Community Education
The Community Education Department provides information to parents and caregivers, the general public and professionals who work with children and families to build a brighter future for children and to educate them about preventing child abuse and neglect.
What is the Click for Babies campaign?
The Click for Babies Campaign is an initiative to help support the prevention of shaken baby syndrome. PCA-NJ collects knitted and crocheted hats and distributes them, along with information and resources about the Period of PURPLE Crying®, to various hospitals and organizations who are trained to provide education about this program to new parents/caregivers.
The 2024 Click for Babies Campaign has ended at this time and we are currently distributing hats & booties to various sites in NJ.
If interested in donating hats, please see below for guidelines to follow. PCA-NJ will be collecting hats for the 2025 Click for Babies Campaign beginning in July 2025. More information will be available soon.
Here are some guidelines to follow:
- Caps should be at least 50% purple in color, although no particular shade of purple yarn is required.
- Please avoid wool or harsh material as babies can be sensitive!
- Consider making a few preemie caps, but when you send them, please send them in a separate bag so we know.
- Find crafting guidelines here.
- You can also create booties.
- Take pictures and download the photo release form to show others you are a part of this effort! E-mail the pictures and completed form to [email protected]. We will post it on our website and Facebook page!
- Spread the word! Our goal is to have a total of 9,000 caps this year!
- Donate skeins of any shade of purple yarn (soft yarn please).
- Make a financial contribution to support the PURPLE program.
Please mail caps and booties to:
PCA-NJ Purple Hats, 103 Church Street, Suite 210, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
How we can bring this to our hospital, agency or program?
If your hospital, agency or program is interested in implementing the Period of PURPLE Crying, please contact Carrie Speiser.
Why PURPLE?
The acronym PURPLE is used to describe specific characteristics of an infant’s crying during this phase and let parents and caregivers know that what they are experiencing is indeed normal and, although frustrating, is simply a phase in their child’s development that will pass. The word Period is important because it tells parents that it is only temporary and will come to an end!
Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma
Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma (SBS/AHT) is a form of child abuse which consists of violent shaking and/or impacting of the head of an infant or small child. A study released in the Journal of Pediatrics states that “babies under the age of one are the most common victims of physical abuse”. Lead researcher, Dr. John Leventhal, stated that physical abuse for babies is a bigger threat than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), based on the rate the abuse is occurring in the United States.
The goal of the project is to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) injuries and deaths by implementing a program that ensures parents/caregivers understand the properties of crying that are frustrating, the appropriate responses to take with crying infants and the importance of sharing this information with others. This program teaches prevention strategies for SBS injuries and deaths among infants who are delivered at hospitals across the state. The Period of PURPLE Crying, which was developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS), has been evaluated and shown to be effective nationally.
This project trains the nurses in Maternity Units and Neonatal Intensive Care Units at hospitals statewide. The outcomes/objectives of the project are:
- Parents will understand that crying is a normal part of infant development.
- Parents will acknowledge when their emotions interfere with their ability to care for their infant safely and know appropriate responses to their frustrations.
- Parents will learn the importance of sharing this information with others.
Safe Sleep Onesies
To remind family and friends about safe sleep for baby, you can purchase a purple onesie, that remind parents and caregivers that babies should be put to sleep on their back. Safe sleep practices include putting the baby on their back, using a firm flat mattress or safety approved crib without any soft objects like pillows, blankets and stuffed animals.
Purchase a Purple Onesie
Purchase a Purple Onesie for a loved one or to donate to families in NJ!
Connections Matter
Connections Matter is a healing-centered curriculum that teaches adults how to use the power of connections to help develop healthy brains and supportive relationships, prevent and heal from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and strengthen communities by building resilience and compassion. Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey (PCA-NJ) is the state lead for the Connections Matter NJ initiative.
Upcoming Training Dates:
– Thursday & Friday, Jan. 30th & 31st 10am-12pm
– Monday & Tuesday, Feb. 10th & 11th 1pm-3pm
– Wednesday & Thursday, Feb. 19th & 20th 10am-12pm
– Monday & Tuesday, Feb. 24th & 25th 1pm-3pm
