Among the 2003-2004 grant recipients of the Children’s Trust Fund was the Family Empowerment Project, developed by the Center for Prevention and Counseling. It received a first year grant of $56,000 to reduce child abuse and neglect among Sussex County families that are homeless, at risk of homelessness or have recently become homeless. The Strengthening Families curriculum will help parents with skill building and case management services will address challenges faced by homeless families.

Help All Violence End Now (H.A.V.E.N), a program developed by NORWESCAP Head Start of Phillipsburg, received $18,403 for a second year of funding.  In this program, families receive educational material, educational group presentations and self-esteem building workshops.  Support groups for victims of domestic violence are also offered as a part of the program.

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.