FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 30, 2008

CONTACT: (609) 633-8507 Kate Bernyk

New Hudson County Center for Victims of Child Abuse Opens
New Jersey child welfare system also receives positive monitoring report

JERSEY CITY – Children and Families Commissioner Kimberly Ricketts was joined today by Governor Jon S. Corzine to open the new Hudson County Child Advocacy Center, a community-based facility designed to respond to multi-dimensional needs of victims of child abuse.

The Hudson County Child Advocacy Center provides a “one-stop” location for all of the services necessary to aid children who have been victimized by severe physical or sexual abuse. The center will also provide services to the non-offending family members who have been affected by this trauma. 

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) also received its fourth federal monitoring report today on the progress of child welfare reform in New Jersey – noting the department met nearly all the requirements under the Modified Settlement Agreement and continues to make significant and impressive progress in many key areas.

“The Hudson County Child Advocacy Center is an essential and safe place to help our most vulnerable children and families heal from incidents of abuse,” Governor Corzine said. “It is an excellent example of the work New Jersey has done and continues to do to improve the child welfare system.”

“It is these types of community, local and state government partnerships that continue to move child welfare reform forward and improve the lives of the youth and families we serve each and every day,” DCF Commissioner Kimberly Ricketts said.

The new renovations – which include two interview rooms, a medical evaluation room, conference room, counseling offices, play area and a clothing closet – were made possible through Governor Corzine’s FY07 commitment of $2 million in capital funding to establish or expand child advocacy centers in New Jersey. The Hudson County Child Abuse Prevention Center (HCCAPC) was among five centers across the state to receive grants ranging from $134,000 to $500,000.

Prior to child advocacy centers, child victims were often required to repeat their abuse experience to several different professionals in various settings. CACs are able to bring together representatives from the various disciplines of the child protection system – law enforcement, government services, mental health professionals and physicians – to minimize the effect on the victim.

“We are pleased to open this facility to serve and support Hudson County’s victims of child abuse in the most effective, efficient and nurturing manner possible,” Peter Herbst, executive director of the Hudson County Child Advocacy Center, said. “We are grateful for all our partners – the Department of Children and Families, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Hudson County Executive, Jersey City, and community agencies. Together, we commit ourselves to helping children and their families recover from abuse and become healthy, safe and loved.”

DCF awarded HCCAPC a total of $285,550 in grants to renovate 2000 square feet of space at the new Jersey City site for a new child advocacy center.

The core functions of the Hudson County CAC to provide: a child-friendly environment where children can be interviewed about their allegations of abuse; ongoing case coordination services for victims and their caregivers; and connections to additional mental health and medical services as needed.

Each county has its own form of a child advocacy center or multi-disciplinary team, usually run out of the county prosecutor’s office or, similar to Hudson County, through a non-profit organization like the HCCAPC.

HCCAPC is a private, not-for-profit agency that provides programs and services to strengthen the community’s children and families. HCCAPC also receives DCF funding to manage the West Hudson Family Success Center, one of the many family success centers across the state that serve as a place to strengthen and support families to help prevent child abuse and neglect from ever occurring.

###