Transcript Slide 1

An Innovative Community
Development Strategy in NJ:
The Irvington Family Development Center
The Honorable Mayor Wayne Smith
Ilise Zimmerman, MPH, MS
June 1, 2011
Irvington, NJ
Map of Irvington, NJ
Facts about
Irvington
• 8% of the Essex County population
• 16% of families with children under 18 live in poverty
• 20% of juveniles in criminal justice system in Essex
County are Irvington residents
• 21 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2nd highest in NJ)
• $46,089 median household income
• 48% of all families with children under 18 are female
headed households
• 86% Black/African American
• 99% of students are racial minorities
Facts about Essex County
• Size of County: 130 sq. mi.
• Population of County: 771,353
FOUR CITIES: 430,735 (56% of total County)
• Newark:
277,070
• East Orange: 65,785
• Irvington:
56,715
• Orange:
31,165
• Racial / Ethnic Composition of Essex County :
– White: 75%
– Black: 12%
– Hispanic: 15%
• Racial / Ethnic Composition of FOUR CITIES:
– White: 19%
– Black: 63%
– Hispanic: 24%
WI compared to NJ
• Irvington is one of the Four Cities of Essex
County
• Irvington is often overshadowed by
Newark, the largest city in the State
• NJ is about 1/8 the geographic area of WI
• NJ has about 1.5 times the WI population
• NJ is most densely populated state in U.S.
NJ vs. WI
Passaic
Bergen
Morris
Essex
Northern NJ
Maternal / Child
Health Consortium
• Mission= improve health of
women and children
• Independent non-profit corp.
• Geographically based
• Budget= $6 million
• Grants= 90 % revenue
• Activities:
– Provider & consumer
education
– Public health data analysis
– Advocacy
– Direct service
The Northern Consortium
• When was the Northern Consortium established?
• What size agency is it?
• Where is it located?
• Who do we serve?
• Why do we do what we do?
• How do we measure it?
• Licensed by NJDHSS
• Initial funding:
6,000,000
5,500,000
– “baby tax”
5,000,000
• Core Values:
4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
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20
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20
07
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3,000,000
– social justice
– community
involvement
– Diversity
– program measurement
Northern Consortium programs
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Fetal Infant Mortality Review / QA
Regional Education (CME’s & CEU’s)
Health Planning
Perinatal Addiction Prevention
Postpartum Depression Screening
Black Infant Mortality Reduction
Lead Poisoning Prevention
Health Education for Immigrant Populations
Healthy Families
Nurse Family Partnership
IFDC is a program of the NC
Board of Trustees
President & CEO
Newark Site Coordinator
IFDC Manager
VP of Programs
& Education
Essex Pregnancy &
Parenting Connection
Family Success
Center
M.Ed Mentors
Program
Abbott Family
Outreach Program
East Orange Healthy
Families/TIP
Play, Grow, and
Heal Project
F.E.L.L.A.S.
Fatherhood Program
Chief Financial Officer
Director of Administration
Irvington Family Development Center
1998 -Grant awarded to the Northern Consortium and
Healthy Mothers / Healthy Babies of Essex
-Funding from the NJ Department of Human Services
-FACES
-Started in a local church in Irvington
-Moved into a corporate office building- 2003
-Designated a Family Success Center- 2007
MISSION:
• Reduce Infant Mortality in Irvington
• Address the limited health and social service
resources
• Improve the quality of Childcare Services
IFDC is a Family Success Center
• Created by NJ DCF
– Division of Prevention & Community
Partnerships
• Primary & secondary child abuse
prevention
• Brings together families, community
leaders and local agencies to address
problems threatening the stability of
families
IFDC’s status as a FSC
10 Core Services
• Access to health
information
• Economic SelfSufficiency
• Information & Referral
Services
• Life Skills Training
• Advocacy
• Develop Family
Success Plans
• Housing-related
Services
• Parenting
Education
• Parent/Child
Activities
• Home Visiting
IFDC’s Approach
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No appointments necessary
Flexible office hours (open Thursday evenings)
Easily accessible by public transportation
Access to residents (close to shopping and
housing)
Office located in a secure, wheelchair accessible
office building
2 public computer stations available
Donations of clothing, baby items, children’s
books, diapers, toys available
Workshop space on-site
IFDC’s staff is attentive to:
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Culture
Language
Literacy
Socio-economic status
Sexuality
Disability / Chronic Illness
Fear
IFDC’s staff is aware of:
• Resources:
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Health
Social Services
Housing
Welfare
• Residents’ Needs:
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Pregnancy Testing
Community Education
Resume Writing
Employment Training
Counseling
Encouragement
IFDC’s Program Growth
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Prenatal and health
information
Literacy
Parenting education
Quality childcare
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1998
Prenatal and health information
Literacy
Parenting education
Quality childcare
Child abuse and neglect
prevention
Fatherhood
Economic Self-Sufficiency
Early Childhood Mental Health
Strengthening Families
Community Advisory Boards
2010
IFDC’s Funding Growth
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NJ Department of
Human Services
Healthy Mothers/
Healthy Babies of
Essex
Northern Consortium
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1998 = $200,000
NJ Department of Children
and Families
Healthcare Foundation of
NJ
NJ Department of Human
Services
The Township of Irvington
Schumann Fund for New
Jersey
The Turrell Fund
Northern Consortium
2010 = $1,000,000
IFDC’s Staff
• Family Success Center
– MPH _--BA
– MPA --HS
• F.E.L.L.A.S. Fatherhood Program of Essex County
– J.D.
– BA
• Play, Grow, and Heal Project
– Doctor of Psychology
– Master of Educational Psychology
– MSW
• Abbott Family Outreach Program
– PhD in Clinical Counseling
– 2 MSWs
IFDC’s Attributes
• Family-friendly,
neighborhood-based
• Strengthening families
approach
• Promotes community
leadership among
families
• Incorporates the
opinions and ideas of
families in programmatic
decision-making
process
IFDC’s Resident Reported Highlights
• Free pregnancy testing
• Support groups for pregnant
and new mothers, teens preteens
• Assistance with NJ Family
Care applications
• Personalized job-readiness
assistance (resume & cover
letter writing and interviewing
skills)
• Fun, interactive activities for
parents and children
• Parent/Community Advisory
Board involvement
• Community events: Pregnant
Pause Community Baby
Shower, Irvington Reading
Festival, trips to Zoo
IFDC’s Outcomes as a FSC
• 554 unduplicated families served
• 847 pregnancy tests: 75%
positive
• 94 individuals provided with
individual job readiness
guidance
• 8-10 community events; 400
children, 300 adults
• 67 women participated in a
pregnancy and motherhood
support group
• 40 families assisted with NJ
Family Care applications
• 145 individuals assisted with
housing related services
F.E.L.L.A.S.
Fathers Empowered to Learn, Lead, and Achieve Success
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One of only 2 agencies awarded funding in New Jersey
IFDC’s first county-wide program
One of 5 fatherhood programs in the County
Comprehensive approach
Offered in various locations throughout the County
No eligibility limitations based on age, income, marital
status
• Flexible scheduling
F.E.L.L.A.S.
Fatherhood Program of Essex County
• Prevent family violence
including child abuse and
neglect by supporting fathers
• Provide the tools needed to
help fathers be emotionally,
financially, and physically
involved with their children
• Support and encourage fathers
to be positive, active
participants in their child’s life
• Support and encourage fathers
to communicate effectively with
the mother of the child
F.E.L.L.A.S.
Fatherhood Program of Essex County
Services
• 12-week fatherhood course
using evidence-based
curriculum (24/7 DadTM)
• Bi-weekly support groups
• Ongoing individualized
support
• Fatherhood Community
Advisory Board
F.E.L.L.A.S.
Fatherhood Program of Essex County
Outcomes
• 61 fathers enrolled in a 24/7 Dad Course
– 31 graduated
– 14+ are set to graduate in July
• 79 fathers participated in a support group
– Topics included job readiness, leadership skills, legal services
• 75 fathers enrolled in individualized support
– 44 have accomplished or made progress toward goals set
• 14 individuals participate in Community Advisory Board
– 8 were fathers, 6 were community representatives
– Suggestions made: outreach strategies, promotional materials,
activities for the enrolled fathers
Play, Grow, and Heal Project
• A high violent crime rate, trauma, and poverty in Irvington
leads to early childhood trauma
• Only service of its kind in Irvington
• Began the 3 year pilot program in 2006
• Expanded to a 4th year (2009-2010)
• Services are offered at the Center and at the child’s school
• Work closely with Daycare and Preschool Center Directors,
Family Workers, Teachers, Irvington CST, PIRT members,
and Parents
• Clinical expertise and support for PGH is provided via a
contractual relationship with the Youth Development Clinic
Play, Grow, and Heal Project
Services
• Classroom observations
• Parent and teacher
consultations
• Time-limited individual
play therapy for children
ages 2-5
• Educational workshops
for parents
• Educational trainings for
school staff
Play, Grow, and Heal Project
• Children are
displaying:
– Aggressive Behavior
– ADHD-related
behavior
– Isolated/withdrawn/
depressed
– Anxiety
Play, Grow, and Heal Project
Outcomes
– 43 children received therapy (646 treatment hours)
– 1209 children were observed (48 obs hours)
– 175 staff members were trained (192 staff support
hours)
• Topics: Identifying Behavioral Red Flags, Promoting
Positive Behavior in the Classroom,, The Power of
Play
– 196 parents attended educational workshops (306
family support hours
• Topics: Positive Parenting, Promoting Positive
Behavior at Home, Communication at Home
Play, Grow, and Heal Project
Outcomes
• Decrease in:
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Depression,
Anger,
Aggression,
Bullying,
Conduct Problems,
Anxiety, and
ADHD behaviors
Abbott
Family Outreach Program
• 1998 Abbott vs Burke decision
• State is required to offer all 3 & 4 year old
children in the lowest-income school districts
(now known as the “Abbott districts”) a wellplanned, high quality preschool program
• Objective is to close the learning gap between
the disadvantaged children and their suburban
peers
Abbott
Family Outreach Program
Services
• Abbott staff provide supervision
and guidance to Family
Workers
• Serve the Irvington, Passaic,
and Orange Abbott districts
• 46 Family Workers
• 20 Abbott Preschools
• Provide monthly group
meetings & trainings for Abbott
Family Workers
• Provide individual supervision
to Family Workers
Abbott
Family Outreach Program
Outcomes
• 46 Family Workers
supervised
• 1656 individual supervision
hours
• 105 group supervision hours
• 38 Family Workers
supported through Family
Development Credentialing
• Trainings offered: Child
Abuse and Neglect
Prevention, Cultural
Competency, Early
Childhood Development
Thank you for your kind attention!