Educators are partners in prevention of child abuse and neglect and mitigating adverse childhood experiences
By Christine Norbut Beyer, M.S.W.
April is national Child Abuse Prevention Month. At the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (NJDCF), we recognize the vital and special role that teachers play in the lives of children and youth throughout the year.
As teachers and educational support professionals, you ensure that students are academically engaged and prepared for their educational journey and future success. As child advocates, you are very often the primary nonfamily member who has great insight into a child’s safety and their overall well-being. You are often among the first to become aware that there may be circumstances or stressors in a family that are have an impact on the child. As one of our key system partners, you are often one of the leading reporters of child abuse and neglect to the state’s hotline.
However, with many children still not physically reporting to school or childcare programs, regularly visiting friends or family in the community, or seeing school nurses and pediatricians for routine physical checkups, it is so much more difficult for reporters to spot the warning signs—and so much more critical for families to be directed to the services and supports they may need to thrive.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult on at-risk children and families, including families with:
• Infants and toddlers
• Children with disabilities
• A history of addiction or mental illness
• A history of violence
• Economic/housing insecurity
More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen that at-risk children and families aren’t the only ones struggling. Families who may have never needed to access social services and supports are also finding themselves grappling with COVID-19-related challenges and stressors, such as unemployment, reduced work hours, food insecurity, health worries, childcare concerns, and so much more.
Research is already demonstrating the emotional and mental health toll the pandemic is having on children and youth, with many experiencing increased anxiety and depression as a result of social distancing, isolation, and the reduced amount of time spent with their peers and other social supports.
In child welfare, we have long recognized child abuse and neglect as one of the defined adverse childhood experiences (or ACEs). ACEs are not a new concept. The term was coined during a landmark study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente in the 1990s. The initial study surveyed more 17,000 HMO members in Southern California regarding their childhood experiences and current health and well-being metrics. The study found a correlation between adversity and trauma in childhood, and poor outcomes into adulthood.
It found that individuals who experienced four or more defined episodes of adversity in childhood were more likely to experience chronic health problems, cardiovascular problems, depression and other mental health challenges, relationship issues and social challenges, job and financial instability, chronic absenteeism, substance use and more.
In follow-up research, the CDC determined that about 61% of adults surveyed across 25 states had experienced at least one type of ACE, and 1 in 6 adults had experienced four or more ACEs. In a report released by The New Jerey Funders ACEs Collaborative, it is estimated that 40% of children in New Jersey have experienced at least one ACE, and 18% experienced multiple ACEs.
NJEA has been working closely with nationally renowned ACEs trainer, Dave Ellis, who is heading up New Jersey’s Office of Resilience as an Executive on Loan, funded by the Turrell Fund, The Nicholson Foundation and Burke Foundation.
In February, Gov. Phil Murphy launched a statewide ACEs Action Plan, which serves as a blueprint to shepherd and to guide public/private, collaborative work across the state to prevent, mitigate and eliminate ACEs. The action plan facilitates greater cooperation and coordination across agencies and stakeholders because collectively, we can realize greater progress than we can alone. To read it, go to bit.ly/3vhoicx.
Adversity is seen and felt across the entire socioeconomic spectrum. It is not a rural, suburban or urban problem; it’s not a Black, Latinx or a white problem. It’s not rich or poor. It’s a societal problem that can be resolved with awareness, trauma-informed and healing-centered practices.
We know that positive relationships, and therapeutic and affirming experiences can help people with ACEs to heal and can mean the difference between overcoming adversity or being overcome by it. Sometimes, just one caring, nurturing and safe relationship with an adult—such as a teacher, classroom aide, or other trusted school employee—can be all that a child needs to build up their stores of resilience and avoid the long-term effects of ACEs.
As the state’s child welfare agency, our work is varied. Yes, we are the state agency tasked with investigating incidents of child abuse and neglect. But as a child-and family-serving agency, the NJDCF also offers a wide range of supports to children and families who may be struggling due to life circumstances.
To prevent child abuse and neglect—to prevent and address ACEs—we must stay vigilant and work together. As teachers and educational support professionals, you can be proactive in helping children who may be at-risk of being abused or who, if not at-risk, may very well only need a caring individual and someone to link them to family support services.
Resources
Here are some proactive steps you can take and the many resources available. We hope that, as an “essential worker,” educator, and caring individual, you will share these resources as needed with the children and families that you believe may need help. This can help prevent child abuse and further our collective mission of keeping all New Jersey families safe, healthy, and connected.
Contact the State’s Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline To report Child Abuse and Neglect
If you do suspect child abuse or neglect, you must call the child abuse hotline: 1-877-NJ-ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). Remember, all New Jersey citizens are mandated reporters.
To help families access the agency’s supports/services
The Division of Child Protection and Permanency can also offer voluntary support and helping services to families. If a parent, or someone on their behalf, calls the State Central Registry and describes their family situation and current needs, information on those various helping resources will be provided. The call center number is 1-877-652-2873.
NJ’s Family Success Centers
Family Success Centers are “one-stop” shops that provide wraparound resources and referrals to supports for families at no cost. There are 57 FSCs in New Jersey and at least one in every county. Locate them at nj.gov/dcf/families/support/success.
NJ Child Assault Prevention
New Jersey Child Assault Prevention (NJCAP) provides training and resources to children and parents. NJCAP’s printed/downloadable materials assist parents and teachers in safeguarding and preventing child abuse. These are specific to the various age levels and are available in Spanish as well. Visit njcap.org.
Call 2-1-1
General helping resources are listed at nj211.org. One suggestion for this site is to type in “parent support” and choose “topic” for your type of search. This will provide a list of parent groups, child abuse support groups and a group for bereaved parents.
NJ Resource Net
Find various services, agencies and activities, by county, at njresourcenet.org.
Parent Link
New Jersey has a comprehensive list of agencies and hotline numbers at the “Parent Link” website: nj.gov/njparentlink/hotlines. Of special note for stressed parents is the Parents Anonymous Family Helpline, 1-800-THE-KIDS (1-800-843-5437). And, for new parents, or parents of children with special needs, contact the NJ Family Health Line, 1-800-328-3838.
Behavioral Health Services for Children
If a child or teen is experiencing emotional or behavioral distress, families can call the Department of Children and Families’ Children’s System of Care, 1-877-652-7624.
Posters and Resources from DCF
We urge you to stay alert to the signs of potential abuse and neglect and to find creative, discreet ways to allow children or youth to signal their need for intervention. These posters, available at bit.ly/3eu3Nnf, can help teachers and other professionals that may interact with children to know the signs. One of the posters includes a QR code (bit.ly/3lhfsXN) that can be used by teachers as a virtual background or email signature.
Crisis Text Line
Kids and families can also access this crisis line: Text “NJ” to 741741 to connect to a trained counselor to help defuse a “hot moment” or crisis.
2NDFLOOR
2NDFLOOR is a helpline for youth. They can access this service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can call or text 1-888-222-2228. Its website, 2ndfloor.org, has an online messaging board to communicate with someone who can help.