Maltreatment Prevention Programs and Policies in New Jersey In a 2011 survey on state prevention policies, child welfare agency staff were asked about eligibility requirements, funding, program descriptions, and demand ( lists) for the following prevention-related activities: Home Visiting Programs In-Home Services (aside from the more formal home visiting programs) Parent Education & Training Respite Care/Crisis Nurseries Parent Support (e.g., mentors, support groups) Concrete/Financial Supports Counseling/Mental Health Services Substance Abuse Assessment & Treatment Services for Families Affected by Domestic Violence Overall eligibility for the prevention-related services in New Jersey: Any child or family referred to the child welfare agency for abuse or neglect. New Jersey s Vulnerable Children: AT-A-GLANCE In 2009. Child population: 2,045,848 Total referrals to child protective services (CPS): ( referrals per 1,000 children in the state) # of children receiving an investigation/assessment: 70,729 # of children who were victims of abuse or neglect: 8,725 # of children in foster care (on last day of fiscal year): 7,809 # of children reunified with parents: 2,920 (54% of all exits from foster care) # of children in guardianships/living with other relatives: 558 (10% of all exits from foster care) # children adopted from foster care: 1,419 (26% of all exits from foster care) Data Sources: The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), and the KIDS COUNT Data Center (www.kidscount.org
Programs and Services to Prevent Maltreatment in New Jersey Service/ Program Home Visiting Programs In-Home Services Using reimbursement of, there is not an agreement to grant child welfare referrals priority when making intake decisions. Fee for service Reimbursement of. Yes, there is an agreement to grant child welfare referrals priority when making intake decisions. Another government agency(ies): the local office of Mental Health CAPTA Title I Title V Maternal and Child Health Services grant awards Who is eligible? Specific eligibility is based on the evidence based model used by the contracted provider. The child welfare agency refers families who would benefit from this service based on the assessment of family functioning. Service/program description: We have over 40 providers statewide and use the Healthy Families, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents As Teachers models. Has this program been evaluated? An evaluation is currently underway. Who is eligible? Families where there is risk of out-of-home placement for one or more children (as determined by risk/safety assessment). Service/program description: Family Preservation Services - intensive in-home services lasting up to eight weeks and include assessment, counseling, support services, linkage, and limited financial assistance. Has this program been evaluated? Yes, however results/reports are not available. Parent Education & Training Community-based agency(ies) not contracted by the child welfare agency: mostly non-profits, some of which may be contracted by other government agencies Title IV-B, Subpart 1 CAPTA Title II Who is eligible? Specific eligibility is based on the model used by the contracted provider. The child welfare agency refers families who would benefit from this service based on the assessment of family functioning (as determined by a structured decision making tool). Some programs are specific to child welfare and
Respite Care/Crisis Nurseries It depends whether there is an agreement to grant child welfare referrals priority when making intake decisions. Some programs exclusively serve the needs of child welfare families; other programs are open to the general "at-risk" population but serve many child welfare families. These programs may be funded by the larger department but not by the child welfare agency.. It depends whether there is an agreement to grant child welfare referrals priority when making intake decisions. Some programs exclusively serve the needs of child welfare families; other programs are open to the general "atrisk" population but serve many child welfare families. These programs may be funded by the larger department but not by the child welfare agency. are only open to those referrals based on an assessment of family functioning. Some programs used by the child welfare agency are open to non-child welfare families. Eligibility is not based on case findings, income, or age. Service/program description: Parent education can be provided through our Early Childhood, School Based, Community Based, and Domestic Violence programs. Parents programs are also available through contract providers to address needs of parents with children of a particular age who are substantiated for abuse. There are a number of program models. Duration, service, and delivery vary by county. Who is eligible? Families that come to the attention of the child welfare agency. Post-Adoption families are particularly targeted. Service/program description: Post-Adoption families; family stabilization and prevention of maltreatment.
Parent Support, there is not an agreement to grant child welfare referrals priority. Federal Title IV-B Subpart 1 Title IV-B Subpart 2 CAPTA, Title I CAPTA, Title II Medicaid Title V Maternal and Child Health Services grant awards Other federal dollars (Office of JJ and Delinquency Prevention) State General Who is eligible? Specific eligibility is based on the model used by the contracted provider. The child welfare agency refers families who would benefit from this service based on the assessment of family functioning. Some programs are specific to child welfare and are only open to those referrals based on an assessment of family functioning. Some programs used by the child welfare agency are open to non-child welfare families. Eligibility is not based on case findings, income, or age. Service/program description: Parents Anonymous provides services focused on helping parents identify their strengths and manage their feelings. A parent may go to one meeting or remain a member of their group for years. This is an evidenced based model. Services are also provided to parents of children with serious behavioral health challenges, who may also be receiving services from the child welfare system. These families are often also involved with the behavioral health agency service is provided irrespective of which door they are coming through. Some services are funded through the behavioral health services, but there is a back and forth referral and both entities are often involved. Selected Concrete/Financial Support: Transportation Other: Funds are provided by the child welfare local office directly to service recipients. Yes, there is an agreement requiring providers to grant child welfare referrals priority. Who is eligible? Children/families being served by the Division of Youth and Family Services, to support access to treatment and/or to support reunification for children in placement. Service/program description: State staff may transport; bus cards may be purchased; or there may be transportation contracts with private vendors. Counseling/ Mental Health Services Public child welfare agency Title IV-B Subpart 1 Title IV-B Subpart 2 Medicaid Who is eligible? Specific eligibility is based on the model used by the contracted provider. The child welfare agency refers families who would benefit from this service based on the assessment of family functioning. Some programs are specific to child welfare and are only open to those referrals based on an assessment of family functioning services to address issues of child maltreatment and also to support reunification for children in placement. Some programs used by the child
Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment Services for Families Affected by Domestic Violence Another government agency(ies): State Department of Human Services Community-based agency(ies) not contracted by the child welfare agency: Church based and community based mental health centers, and child guidance clinics these may be funded by other government agencies Yes, providers of purchased services grant priority to child welfare providers when making intake decisions. Another government agency(ies): Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services there is not an agreement for providers of purchased services grant priority to child welfare providers when making intake decisions. CAPTA Title I Title IV-B Subpart 1 CAPTA Title II Other: FVPSA Other: Domestic Violence welfare agency are open to non-child welfare families. Eligibility is not based on case findings, income, or age. However, children accessing the child behavioral health system are determined eligible after an assessment of level of need. Service/program description: Varies widely - Numerous models of service from crisis response, outpatient care, in-home counseling, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment. Counseling offered includes evidence based and need specific (e.g. for sexual abuse services). Who is eligible? Families where there is a report concerning maltreatment or who request services are eligible. Service/program description: These vary by county, treatment type, etc. Services are available to both parents and adolescents. In-patient treatment for adolescent lasts an average of six months. The programs use evidence based models such as "seeking safety." Who is eligible? These are community services that available to any individual/family that requests it. The child welfare agency supports families in accessing these services. Service/program description: Shelter and DV advocacy and support services are available in all 21 counties; In addition, there is a liaison from one of these programs in each county to support coordination between the DV agency and the child welfare agency.
Victims Fund tes: (a) indicates that the information was not available or the respondent was instructed to skip the questions. To increase the likelihood that the child welfare agency staff member could report accurately about the specific features of a program or service, respondents were only asked follow-up questions about the activities if they indicated that either the public child welfare agency itself and/or a purchased service provider contracted to the public child welfare agency actually provided the service. (b) The agency does refer to/collaborate with a Family Drug Treatment Court for substance abuse assessment/treatment services for the eligible population described here. Drug courts exist in only three counties. ABOUT THE SURVEY In 2011, Child Trends, with support from Casey Family Programs, conducted a national survey to gather information about state policies that guide child welfare agencies work in preventing child maltreatment from occurring or reoccurring. Specifically, the survey asked about the child welfare agency s policies, programs, and services for families who are considered at-risk for the occurrence or reoccurrence of child maltreatment. Defining Prevention : In completing the survey, states were asked specifically to consider activities designed for children and families who have already come to the attention of the child welfare agency, such as through a referral of abuse or neglect, or a family self-referral, to prevent maltreatment from occurring or reoccurring. The services and programs addressed in the survey might fall under what is more typically known in some states as family support or family preservation activities. The target population for these services could include children who had experienced one or more incidences of abuse and/or neglect, or who have not yet experienced maltreatment but are determined to be at-risk for an occurrence.