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Transcript of An Innovative Community Development Strategy in NJ: The Irvington Family Development Center The...
An Innovative Community Development Strategy in NJ:
The Irvington Family Development Center
The Honorable Mayor Wayne SmithIlise Zimmerman, MPH, MS
June 1, 2011
Irvington, NJ
Map of Irvington, NJ
• 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 Irvington
• 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%
Facts about Essex County
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
Northern NJMaternal / 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
Bergen
EssexMorris
Passaic
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?
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000
4,500,000
5,000,000
5,500,000
6,000,000 • Licensed by NJDHSS
• Initial funding: – “baby tax”
• Core Values: – social justice– community
involvement– Diversity– program measurement
Northern Consortium programs
• 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 ManagerVP of Programs
& EducationChief Financial Officer Director of Administration
Essex Pregnancy & Parenting Connection
M.Ed MentorsProgram
East Orange HealthyFamilies/TIP
Family Success Center
Abbott FamilyOutreach Program
Play, Grow, andHeal Project
F.E.L.L.A.S.Fatherhood Program
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
• Access to health information
• Economic Self-Sufficiency
• Information & Referral Services
• Life Skills Training• Advocacy
10 Core Services
• Develop Family Success Plans
• Housing-related Services
• Parenting Education
• Parent/Child Activities
• Home Visiting
IFDC’s Approach• 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:
• Culture • Language• Literacy • Socio-economic status• Sexuality• Disability / Chronic Illness• Fear
IFDC’s staff is aware of:
• Resources:– Health– Social Services– Housing– Welfare
• Residents’ Needs:– Pregnancy Testing– Community Education– Resume Writing – Employment Training– Counseling– Encouragement
IFDC’s Program Growth
1. Prenatal and health information
2. Literacy
3. Parenting education
4. Quality childcare
1. Prenatal and health information
2. Literacy
3. Parenting education
4. Quality childcare
5. Child abuse and neglect prevention
6. Fatherhood
7. Economic Self-Sufficiency
8. Early Childhood Mental Health
9. Strengthening Families
10. Community Advisory Boards
1998 2010
IFDC’s Funding Growth
1. NJ Department of Human Services
2. Healthy Mothers/ Healthy Babies of Essex
3. Northern Consortium
1. NJ Department of Children and Families
2. Healthcare Foundation of NJ
3. NJ Department of Human Services
4. The Township of Irvington
5. Schumann Fund for New Jersey
6. The Turrell Fund
7. Northern Consortium
1998 = $200,000 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 pre-teens
• 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
• 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
Fathers Empowered to Learn, Lead, and Achieve Success
F.E.L.L.A.S.
• 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
• 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
Services
• 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
F.E.L.L.A.S. Fatherhood Program of Essex County
Outcomes
• 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
• 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
Services
• Children are displaying:– Aggressive Behavior– ADHD-related
behavior– Isolated/withdrawn/
depressed– Anxiety
Play, Grow, and Heal Project
– 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:– Depression, – Anger, – Aggression, – Bullying, – Conduct Problems, – Anxiety, and – ADHD behaviors
Play, Grow, and Heal Project
Outcomes
• 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 well-planned, high quality preschool program
• Objective is to close the learning gap between the disadvantaged children and their suburban peers
AbbottFamily Outreach Program
AbbottFamily Outreach Program
• 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
Services
AbbottFamily 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!