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March 6, 2007	Kate Bernyk
	Andy Williams

Income Tax Filers Can Benefit Children, Strengthen Families

With Tax Day only six weeks away, Commissioner Kevin M. Ryan is urging fellow New Jerseyans to consider contributing to the Children's Trust Fund as they fill out their state income tax returns this year.

The Children's Trust Fund - which issues grants annually to start or continue community-based programs designed to strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment - receives funding each year through a check-off box at Line 58 of the New Jersey 1040 Form. The fund also receives an annual grant from the federal government and private contributions.

Last year, a total $196,000 was donated through the tax return check-off.

"We are thankful for every one of those contributions, but we hope to increase that amount this year," said Commissioner Ryan. "Every dollar we can invest in child abuse prevention will benefit us immeasurably in the long run, not only by saving money on child protection but, more importantly, in making better lives for children and their families.

"Prevention is the most effective, but traditionally most under-utilized, strategy for protecting children. The innovative programs supported by the Trust Fund provide parents with the skills and support they need to nurture their children and to prevent abuse or neglect in the first place," said Commissioner Ryan.

Since its inception in 1985, the Children's Trust Fund has awarded more than $13 million in grants to agencies in every county of New Jersey.

Programs benefiting from the Trust Fund have included parenting education classes for fathers and teen mothers; home visitation programs for at-risk newborns; respite care; support groups for families affected by substance abuse; and services for families of children with disabilities.

Income tax returns must be filed or postmarked by Tuesday, April 17. For more information on the Children's Trust Fund, visit www.njchildrenstrustfund.org.

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