TASK FORCE CONFERENCE!

Here is the invitation from the NJ Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect co-chairs, Christine Norbut Beyer (Commissioner, NJ Department of Children and Families), and Mary Coogan (President and CEO, Advocates for Children of New Jersey):

On October 7, 2024 from 9:00 – 3:30 at the Westin, Forrestal Village in Princeton, the NJ Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect will host professionals from New Jersey’s health care, education and law enforcement communities, to hear from child welfare experts about mandatory reporting and ways we can empower and assist families to prevent child abuse and neglect.

For context, over 35% of all American children – and over 50% of America’s Black children – will be reported to a CPS hotline before turning 18.* Overwhelmingly these reports are allegations of neglect, and are ultimately unfounded.  Many jurisdictions across the United States – including New Jersey – are beginning to examine the dynamics surrounding neglect investigations, taking steps to ensure that efforts to help families in poverty do not unnecessarily involve the child protection system, while also ensuring that children are kept safe from harm.
* Lifetime Prevalence of Investigating Child Maltreatment Among US Children. Hyunil Kim MSW, Christopher Wildeman PhD, Melissa Jonson-Reid PhD, MSW, and Brett Drake PhD, MSW. American J of Public Health. February 2017.

We value your experience and input! Please register at www.stockton.edu/tfcan by September 30, 2024. We look forward to having you join us for this important dialogue.