Governor Mikie Sherrill • Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell
About

The New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect (NJTFCAN) is in but not of DCF.  The purpose of the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect is to study and develop recommendations regarding the most effective means of improving the quality and scope of child protective and preventative services provided or supported by State government, including a review of the practices and policies utilized by the Child Protection and Permanency (formerly Youth and Family Services) and Family and Community Partnerships (formerly Prevention and Community Partnerships) in the Department of Children and Families.

The Task Force is comprised of volunteer members who are broadly representative of the community, including members who have expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.   Its 30 members possess a variety of experience ranging from child protection and law enforcement to advocates for children and parents.

To attend a NJTFCAN meeting or a meeting of a Subcommittee please contact Bethany.D'Amelio@dcf.nj.gov.

Prior to attending a meeting of the NJTFCAN or a related subcommittee, please review the NJTFCAN Rules for Public Participation.

In 1983, the Governor's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect was created by Executive Order to bring a coordinated statewide effort to solving the problem of child abuse and neglect. The Task Force was charged with the responsibility of making recommendations to improve the State's response to child maltreatment and to educate communities and professionals about the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

In 1996, the legislature established by statute the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect to continue the work of the Governor's Task Force and expanded its mandate. The Task Force was authorized to study and develop recommendations regarding the most effective means of improving the quality and scope of child protective services provided or supported by State government including the practices and policies of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

Under the law establishing the Department of Children and Families, the 24 member Task Force’s membership consists of cabinet level officers including the Commissioners of the Departments of Children and Families, Human Services, Education, Community Affairs, Corrections, Health and Senior Services, the Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Public Defender and the Superintendent of State Police, or their designees, a county prosecutor, two members of the Senate and the General Assembly, representing both political parties; and 13 public members appointed by the Governor.

In 2007, the statute of the NJTFCAN was again revised to include the following expanded purpose:

The purpose of the task force is to study and develop recommendations regarding the most effective means of improving the quality and scope of child protective and preventative services provided or supported by State government, including a review of the practices and policies utilized by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and Division of Family and Community Partnerships in the Department of Children and Families in order to:

  1. Optimize coordination of child abuse-related services and investigations;
  2. Promote the safety of children at risk of abuse or neglect;
  3. Ensure a timely determination with regard to reports of alleged child abuse;
  4. Educate the public about the problems of, and coordinate activities relating to, child abuse and neglect;
  5. Develop a Statewide plan to prevent child abuse and neglect and mechanisms to facilitate child abuse and neglect prevention strategies in coordination with the Division of Family and Community Partnerships;
  6. Mobilize citizens and community agencies in a proactive effort to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect; and
  7. Foster cooperative working relationships between State and local agencies responsible for providing services to victims of child abuse and neglect and their families.

Christine Norbut Beyer, MSW, Commissioner
Department of Children and Families

Mary Coogan, Vice President
Advocates for Children of New Jersey

Sarah Adelman, Commissioner, Department of Human Services
Designee: Natasha Johnson

Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting Commissioner, Department of Education
Designee: Sonia Moticha

Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney General, Department of Law and Public Safety
Designee: Christian Arnold

Victoria L. Kuhn, Commissioner, Department of Corrections
Designee: Wendy White

Jacqueline A. Suarez, Acting Commissioner, Department of Community Affairs
Designee: Jennifer Underwood

Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent, New Jersey State Police
Designee: Lt. Stephen Urbanski

Dr. Kaitlin Baston, Acting Commissioner, Department of Health
Designee: Vacant

Joseph Krakora, Public Defender, Office of the Public Defender
Designee: Traci Telemaque

Charles W. Dortch, Jr., Camden County Superior Court Judge
Designee: Jacqueline Augustine

Margaret M. Foti, Bergen County Superior Court Presiding Judge
Designee: N/A

County Prosecutor
Designee: Pending

Assemblyman William Sampson
Legislative District 31

Assemblywoman Nancy F. Munoz
Legislative District 21

Hon. Shirley Turner, Legislative District 15
Designee: Cindy Cortez

Republican Senator
Pending

-None at this time-

The NJTFCAN has worked with the Departments of Human Services and Children and Families on many successful endeavors intended to improve the lives of children throughout New Jersey in the areas of child abuse protection and prevention. In addition to DHS and DCF, the Task Force operated with the help of its Protection and Prevention Committees to develop the following projects;

  • Finding Words, NJ – a child-friendly forensic interviewing protocol for professionals involved in investigating and prosecuting child maltreatment. In 2002, the Task Force collaborated with the American Prosecutor’s Research Institute to implement a five day training in forensic interviewing for prosecutors and multidisciplinary team members.
  • Multidisciplinary Team Training - to facilitate the case management approach to the investigation and prosecution of child physical and sexual abuse and monitor services to child victims and families.
  • Professional Conferences and Skill Building – for professionals working in the field of child maltreatment, social work, medicine, psychology, law enforcement, juvenile justice, the courts and public/private agencies. On alternating years the NJTFCAN has helped produce a multifaceted, statewide conference for approximately 1,000 people or a smaller child protection oriented skill building conference.
  • Educator’s Training - The Role of Educators in Recognizing and Reporting Child Maltreatment, Guidelines in Student Sexual Misconduct and the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act.
  • 2014 - 2017 New Jersey Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan - Supporting Strong Families and Communities in New Jersey: Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect
  • Development of the Standards for Prevention Programs: Building Success Through Family Support 
  • Child Abuse Prevention 101 training

SORS Annual Performance Report of the NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency

Staffing and Oversight Review Subcommittee Reports

New Jersey Standards for Prevention Programs
New Jersey Standards for Prevention Programs: Building Success through Family Support

NJ Statewide Prevention Plan - Priorities and Strategies
2022 - 2025 NJ Statewide Prevention Plan: Priorities and Strategies  

Supporting Strong Families and Communities in New Jersey
2014 - 2017 Supporting Strong Families and Communities in New Jersey: Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect  

New Jersey Human Trafficking County Task Force Guidelines
Click HERE to view New Jersey's Human Trafficking County Task Force Guidelines. 

Contact the Task Force

New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect
Department of Children and Families
PO Box 711
Trenton, NJ 08625-0711
Phone: 609-888-7919

New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect