It is with a mix of excitement and nostalgia that I tell you that this is my last newsletter on behalf of NJCA. I am transitioning from Executive Director to a new position, Director of Statewide Initiatives.  In my new role, I will be working on mental health, prevention, and legislative initiatives in alignment with our mission to promote hope, healing and justice for child abuse victims by supporting Child Advocacy Centers throughout the state with training, resources, advocacy, and leadership.

I started with NJCA in 2012 as Chapter Coordinator, which was part-time, and the organization’s only staff position. At the time, there were 7 accredited Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) in New Jersey. In 2016, when we successfully advocated for legislation declaring Child Advocacy Centers to be the gold standard for child abuse intervention and underscoring the need for working toward best practice standards, we launched our “21 by (20)21” initiative, aiming to ensure that all child victims in each of our 21 counties have access to the quality, comprehensive services offered at a Child Advocacy Center. 

Fast forward to today: we have essentially achieved 21 by (20)21 with CACs developing in every county.  Seventeen CACs are members of the National Children’s Alliance (NCA), and we are aiming for the remaining 4 to have NCA membership by the end of the year. As a result of collaborative advocacy efforts with our CACs, partner agencies, and community members, over $25 million in CAC grants supporting the development and enhancement of CACs have been awarded, and NJCA’s own budget has quadrupled. We grew from one half-time person in 2012, to 5 additional full-time staff in 2021. We implemented and sponsored countless community outreach, public awareness, multidisciplinary team (MDT) training and technical assistance initiatives. Over the years, we have become a known name and source of information on child abuse prevention and intervention and have leveraged our growing recognition and professional relationships to support the creation of new CACs, enhancement of existing CACs, and expansion of programs and services for abused youth. 

I could not have gotten any luckier in having the staff, Board of Trustees, partner agencies, legislators, and community supporters in the team effort that was needed for these achievements, and I am excited to continue to collaborate with them in my new role. I also look forward to working with our new Executive Director, Anne Holcombe, who brings to us a wealth of experience in fundraising, nonprofit management, and Board development.
 

In partnership,

Nydia Y. Monagas, Psy.D.