DCF Commissioner Blake Meets with Parent Volunteers and Reads to Children About Kindness and Selflessness
| For Immediate Release | Contact: Ernest Landante, Jr. |
| December 19, 2014 | 609-292-0422 |
TRENTON - New Jersey Department of Children and Families Commissioner Allison Blake continued Governor Christie's "Season of Service" initiative, visiting The Children's Home Society of New Jersey's Head Start/Early Head Start program to read to children and meet staff and parent volunteers.
The Trenton-based society serves up to 100 children from low-income families in the city. The Early Head Start program promotes the development of infants and toddlers while strengthening families. It enhances children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development, provides prenatal and post care assistance, helps parents fulfill their parental roles, and assists parents move toward self-sufficiency.
The Head Start program serves children ages three through five. It promotes school readiness by providing educational, health, nutritional, and social services.
After touring the center Commissioner Blake read The Kindness Quilt, a story about kindness and selflessness, to children attending the program.
"Early education programs like Early Head Start and Head Start provide children a significant advantage," said Commissioner Blake. "Here at The Children's Home Society of New Jersey, children are being prepared for their first day of school. This is a wonderful educational opportunity that not only leads to improved academic achievement, but helps children go on to lead successful lives."
The nonprofit Children's Home Society of New Jersey helps at-risk infants, children, youth, and families. The society protects abused or neglected infants and children and provides parents the knowledge they need to help their children and themselves.
DCF is dedicated to ensuring a better today and an even greater tomorrow for every individual the department serves. In partnership with New Jersey's communities, DCF ensures the safety, well-being, and success of New Jersey's children and families. DCF funds and directly provides services and support to over 100,000 women, children and families each month.
