United Way of Morris County News
Recent News
 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
March 30, 2007
The statistics are alarming…
Nationally, over 2 million reports of abuse or neglect are made each year, and 1,500 children die from their injuries.
It is estimated that at least two out of every ten girls and one out of every ten boys are sexually abused by the end of their 13th year.
Every day, across the country, the very people children rely on for protection and comfort subject them to abuse or neglect.
(Data sources: www.childabuseprevention.org and www.childmolestationprevention.org).
Child abuse, like any type of family violence, does not discriminate. It occurs within every ethnic, religious and socio-economic background. It is most likely to happen when parents lack parenting knowledge and skills, are cut off from friends and family, have unmet emotional needs, abuse drugs or alcohol, were abused themselves or are going through a crisis.
"Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime." – Herbert Ward
Abused children tend to lack development in social, cognitive, physical and emotional skills. Many become dependent on drugs, get into legal trouble or become runaways. Girls tend to get into serious relationships at very early ages to escape their family life and often find themselves in abusive relationships all over again.
There are characteristics that are common to many abused children. If you notice one or more of these symptoms in a child, it is possible that the child has been abused in some way. They include mood swings, withdrawal or depression, bed wetting, eating problems, fear of adults, sleeping problems or nightmares, self-destructive behavior, frequent school absences or tardiness, bullying or aggressive behavior, and strange bruises, burns or bites.
What You Can Do to Help
How can you support the children and parents of New Jersey?
Reach Out:
- Offer to baby-sit or run errands for a stressed out parent
- Encourage cooperation among parents in your neighborhood
Remember the Risk Factors, including parents who:
- Have difficulty controlling anger or stress
- Abuse drugs or alcohol
Recognize the Warning Signs, including children who:
- Display a dramatic change in personality or activities
- Suffer from frequent or unexplained bruises or injuries.
Source: Prevent Child Abuse NJ:
Always report Child Abuse and Neglect:
1-877- NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873)
TTY: 1-800-835-5510
All reports of child abuse and neglect, including those occurring in institutional settings such as child care centers, schools, foster homes and residential treatment centers, must be reported to the State Central Registry (SCR). This is a toll-free, 24-hour, seven-days-a-week hotline.
Morris County Child Abuse Prevention Collaboration
The Morris County Child Abuse Prevention Collaboration is a group of community members and professionals concerned about child abuse prevention and early intervention. On March 29th, the Collaboration provided a day of training for all those entrusted with the protection and care of children. Read more.
Member agencies of the Child Abuse Prevention Collaboration include:
Child and Family Resources
Child and Family Resources provides programs where children can learn how to deal with fear and anxiety and where parents can be taught good and nurturing parental techniques. Other programs are available for both children and parents which are aimed at strengthening the family.
Deirdre's House
A United Way member agency, Deirdre's House is the center for Morris County's child victims of abuse and/or neglect and children who have witnessed domestic violence. It is the only site in Morris County where a child victim can be interviewed and videotaped by law enforcement, medically examined and treated, and clinically counseled – all under one roof.
Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS)
DYFS is the child protection agency of New Jersey that deals with children who are being abused by their parent or caregivers (the police and/or Prosecutor's Office deal with children being abused by a non-family member). DYFS investigates allegations of child abuse and can move children to a foster home.
Family Service of Morris County
A United Way member agency, Family Service of Morris County seeks to provide services, activities, and classes that strengthen the family unit as a whole. Family Service offers support and therapy for many different kinds of families. It also offers information about parenting skills, drug abuse, senior citizen welfare, and other family issues.
First Call for Help
First Call for Help, a United Way member agency, is a referral service for health and human service issues. Individuals can contact the hotline by dialing 2-1-1 to access resources throughout Morris County.
Jersey Battered Women's Service
A United Way member agency, JBWS provides a 24-hour helpline, emergency shelter for victims and their children, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy, children's services, transitional housing, life skills education, vocational counseling, community education and professional training, teenage dating violence services, and counseling for abusers.
Morris County Prosecutor's Office
The Morris County Prosecutor is in charge of investigating and prosecuting criminal cases that are brought to the Morris County Courthouse. The Office also houses a child endangerment unit, victim-witness advocacy unit and an Internet safety program.
Morris County Sexual Assault Center
The Morris County Sexual Assault Center offers individual and group counseling services, support and advocacy regarding sexual assault and abuse. They also staff a 24-hour hotline. The Center offers services to survivors, their family, and their partners.
Hotline: 973-829-0587
United Way of Morris County is also a proud partner of the Morris County Child Abuse Prevention Collaboration.
Additional Resources for Service Providers
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Bureau, along with many other agencies, created a resource packet to support a wide range of service providers who work with parents, other caregivers, and their children with the common goal of promoting healthy families.
This packet is targeted specifically for service providers, so that they can more effectively promote healthy families. To download a pdf of the packet, click here.
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