFP 101- Learn about the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program

Posted on October 16, 2020

Watch the webinar above to learn more about how child care and afterschool providers can serve free meals through CACFP, regardless of the poverty level of the community in which the program is located. Through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), more than 4.2 million children receive nutritious meals and snacks each day as part of the child care they receive.

Webinar Segments:

  1. Welcome/Introduction – The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Children’s Nutritional Needs and Child Care
  2. Discussion on the Economic Impact on Child Care During the Pandemic - ACNJ
  3. The Ongoing and Urgent Importance of CACFP – Hunger Free New Jersey
  4. New Jersey Child Care CACFP Participation – Reinvestment Fund
  5. Getting Started with CACFP: How to Apply? What is CACFP? Eligibility and Basic Meal Reimbursements– Department of Agriculture
  6. Panel Discussion with Child Care Programs Who Participate in CACFP– New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures

Resources:

Ensuring Children are Covered During COVID

Posted on October 9, 2020

Help Spread the Word About NJ FamilyCare

Mary Coogan, Esq.
Vice President, ACNJ

The Georgetown Center for Children and Families released a report today bringing attention to the increase in the number of uninsured children across the county. While the data included in the report is pre-pandemic, their concern is that the uninsured rate will continue to rise as unemployment numbers continue to increase and temporary layoffs due to COVID-19 shut downs become permanent. Data in the report, regarding New Jersey, showed an increase in the child uninsured rate, but it was below the national average. It also shows that the uninsured rate for Hispanic/Latino children under 19 was 6.8 percent compared to New Jersey’s overall uninsured rate of 4.3 percent.

According to the report, states that did not expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act are falling further behind with respect to covering children, with the uninsured rate for children living in those states at almost double that of children living in states that have expanded Medicaid as of 2019. Thankfully New Jersey elected to adopt the Medicaid expansion under the former Christie administration. This allowed low-income families to seek coverage through NJ FamilyCare, as well as low-income, single childless adults.

New Jersey, through a bi-partisan public-private partnership significantly reduced its uninsured rate, especially among children. That said, there are still many children in New Jersey who are likely eligible for health insurance but do not receive it. So we all need to remind neighbors, friends and family members who may be losing a job about NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey’s affordable public health insurance program for individuals earning up to $1,468 a month or a family of four earning up to $3,013 per month. Visit www.njfamilycare.com for more information and to apply for coverage.

The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act which provided the state with additional federal Medicaid matching funds for the duration of the public health emergency, required in part, that state not terminate beneficiaries’ Medicaid eligibility through the duration of the crisis, except in certain circumstances. As of September 2020, there are 1,853,928 people enrolled in NJ FamilyCare including 827,510 children under age 19, compared to 1,687,984 individuals enrolled as of September 2019, including 777,888 children.

We all know that children who have health coverage receive more consistent preventive care and treatment for any chronic conditions. This avoids expensive emergency room care, saving taxpayer dollars. Getting and keeping kids insured helps our state spend scarce dollars wisely.

When children are healthy, they are more likely to grow and learn. NJ FamilyCare is among the most cost-effective government programs. The state’s investment is a partnership with the federal government that brings federal dollars into the state.

You can help. If you know of parents who do not have health insurance, encourage them to either visit the FamilyCare website at www.njfamilycare.org or to call 1-800-701-0710 to find out if they are eligible. The application is available and can be completed online.

Over the past few years the application process has been greatly simplified. Applications are available in more than 15 languages. Please help spread the word! Download NJ FamilyCare flyers to distribute to parents you work with or know.

Important NJ Voting Information: Make Kids Count this November!

Posted on October 8, 2020

Voting in the 2020 election is already happening across New Jersey right now! With voting by mail available to all New Jersey voters, casting your ballot is easier than ever before.

Children can't vote, so we need to make sure their issues are represented in the election. In addition to the Presidential election, New Jersey is also holding elections for all our House Representatives, one of our Senators, and many county and local officials.

Information on New Jersey's upcoming election can be found at the NJ Secretary of State's 2020 Elections #NJVotes website.

Important Information

Thank you so much for being a voter! New Jersey's kids are counting on you!

FY2021 State Budget Signed – Here’s the Breakdown

Posted on September 29, 2020

Governor Murphy just signed the $32.7 billion FY2021 New Jersey budget into law, which covers all planned spending between October 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. This year’s budget process was an unusual one and the pandemic made public input difficult. Despite these obstacles, there is some good news for kids in FY2021.

What’s in the budget for kids

The budget evolved since it was first proposed by the Governor on August 25th. Here are some of the significant changes that impact children:

Additions:

  • Expansion of the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to include more young adults, 
  • $10 million for preschool expansion,
  • $25 million in extraordinary special education funding for school districts,
  • $3 million to school lunch aid to make meals free for more students, and
  • $5 million to the lead hazard remediation fund.

Restored funding from August 25th budget cuts:

  • $1.75 million for the child collaborative mental health care pilot,
  • $15 million for school-linked services,
  • $1.5 million for the child advocacy center multidisciplinary team, and
  • $3 million for family support services.

Cuts to the August 25th budget:

  • The Governor’s “baby bonds” proposal, giving eligible families with children a $1,000 nest egg, was removed.

The budget also includes $250 million in federal dollars to address child care during the pandemic, including $150 million in tuition assistance for school-aged children (ages 5-13). 

ACNJ would like to thank Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez and Senator Joseph Vitale for their efforts to pass a budget resolution to set aside $3 million to help increase infant-toddler child care in communities with few options. Although the resolution did not pass, this was an important step to address the shortage of quality child care for our youngest children. As New Jersey begins to plan the next budget, ACNJ will make sure the voices of children and families are heard.