Kerry, a teen mother, is frustrated because her 18 month old son, Jack, will not stop running in the house. Through her tears, Kerry explained to her Social Worker that Jack consistently refuses to listen to her although she tells him repeatedly to stop. Jack has already fallen several times while running in his socks, and according to Kerry, he still has not learned his lesson. The Social Worker advised Kerry to continue parenting Jack with patience, persistence, and a positive attitude. She reminds Kerry that Jack is naturally exploring as a toddler; just as Kerry explores as a teenager. As Kerry has shared this frustration several times, she finally made the connection that the social worker implied. As a teenager Kerry has admitted that she often doesn’t listen to her parents and that children sometimes test their boundaries; a lesson Kerry said she can relate to.
Fortunately, Kerry is a participant in the statewide Parent Linking Program (PLP), a program that helps teen parents finish their education but also become the best parents they can be for their children. PLP is a program for teen parents which is provided free of charge in high schools that includes a social worker who provides regular counseling to students like Kerry. All teen parents in PLP are encouraged to be more responsible and nurturing parents as they balance the responsibilities of being a student-parent. In PLP, Kerry’s Social Worker reminds her consistently of the positive outcomes she can continue experiencing if she avoids having another unintended pregnancy; specifically while she is still in high school.
May is Prevent Teen Pregnancy Month where national awareness and participation is encouraged in an effort to prevent unintended teen pregnancies. These efforts are especially important for those who live with and/or work with teens who are already parents. Over 700,000 teen pregnancies occur each year in the United States; most of them, 80%, are unintended pregnancies. Each year, the Parent Linking Program (PLP), of Prevent Child Abuse-NJ reminds over 200 teen parents to make plans for healthy family choices and avoid subsequent unintended pregnancies. Although teen pregnancy in New Jersey has declined, there are still 6,000 teen parents statewide who could use support in preventive efforts to avoid unintended pregnancies.
PLP, a School Based Youth Services Program funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, was created because it is a proven fact that children born to teen parents are at greater risk of being neglected and abused due to lack of knowledge, resources, and finances. In exchange for free child care, program participants are required to attend the weekly parenting and life skills workshops, in addition to the normal academic curriculum required for graduation. These components prevent present and future child abuse and neglect by enhancing the teenage parent’s self-esteem, knowledge of parenting and child development, and ability to meet financial responsibilities by helping the teen parent complete high school and delay repeat pregnancies.
Fortunately with the support of the parents/guardians of the teen parents and the support of PLP Coordinators (Social Workers, Directors, and Caregivers) 95% of the program’s participants do NOT have a second unintended pregnancy. Often in home visits, PLP Coordinators discuss with family members the importance of the consistent reminder of responsible family planning.
Most PLP participants express good intentions with their children despite their challenges. They are usually challenged with sacrificing their time, money, and even personal space (sharing bedrooms with their children). Participants are reminded that a repeat unintended pregnancy can add harmful stressors to the teen mother as well as her child. In addition, stress puts repeat births of teenagers more at risk of preterm and low-birth weight in comparison to their first births.
The Parent Linking Program’s 25 year history has proven that the program’s services can lead to powerful changes in the communities of New Jersey. 95% of the teen parents enrolled in Parent Linking Program have graduated high school and, 90% planned to attend college. Many of the PLP program alumni and current participants speak to their peers in school about their challenges and ways to avoid unintended pregnancies. Teen pregnancy prevention can be a communal effort sharing messages of responsibility in the homes, schools, cultural centers in every community. Fortunately, New Jersey is one of the lowest ranking states in teen pregnancy rates. In May, and every day, please remember that supporting a teen parent is increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes; high school and college degrees, greater job and life skills, and of course, happier and healthier children.
While PLP has trained professionals counseling the teen parents, these professionals also encourage the parents and guardians of teen parents to talk about pregnancy prevention. If you are a parent, here are some tips to help you navigate the discussion on pregnancy prevention:
In May and throughout the year, spread the message to a teenager that avoiding an unintended pregnancy is a responsible decision.
April is national “Child Abuse Prevention month”. Having children is certainly one of life’s greatest joys; but raising children can also be stressful, even for those with the best information and support. Sometimes, overwhelming stress and a lack of knowledge about child health and development can lead to child abuse and neglect, and it can happen in any community, anywhere. We all have a role to prevent child abuse from ever happening….but when we fail, our children, our communities and our country pay a steep price. Victims of child abuse have a greater chance of academic failure, substance abuse and mental health issues, chronic health conditions, juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior. In economic terms, child abuse costs American taxpayers more than $80 billion a year to fix something after the fact….that could have been prevented. The good news is we know how to prevent child abuse and we are making some progress…..but we can and need to do much better.
However, it’s challenging to build support for the cause of preventing child abuse and neglect. Some people shy away from the issue for various reasons, including discomfort with the tragedy of child abuse, blaming “bad parents” who would do such a thing, and that child abuse “doesn’t happen in my neighborhood”. I was meeting recently with a prominent political leader in our state and he noted that he also served on the Board of an organization involving “therapy dogs.” They had just received a donation of several million dollars from someone…who just loved dogs. We acknowledged that the cause of child abuse prevention was unlikely to see that level of support, for all of the reasons above. (And I love dogs too). But don’t our children deserve better….?
In speaking recently with the founder of a national philanthropy, which supports child abuse prevention as a primary goal, he noted that “there is really no direct constituency for the cause of child abuse prevention”, compared to that of other nonprofit causes, such as universities, hospitals, faith-based organizations, or specific health issues. So it makes it much harder to generate awareness and support for the issue ….and the opportunity to prevent abuse before it ever happens.
On April 2, Prevent Child Abuse America, with Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey as the spokesperson, was invited to ring the opening bell at the NASDAQ stock exchange to raise awareness about April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and about an event happening in Times Square on April 16. The invitation from NASDAQ, the second-largest stock exchange in the United States, highlights the understanding that investments in childhood health and development have been shown to be an effective tool for economic development, with proven returns to American taxpayers and economic productivity.
The event on April 16 will feature Miss America, Mallory Hagan, who is championing the cause of preventing child sexual abuse in our country. The event will create the largest “pinwheel garden” in the country, in Times Square, using the small toy of the pinwheel as a symbol of a happy and carefree childhood…and of child abuse prevention.
Hopefully, events like these during Child Abuse Prevention Month, to raise awareness about the cause of prevention, can help us understand that we all have a role play to prevent child abuse from ever happening to our children. How? By helping parents who are friends or family when they face the stress of parenting; By encouraging the values of healthy, respectful relationships and empathy for our children; By supporting our neighbors and faith communities to help families who may be struggling; And by telling our policymakers that it’s time to make child health and development a national priority, equal to others that make our country so great.
On the same day as the NASDAQ event, NJ newspapers reported the death of a 4-month old infant in NJ, who was shaken because he wouldn’t stop crying. The baby’s father was quoted as saying that the baby would still be alive if the parents had received “parenting lessons.” A number of hospitals across the state have recently begun an intensive program that provides a powerful reminder to new parents about the stress of a crying baby, and how parents can cope. It has been shown to be effective in dramatically reducing the incidence of shaken-baby syndrome in rigorous evaluations. However, so far, only a small group of hospitals have adopted it.
We know how to prevent abuse …but we can and need to do a better job. For more information on our work visit www.preventchildabusenj.org.
Prevent Child Abuse NJ would like to share a story to paint a picture of why we work tirelessly every day to bring child abuse prevention efforts to all parents, caregivers and professionals across NJ.
January 8th, 2009 a beautiful baby boy named Joey entered this world in a hospital in NJ. His family was overjoyed with his arrival and their new addition to their family. His grandmother, Amy*, was thrilled to have a grandson she could dote on.
Two months later, Joey was taken to the emergency room with bleeding on his brain and behind his eyes. His head was swollen and they weren’t sure if Joey could see or hear. He was a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) at the hands of his father; his father whom had also been abused as a child until adopted by Amy when he was 6 years old. Amy is the proud grandmother of Joey, yet also the mother of the abuser. This incident forever changed their lives as Amy now works each day to protect Joey, who is now a SBS survivor and just turned 4 years old this January.
In a complex story involving family dynamics, devastation and an intense determination to protect her grandson, Amy has become an active volunteer and strong voice to prevent shaken baby syndrome and infant abuse. She reached out to PCANJ as soon as she learned the Period of PURPLE crying program was coming to New Jersey; a program designed to prevent SBS.
In 2012, Prevent Child Abuse NJ (PCANJ) launched a shaken baby syndrome/infant abuse prevention program called the Period of PURPLE crying in 2 New Jersey hospitals: Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and Newark Beth Israel in Newark. This program is effective at helping parents understand newborn crying and also teaching them about how to cope with the stress of a crying baby. Anyone who has ever been around a crying baby (add in no sleep for weeks with seemingly no end in sight!) can relate to the frustration of not being able to calm the baby down.
Fortunately, the PURPLE program teaches parents there IS an end in sight and that this is a period that all babies go through in their development. The cost is $2 per family for the hospital; an investment we think is worth it to save a child like Joey from having to ensure a lifetime of surviving the injuries from SBS.
Amy wrote: “As difficult as this is for me to re-live, I feel it is absolutely necessary, in the hopes of preventing another family from experiencing the tragic results of SBS. I’m all too familiar with the affects of child abuse on generations, and therefore, am willing to help in any way possible”.
PCANJ wants to bring this effort to more hospitals in NJ and with your support we can show that Prevention Matters… because Joey matters.
To support the Period of PURPLE crying program in New Jersey please visit our Period of PURPLE site.
If you are interested in knitting purple newborn caps for PCANJ’s Click for Babies in NJ campaign, please visit our Click for Babies site.
If you or someone you knows works in a NJ hospital that may be interested in bringing the Period of PURPLE crying to families who deliver there, please contact Gina Hernandez.
*Name has been changed to protect identity.
As you have no doubt read in our weekly recaps throughout April (one / two / three / four), Child Abuse Prevention Month 2011 was a fantastic success. We received so many stories from across the state, and could not have asked for a better community to work with. The response was overwhelming — our website received a whopping 63,000 hits during the month of April, the best we have ever seen.
One thing that folks have been asking about is our Pinwheel Contest. We are finally ready to announce that the winner is…
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Congrats to the Cape May Healthy Families-TIP program! The photo of little Sophia Giuliano epitomizes everything about a safe, happy, healthy, and nurtured childhood. Check out our full press release announcing the winner, and be sure to enter next year!
We have one last tidbit from the month to share with everyone. This great story comes to us from Robins’ Nest in Glassboro, whose commitment to children gained the attention of Mayor Leo McCabe!
Robins’ Nest Makes a Difference in the Lives of Children and Families
Glassboro, NJ – Robins’ Nest is supporting our community’s children and families by promoting positive childhood outcomes and ensuring that every child benefits from a happy, healthy and safe childhood. April was Child Abuse Prevention Month and in partnership with Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey for the Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign Robins’ Nest offered citizens, businesses and community groups an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children.
Pinwheels remind us of carefree, happy childhoods and are a visible symbol of the kind of childhood every child deserves. Child abuse can be prevented and we all have an important part in making that happen. When we work together to promote nurturing parent-child interactions, teach discipline that is safe and age-appropriate, and foster early learning opportunities, we actually support child development and healthy family relationships – the very actions that help and are proven to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Anthony DiFabio, Chief Executive Officer of Robins’ Nest said, “While we will never waiver in our efforts to support and nurture those whose lives have been inextricably altered by child abuse, we as an agency and society can and must do more to prevent the abuse from ever happening.”
In New Jersey, too many children are exposed to intensive stress like child abuse and neglect. These exposures can be devastating to child development. This is where prevention is so critical.
Mayor Leo McCabe presented a proclamation to Robins’ Nest in support of this effort, declaring April 2011 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Glassboro, New Jersey.
Doesn’t every child deserve to grow up in a healthy and safe environment?
About Robins’ Nest Inc.
Robins’ Nest is a private, nonprofit 501(C) (3), children’s services organization dedicated to ensure the safety of children and enhance their well-being in a family setting. This is accomplished through a wide array of quality, community-based residential and in-home services, which encourage and empower children to become responsible members of the community. The agency employs over 225 therapists, clinicians, psychotherapists, nurses, and other staff to administer over 40 programs to over 7400 children and families annually. Robins’ Nest serves the seven counties of Southern New Jersey through its main campus in Glassboro, N.J., and satellite offices in Egg Harbor Township, Elmer, Mullica Hill, Salem City and Vineland.For more information on Robins’ Nest Inc., please visit www.robinsnestinc.org.
Photo: Mayor Leo McCabe of Glassboro (left) presents a Proclamation to Anthony DiFabio, Chief Executive Officer of Robins’ Nest, in front of the pinwheel garden in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Once again we extend an enormous “Thank You!” to everyone who participated in Child Abuse Prevention Month this past April. We look forward to working with you throughout the entire rest of the year and beyond!
The fourth week of Child Abuse Prevention Month 2011 brings us more tips and a wealth of new pictures!
Below is the latest round of tips we have posted over on our Twitter account (follow us: @pcanj):
The home care agency People Care of New Jersey, Inc. sent along a photo of a great poster board they created showcasing their motto: compassion, dedication, education.
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Magical Rainbow Preschool in West New York, NJ sent along a bunch of pictures, including this one the staff put together themselves:
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Their dedication to children never ceases to impress us! Here’s what they had to say:
Thank you for allowing Magical Rainbow staff, students and parents to participate in such a vital important subject in our life. As family workers for the school we work hard to prevent all types of abuse and to make our community aware that there is help out there and we are there if needed. We enjoyed putting together these posters that I have attached in the email to spread the word for all to see to prevent all types of abuse. Our children are the most important part of our future — they will be the ones to make the difference.
The next couple pictures come to us courtesy of Brick Avon Academy in Newark. The pinwheels look great on their way up into the school!
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In collaboration with NJPIRC, Jersey City P.S. #24 highlighted Child Abuse Prevention Month with the pinwheel campaign on their new website’s slide show, all thanks to their amazing parent group, PTP (Parent Teacher Partnership).
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Healthy Families in Cape May sent this fantastic shot from their event with a huge collection of planted pinwheels!
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Jugando Aprendemos in West New York, NJ had Officer Aguayo come to the center to speak about child abuse, in addition to the wonderful pinwheel displays set up:
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SonRise Development Corporation held a “Strengthening Families Play Date and Resource Fair” on April 9th. Be sure to check out even more photos from their event!
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There is still a little bit of time left — be sure to enter our Annual Pinwheel Contest for a chance to win a Donut & Coffee breakfast party and a $100 gift certificate toward next year’s CAP Month materials! Send your pictures in today to pinwheels@preventchildabusenj.org — we would love to feature them on the website and blog!
The third week of Child Abuse Prevention Month 2011 brings us more tips, more pictures, and a new podcast episode!
Below is the latest round of tips we have posted over on our Twitter account (follow us: @pcanj):
Monmouth Mobile Home Park in South Brunswick once again set up their pinwheel garden this year in celebration of Child Abuse Prevention Month:
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FAMILYConnections held a Community Workshop in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month on April 13th at the Family Success Center in Orange with workshops, discussions, and guest speakers. In attendance was Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins:
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To wrap things up this week, we have a new podcast episode! We here at Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey took some time to discuss Child Abuse Prevention Month, what it means to the community, what events to look forward to, and some suggestions on how any person at all can get involved to make a difference. Visit our “Podcast” page to subscribe and automatically receive new episodes for free, or listen below!
Be sure to enter our Annual Pinwheel Contest for a chance to win a Donut & Coffee breakfast party and a $100 gift certificate toward next year’s CAP Month materials! Send your pictures in today to pinwheels@preventchildabusenj.org — we would love to feature them on the website and blog!
The second week of Child Abuse Prevention Month brings us even more to share!
We have been posting another round of parenting tips on our Twitter account (follow us: @pcanj). Here is a recap of the latest ones:
The Lambda Tau Omega Sorority Incorporated Ariamas Sigma Chapter at The Richard Stockton College of NJ shared a wealth of photos over on our Facebook page this past week. Here are a couple of our favorites:
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Be sure to enter our Annual Pinwheel Contest for a chance to win a Donut & Coffee breakfast party and a $100 gift certificate toward next year’s CAP Month materials! Send your pictures in today to pinwheels@preventchildabusenj.org — we would love to feature them on the website and blog!
Don’t forget this weekend’s book clearance sale at J.R. Trading Company in Monmouth Junction — it’s another great way for you to help support us in our mission to end child abuse in New Jersey. Simply present our special flyer (PDF) when you check out, and a percentage of your purchase will go to Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey.
The first week of Child Abuse Prevention Month 2011 has New Jersey off to a great start! Pictures, events, and stories are pouring in to us, so we wanted to share back some of what you all are doing out there along with us.
We have been sharing some parenting tips every day on our Twitter account (follow us: @pcanj). Here are some of the ones we have posted so far:
New Brunswick was gracious enough to fly our Child Abuse Prevention Month banner above George and Church Street, letting all New Jersians know that it is their turn to make a difference in the lives of children.
Mile Square Early Learning Center in Hoboken sent us this fantastic image of a pinwheel display with banners:
The Kappa Delta Sorority at TCNJ held their Shamrock ‘N Run 5k back at the end of March at Mercer County park, and sent along the following pictures:
We can’t wait to get your pictures and stories! Drop us a line at pinwheels@preventchildabusenj.org so we can promote all the great things happening throughout the state. Any picture you send also gets you entered into our “Pinwheel Contest” — you can win a coffee & donut breakfast as well as a $100 gift certificate toward next year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month materials!
If February is to be remembered for making plans for snow, then let us remember March as the month to make plans for pinwheels.
As we get ready for Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, we’re launching our “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign with a challenge from special friends. Child advocates Arthur and Debbie Roedel of the Monmouth Mobile Home Park in Monmouth Junction, NJ, have made already made a $5,000 gift as lead sponsor for this statewide campaign and are challenge urging citizens and communities in all 21 counties to follow their example.
“I’ve always believed that you get back what you put into your community. Our children are no different. I’m asking others to really think about the families living around them and make a commitment to the children in their neighborhoods,” explained Roedel. “If we can do this for our community, I can only imagine what all of New Jersey can do.”
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We’ve made it easy for you to get involved by offering free online downloads, educational materials and pinwheel toolkits that allow individuals and groups to play a lead in the month’s activities. Visit www.preventchildabusenj.org/cap for all of these resources.
What will you do for Child Abuse Prevention Month? Organizations and businesses can plant pinwheel gardens in front of their buildings, individuals can wear pinwheel lapel pins, elected officials can issue proclamations for their towns, and communities can sign and display “promise cards” which offer ways they can support the families and children around them. Be sure to tell us about your activities by sharing photos and dates for your community’s events so that we can celebrate your commitment to children. We can’t wait to showcase them on the website and here on the blog!
Remember, IT’S YOUR TURN!
