How New Jersey is Reducing Parental Stress and Isolation
We are honored and excited to announce a significant expansion in our partnership with the State of New Jersey to enhance parent engagement within their Family Success Centers. This collaboration represents a major step forward in our shared mission to empower families and strengthen communities throughout the state.
The U.S. Surgeon General has identified two pressing public health crises post-pandemic: parental stress and loneliness. According to the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Loneliness and Isolation, loneliness disproportionately affects parents, contributing to increasing mental health challenges. Their recent report on Parents Under Pressure highlights the impact of severe stress on parents and its ripple effect on families and communities. The need for parent engagement and community is urgent, and the Be Strong Families and New Jersey partnership is committed to making a difference for families across the state and setting a benchmark for other states in the country.
Building on New Jersey’s Commitment to Prevention
For at least the past decade, New Jersey has stood out as a national model for investment in child abuse prevention and family support. The state’s Family Success Centers, as outlined by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, play a pivotal role in this success by providing families with access to vital resources, services, and supports before they find themselves in crisis. Launched in 2007, to develop a statewide network of primary prevention support systems for children and families, there is now at least one Family Success Center in every county.
Our Role in Empowering Parents
As part of this partnership, Be Strong Families will embed Parent Cafés not only within the Family Success Centers but also for staff from Statewide Student Support Services, County Councils for Young Children, Community Alignment Specialists, and SPAN Parent Advocacy Network by January 1, 2025. This initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability by training and certifying 16 New Jersey-based trainers, including staff from these various organizations, who will be equipped to deliver Parent Café training. This ensures that Cafés continue to thrive and make an impact in local communities.
“Making sure parent voice is leading and directing our systems is key to our work at DCF and in the community”
Sarah Jankowski, Community Support Team Supervisor at NJ-DCF, expressed the importance of this initiative, stating, “Parent Cafés will continue the FSCs’ journeys toward true transformational parent leadership.” This sentiment is echoed by Nicole Hopkins from NJ-DCF – Family & Community Partnerships, who noted that “making sure parent voice is leading and directing our systems is key to our work at DCF and in the community.”
Parent Cafés are transformative spaces that foster confidence, build community, promote peer support, and develop leadership skills. Participants will explore their strengths, learn about the Protective Factors, and develop strategies to strengthen their families. These Cafés also enhance relationships between staff and the families they serve, ultimately improving the effectiveness of all services provided as part of a comprehensive parent engagement strategy.
Looking Ahead
This expanded collaboration is a vital step forward in building stronger, more connected communities throughout New Jersey. Together, we are committed to creating environments that support and empower families, contributing to a brighter future for children and families across the state.
Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this meaningful journey with the State of New Jersey.