RELEASE: January 29, 2004

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MEDIA ALERT

Commissioner designee Davy pushes immediate awareness campaign
Youth Corpsmembers to flood communities with Safe Haven info in effort to save babies

Up to 120 members of New Jersey’s twelve Youth Corps sites have begun flooding their neighborhoods this week and for the near future to put up Safe Haven posters in community centers, churches, retail establishments, transportation centers, teen clubs, schools, hospitals and shelters, as part of an all out effort to let distressed mothers know about New Jersey’s Safe Haven Law, which allows them to surrender newborns at hospital emergency rooms and police stations without fear of prosecution.

Department of Human Services Acting Commissioner Jim Davy has moved up the roll-out of this year’s Safe Haven campaign in the wake of three babies having been abandoned during the first three weeks of this year. The New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect oversees the Safe Haven program. Since the Safe Haven Law was legislated in August of 2000, fourteen (14) babies have been safely surrendered through the program, and fourteen (14) other babies were unsafely abandoned since that time… three of whom were found dead. The Safe Haven Hotline is: 877-839-2339.

The Youth Corps, which is currently part of the DHS Office of Education, serves young adults between the ages of 16 and 25 who have dropped out of school, combining community services projects such as this Safe Haven campaign with instruction leading to a high school diploma (either Adult High School or GED) and also provides personal and career counseling and development, employment and life-skills instruction, and assistance in youth transitioning to employment, college or further training. Outcome data thus far indicates that 80 percent of the young people who pass through the program achieve at least one positive outcome (i.e., obtain their GED, get a job, enter the military, etc.).

Corpsmembers from the following Youth Corps sites have been out distributing posters, despite the weather, and will continue to reach out in their communities this week and into the future. According to Sid Wells, coordinator of the Youth Corps Asbury Park, as well as City Administrator of Plainfield, Norton Bonaparte, who hosted the Plainfield Youth Corps last Friday, “The Corpsmembers have really taken this project to heart and feel it is their ‘cause’… they are sincerely reaching out to the community members about the urgency of this Safe Haven project. They are honored that they have been empowered with the task of helping to save babies.” Locations being covered include:

Youth Corps of Asbury Park – Corpsmembers took posters to the Boys & Girls Club, Aziz Learning Center, Check Mate, Asbury Park Alternative H.S., Interfaith Neighbors, Monmouth County DSS, plus retail outlets, barber shops, etc.

NJYC of Atlantic Cape May -- 25 Corpsmembers have gone to Family Service Association, Pleasantville High School and Middle School, Pleasantville City Hall, the Still Water County Office Building, Atlantic City’s City Hall, Atlantic City High School, the Mental Health Association, Atlantic Care Behavior Health, Shore Memorial Hospital, Stockton State College, Atlantic City Rescue Mission, Atlantic City Medical Center, and the Salvation Army. WMGM NBC 40, the Press of AC and the Associated Press all covered their activities.

NJYC of Camden County -- 8 Corpsmembers have covered the Camden City Library, Walter Rand Transportation Center, New Visions, Planned Parenthood, The Work Group, Camden County Libraries, Unemployment Offices, Camden City Social Services Office, the Probation Department Office, McDonald's, WaWa, Pantry 1, One Stop Center in Mt. Ephraim, Camden County College, Rowan and Rutgers campuses in Camden, 15 Cooper Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital sites, corner stores and community centers. Camden Corpsmembers kicked off the statewide awareness of the Safe Haven campaign when NJN News featured them on the evening news, Wednesday, January 28th.

NJYC of Elizabeth, Union County -- 10 Corpsmembers participated. Besides helping the Plainfield Youth Corps on Friday, January 30, they will reach out to the Elizabethport Community Center, a local eatery called Portugese Tavern, the Elizabethport Presbyterian Community Center, and the Library.

On Wednesday, February 4th, NJYC of Jersey City is distributing to the University Academic Charter School, the Board of Education, Adult Learning Center, PS 23 Parent Resource Center, Hogar Crea Substance Abuse Treatment Center, New Mind and Health Care, Family Support Organization of Jersey City, Urban League of Hudson County, Catholic Community Services; Board of Education Parent Resource Center, Episcopal Center for Women’s Services, Puerto Rico Family Institute, Jersey City Employment & Training, Dickinson HS, Ferris HS, LAHS, LHS, MAHS, SHS, Adult School, Academy I, Academy II, Twilight Program, PS 9 parent resource center; and the PS 11 parent resource center.

NJYC of Middlesex County took posters to Elijah’s Promise, Greater New Brunswick Daycare, Nurturing Tree Childcare Center, Puerto Rican Action Board, and Hub City Teen Center. Cablevision’s News 12 covered their visit to Elijah’s Promise.

NJYC of Newark is planning an all-out campaign with the mayor, council, school administrators and other community stakeholders; hence, their poster schedule is still being formulated.

NJYC of Paterson -- 20 Corpsmembers have put up posters in Paterson Libraries, Paterson Municipal Building, Paterson Task Force, Paterson Museum, local corner stores, local retailers and eateries, health clinics, Paterson Community College, the Post Office, Community Development, St. Paul's Church, Oasis, St. Joseph's Hospital, Camp Vacamus, City Hall, Workforce Development Center, Paterson Housing Authority, and Total Life Program.

NJYC of Phillipsburg Corpsmembers have distributed at the Phillipsburg Housing Authority, NORWESCAP, Warren County Community College, Phillipsburg Municipal Building, the stores in Phillipsburg Mall, South Main Street Corridor and Warren Hospital. As most of the Youth Corps teams did, they rode around in their white Youth Corps van to distribute materials.

NJYC of Plainfield had 4 to 6 of their own members team with the Youth Corps from Elizabeth, to poster the Plainfield Library, Plainfield Police Station, Plainfield City Hall, Union County Vo-Tech School, and the Plainfield Armory. The Courier-News took a photo of them at City Hall.

NJYC of Trenton’s 8 Corpsmembers went to The Carver Center, Shiloh Baptist Church, Legal Aid, Mercer Street Friends, Youth Detention Center, Planned Parenthood, Mill Hill Child & Family Development Corporation, Imani Church, Youth Services Center, One Stop, and Catholic Charities. WZBN Channel 25 covered their visit to Mercer Hospital.

NJYC of Vineland, 4 Corpsmembers went to FamCare, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Newcomb Medical Center, the Vineland Public Library, several Tri-County Head Starts, Vineland Developmental Center, NJ Veterans Memorial Home, Carl Arthur Recreation Center, the YMCA, the Welfare Department, Cumberland County Social Services, One Stop Center, City of Vineland Community Nursing Service, plus local retailers and eateries. The Daily Journal featured them in a story February 3rd.

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