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On January 9, 2006, the New Jersey Legislature passed Law 294, which established the Safe Haven Awareness Promotion Task Force.  The Task Force’s main responsibility is to review, analyze and evaluate the efficacy of the Safe Haven outreach efforts conducted by the department in getting the message out about Safe Haven.   The Task Force submitted their formal report to the Governor and Legislature in September 2007, detailing their findings and recommendations.

The Governor appointed a total of 16 members, 11 of which are public members.  This Task Force is comprised of experts in their fields, including, child advocates, health professionals, school administrators, and other government employees.

For additional information regarding the Safe Haven Awareness Promotion Task Force, please call 609-292-0422.

For more information about the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act visit www.njsafehaven.org.

Safe Haven Awareness Promotion Task Force

Public Members

Right to Life recommendation
Marie Tasy
113 North Avenue West
Cranford, NJ  07016
732-846-2000
mtasy@njrtl.org

National Association of Social Workers recommendation
Richard Blake
19 Aqua View Lane
Barnegat, NJ  08005
973-275-5880
blakeric@shu.edu

Expert in issues relating to the Task Force
Consuelo Bonillas, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Health Education
Kean University
1000 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ  07083
609-799-1010
cbonilla@kean.edu

Catholic Conference recommendation
Mary Kay Cullinan, Ph.D.
337 Harris Avenue
Middlesex, NJ  08846
732-356-8294
marykayc@aol.com

Mental Health Association recommendation
Debbie Kinney-Chen, MSW, LCSW
c/o MHANJ
88 Pompton Avenue
Verona, NJ  07044
973-571-4100 Ext. 113
dkinney-chen@mhanj.org

School Nurses Association recommendation
Therese McLaughlin, R.N.
5 Fair Hill Court
Marlton, NJ  08053
856-424-2222 Ext. 2525
tmclaughlin@chclc.org

Expert in issues relating to the Task Force
Leslie A. Morris, LCSW, MPH
69 Cypress Point Road
Westampton, NJ  08860
609-914-0043
lmorris@njpca.org

NJ Task Force on Child Abuse & Neglect recommendation
Kathleen Roe, MA
Parents Anonymous of NJ, Inc.
127 Route 206 South
Trenton, NJ  08610
609-585-7666
kroepanj@aol.com

Foster and Adoptive Family Services recommendation
Shephanie Streter, Esq.
105 High Street
Mount Holly, NJ  08060
609-265-9600
lawshreter@verizon.net

NJ Hospital Association recommendation
Firoozeh Vali, Ph.D.
550 Village Road West
Princeton Junction, NJ  08550
609-275-4146
fvali@njha.com

American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation
Patty Vitale, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P.
31 Spring Lake Drive
Clementon, NJ  08021
856-342-2305
pvitale@pol.net


Ex-officio Members/Designees

Office of the Child Advocate
Gianine Christiano
Office of the Child Advocate
135 West Hanover Street
PO Box 092
Trenton, NJ  08625
609-984-1188
gianine.christiano@childadvocate.state.nj.us

Department of Children & Families
Mary Helen Cervantes, Director
Office of Communications & Legislation
222 South Warren Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 729
Trenton, NJ  08625
609-292-0422
mary.cervantes@dcf.state.nj.us

Department of Community Affairs
Janice Kovach, Director
Division on Women
PO Box 801
Trenton, NJ  08625
609-292-8840
janice.kovach@dca.state.nj.us

Department of Education
LaCoyya Weathington, Coordinator
School Health & Social Services
PO Box 500
Trenton, NJ  08625
609-984-4951
lacoyya.weathington@doe.state.nj.us

Department of Health & Senior Services
Linda Jones-Hicks, D.O., F.A.C.O.P., F.A.A.P.
Director, Maternal, Child and Community Health
Division of Family Health Services
50 East State Street, 6th Floor
PO Box 364
Trenton, NJ  08625
609-984-1384
linda.jones-hicks@doh.state.nj.us

 
 
To report suspected child abuse or neglect, please call 1-877-NJ Abuse (652-2873)