TRENTON, NEW JERSEY – Four Passaic County programs were among 28 recognized for outstanding child abuse prevention programs by Human Services Commissioner Gwendolyn Harris and Paulette Moore Hines, chair of the Child Life Protection Commission, at a StateHouse ceremony on May 20.

Among the 2003-2004 grant recipients of the Children’s Trust Fund was the 21st Century Exploring Parenting program, developed by Center for Family Resources.  It received a first year grant of $8,950 to work with families in Clifton, NJ. The program will explore positive ways of raising children and foster support among the parents. They will utilize the “Exploring Parenting” curriculum. Transportation and childcare are available.

The Mental Health Association in Passaic County received $38,000 for its second year of running the Consumer Parent Support Network program. Parenting education and support is provided to parents with a mental illness. Through role modeling, case management, linkages to community resources, respite and advocacy, parents are learning to manage their mental illness and balance family demands.

Eva’s Shelter for Women and Children received $19,200 for their third year. Parents learn to improve their parenting skills and relationships with their children through the Halt Abuse in Paterson for Parents and Youth (HAPPY) program. Mothers are introduced to methods of relieving stress and learn to communicate their needs, feelings and expectations of their children in a non-abusive manner.

The Association for Special Children & Families, based out of Hewitt, NJ, will receive $24,383 for a third year of funding to run its Circle of Supports program.  It serves families who live in northern Passaic or northeastern Morris Counties. This program works with families of children with disabilities. Through respite and family mentors, families are able to reduce stress. With the assistance of a licensed social worker, families express their needs by developing a Family Support Plan, from which they select three of five components: a family mentor;group or individual parenting sessions; special education advocacy support and training; respite care for the children; and coordination of community services.

Commissioner Harris thanked the programs for their dedication to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Commenting on the benefit of the Children's Trust Fund grants, she noted, “I am especially pleased to see that most of the money for these grants has come from citizens who generously checked off the donor box on their New Jersey tax returns.”

Each year CTF selects innovative programs structured to prevent child abuse and neglect among high-risk populations. This year, a majority of grantees are utilizing widely recognized standard curricula that have proven to be successful, like Parents As Teachers, Families and Schools Together and the Strengthening Families Model.  Most focus on parent involvement -- a key element for effective child abuse prevention programs as outlined in the New Jersey Prevention Standards.

The Children’s Trust Fund provides funding on a three-year basis with a step down process in funding amount.  During the course of three years, programs must procure additional funding to meet the amount of their first year grant, with the goal of working toward independence from CTF funding in order to carry on their program beyond three years.  Over the past 16 years, $11.3 million have been awarded to agencies within every county of the state. In the 2003-2004 grant year, ten first year programs will receive a total of $449,306, ten second year programs will receive a total of $345,168 and eight third year programs will receive a total of $176,756.

For more information on The Children’s Trust Fund, go to the New Jersey State website at http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cap/njcap2.html.