April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment — one where they can play freely, dream boldly, and thrive. This year’s theme, Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention, recognizes that when families have the support they need, we can work together to prevent child abuse before it ever happens.
Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium’s community programs helps family’s access what they need to succeed and thrive. Whether it’s an in-home visit from a trained Family Connects nurse, access to baby supplies, emotional support, doula support, breastfeeding or lactation education, or access to other resources like navigating WIC, finding food pantrys, or childcare.
We believe that preventing child abuse starts with strengthening families and supporting caregivers from the very beginning.
Prevention Starts With Support
Child abuse is preventable — and prevention begins long before harm or neglect ever happens. When communities are engaged and informed, prevention becomes a shared responsibility — not just a service, but a movement.
From pregnancy to early childhood, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium’s programs are designed to support families in care, guidance, and resources.
Here’s how:
Healthy Families home visiting program is a cornerstone of prevention. A subsidiary of Prevent Child Abuse America, Healthy Families trained Family Support Workers build trusted relationships with new and expecting parents, offering regular in-home visits that promote positive parenting, child development, and healthy bonding.
Through:
- Emotional support
- Early childhood education
- Parenting tools and resources
- Referrals to services like housing, mental health, and employment assistance
Healthy Families helps parents feel confident and capable, even when life gets challenging. Research shows that families who participate in home visiting programs are less likely to experience child abuse or neglect.
New Jersey Postpartum Resource and Support Network
Mental health challenges like postpartum depression and anxiety can make parenting feel overwhelming. The Postpartum Resource and Support Network empower parents and professionals alike to recognize warning signs and ensure families get help when they need it most.
ALMA
Cultural understanding and emotional support are critical for maternal well-being. ALMA provides peer-led support groups, creating safe spaces for mothers to share their experiences, reduce isolation, and access mental health resources. By fostering community and emotional wellness, ALMA helps prevent the stress and disconnection that can lead to negative parenting outcomes.
Connecting NJ
Connecting NJ acts as a gateway to support by linking families to vital services including:
- Healthcare
- Parenting support
- Housing
- Child care, and more.
Trained staff provide compassionate navigation tailored to each family's unique needs. By removing barriers and increasing access to care, Connecting NJ ensures families feel seen, supported, and connected — all key to preventing abuse and neglect.
Early Childhood Specialists
Early Childhood Specialists support child care providers and parents with developmental screenings, guidance on early learning, and referrals to resources. This equips caregivers with tools to recognize delays, respond with empathy, and create developmentally nurturing environments — setting children up for success and reducing frustration-based parenting risks.
Early Intervention
When a child shows signs of developmental delays, early help matters. CJFHC’s Early Intervention referrals connect families with services that support a child’s growth from birth to age three. This proactive approach eases parental stress, strengthens child-caregiver bonds, and prevents misinterpretation of behaviors that can lead to harmful discipline or neglect.
Family Connects NJ
Family Connects NJ offers free nurse home visits for all families with newborns, bridging the gap between hospital discharge and pediatric care. Nurses check in on physical and emotional well-being of the adults in the household, check the physical well-being of the infant, screen for postpartum depression, and connect parents to services. This early support reduces caregiver overwhelm and strengthens confidence — both critical to preventing child abuse.
This early touchpoint identifies needs before they become crises — protecting both parents and children.
Grow NJ Kids
High-quality child care protects children and supports working families. CJFHC helps early learning programs meet the standards of Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s Quality Rating and Improvement System. By enhancing care environments and promoting best practices in safety, learning, and emotional development, this program ensures children are nurtured — not just watched.
Healthy Women, Healthy Families
Healthy caregivers are better equipped to nurture and protect their children. Through education, case management, and community events, Healthy Women, Healthy Families empowers women to care for their own mental, physical, and emotional health. It also addresses social determinants of health, which can compound parenting stress and increase risks for child maltreatment.
Perinatal Addictions Prevention Project (PAPP)
Substance use can disrupt safe parenting, but stigma should never be a barrier to support. PAPP educates providers and families about substance use during pregnancy and helps connect those in need to treatment and recovery services. By addressing addiction with compassion and care, PAPP keeps families together and children safer.
Prematurity Prevention Initiative
Babies born too early face greater health risks, and parents of preemies often experience high levels of stress. CJFHC’s Prematurity Prevention Initiative works to improve birth outcomes through education and access to prenatal care. Healthy, full-term births reduce the need for intensive care and help families start their parenting journey with strength and stability.
Safe Kids NJ
Accidents are the leading cause of preventable childhood deaths. Safe Kids NJ is a coalition focused on child injury prevention through programs like car seat safety checks, fire safety education, and safe sleep practices. When homes and communities are safer, children are protected — and families can parent with more peace of mind.
