An Innovative Community Development Strategy in NJ: The Irvington Family Development Center

1. An Innovative Community Development Strategy in NJ:The Irvington Family Development Center The Honorable Mayor Wayne Smith Ilise Zimmerman, MPH, MS June 1, 2011

2. Irvington, NJ

3. Map of Irvington, NJ

4. Facts about Irvington • 8% of the Essex County population • 16% of families with children under 18 live in poverty • 20% of juveniles in criminal justice system in Essex County are Irvington residents • 21 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2nd highest in NJ) • $46,089 median household income • 48% of all families with children under 18 are female headed households • 86% Black/African American • 99% of students are racial minorities

5. Facts about Essex County • Size of County: 130 sq. mi. • Population of County: 771,353 FOUR CITIES: 430,735 (56% of total County) • Newark: 277,070 • East Orange: 65,785 • Irvington:56,715 • Orange: 31,165 • Racial / Ethnic Composition of Essex County : • White: 75% • Black: 12% • Hispanic: 15% • Racial / Ethnic Composition of FOUR CITIES: • White: 19% • Black: 63% • Hispanic: 24%

6. WI compared to NJ • Irvington is one of the Four Cities of Essex County • Irvington is often overshadowed by Newark, the largest city in the State • NJ is about 1/8 the geographic area of WI • NJ has about 1.5 times the WI population • NJ is most densely populated state in U.S.

7. NJ vs. WI

8. Passaic Bergen Morris Essex Northern NJMaternal / ChildHealth Consortium • Mission= improve health of women and children • Independent non-profit corp. • Geographically based • Budget= $6 million • Grants= 90 % revenue • Activities: • Provider & consumer education • Public health data analysis • Advocacy • Direct service

9. The Northern Consortium • When was the Northern Consortium established? • What size agency is it? • Where is it located? • Who do we serve? • Why do we do what we do? • How do we measure it?

10. Licensed by NJDHSS • Initial funding: • “baby tax” • Core Values: • social justice • community involvement • Diversity • program measurement

11. Northern Consortium programs • Fetal Infant Mortality Review / QA • Regional Education (CME’s & CEU’s) • Health Planning • Perinatal Addiction Prevention • Postpartum Depression Screening • Black Infant Mortality Reduction • Lead Poisoning Prevention • Health Education for Immigrant Populations • Healthy Families • Nurse Family Partnership

12. IFDC is a program of the NC

13. Irvington Family Development Center 1998 -Grant awarded to the Northern Consortium and Healthy Mothers / Healthy Babies of Essex -Funding from the NJ Department of Human Services -FACES -Started in a local church in Irvington -Moved into a corporate office building- 2003 -Designated a Family Success Center- 2007 MISSION: • Reduce Infant Mortality in Irvington • Address the limited health and social service resources • Improve the quality of Childcare Services

14. IFDC is a Family Success Center • Created by NJ DCF • Division of Prevention & Community Partnerships • Primary & secondary child abuse prevention • Brings together families, community leaders and local agencies to address problems threatening the stability of families

15. IFDC’s status as a FSC 10 Core Services • Access to health information • Economic Self-Sufficiency • Information & Referral Services • Life Skills Training • Advocacy • Develop Family Success Plans • Housing-related Services • Parenting Education • Parent/Child Activities • Home Visiting

16. IFDC’sApproach • No appointments necessary • Flexible office hours (open Thursday evenings) • Easily accessible by public transportation • Access to residents (close to shopping and housing) • Office located in a secure, wheelchair accessible office building • 2 public computer stations available • Donations of clothing, baby items, children’s books, diapers, toys available • Workshop space on-site

17. IFDC’s staff is attentive to: • Culture • Language • Literacy • Socio-economic status • Sexuality • Disability / Chronic Illness • Fear

18. IFDC’s staff is aware of: • Resources: • Health • Social Services • Housing • Welfare • Residents’ Needs: • Pregnancy Testing • Community Education • Resume Writing • Employment Training • Counseling • Encouragement

19. IFDC’s Program Growth • Prenatal and health information • Literacy • Parenting education • Quality childcare • Prenatal and health information • Literacy • Parenting education • Quality childcare • Child abuse and neglect prevention • Fatherhood • Economic Self-Sufficiency • Early Childhood Mental Health • Strengthening Families • Community Advisory Boards 1998 2010

20. IFDC’s Funding Growth • NJ Department of Human Services • Healthy Mothers/ Healthy Babies of Essex • Northern Consortium NJ Department of Children and Families Healthcare Foundation of NJ NJ Department of Human Services The Township of Irvington Schumann Fund for New Jersey The Turrell Fund Northern Consortium 1998 = $200,000 2010 = $1,000,000

21. IFDC’s Staff • Family Success Center • MPH _--BA • MPA --HS • F.E.L.L.A.S. Fatherhood Program of Essex County • J.D. • BA • Play, Grow, and Heal Project • Doctor of Psychology • Master of Educational Psychology • MSW • Abbott Family Outreach Program • PhD in Clinical Counseling • 2 MSWs

22. IFDC’s Attributes • Family-friendly, neighborhood-based • Strengthening families approach • Promotes community leadership among families • Incorporates the opinions and ideas of families in programmatic decision-making process

23. IFDC’s Resident Reported Highlights • Free pregnancy testing • Support groups for pregnant and new mothers, teens pre-teens • Assistance with NJ Family Care applications • Personalized job-readiness assistance (resume & cover letter writing and interviewing skills) • Fun, interactive activities for parents and children • Parent/Community Advisory Board involvement • Community events: Pregnant Pause Community Baby Shower, Irvington Reading Festival, trips to Zoo

24. IFDC’s Outcomes as a FSC • 554 unduplicated families served • 847 pregnancy tests: 75% positive • 94 individuals provided with individual job readiness guidance • 8-10 community events; 400 children, 300 adults • 67 women participated in a pregnancy and motherhood support group • 40 families assisted with NJ Family Care applications • 145 individuals assisted with housing related services

25. F.E.L.L.A.S. Fathers Empowered to Learn, Lead, and Achieve Success • One of only 2 agencies awarded funding in New Jersey • IFDC’s first county-wide program • One of 5 fatherhood programs in the County • Comprehensive approach • Offered in various locations throughout the County • No eligibility limitations based on age, income, marital status • Flexible scheduling

26. F.E.L.L.A.S. Fatherhood Program of Essex County • Prevent family violence including child abuse and neglect by supporting fathers • Provide the tools needed to help fathers be emotionally, financially, and physically involved with their children • Support and encourage fathers to be positive, active participants in their child’s life • Support and encourage fathers to communicate effectively with the mother of the child

27. F.E.L.L.A.S. Fatherhood Program of Essex County • 12-week fatherhood course using evidence-based curriculum (24/7 DadTM) • Bi-weekly support groups • Ongoing individualized support • Fatherhood Community Advisory Board Services

28. F.E.L.L.A.S. Fatherhood Program of Essex County • 61 fathers enrolled in a 24/7 Dad Course • 31 graduated • 14+ are set to graduate in July • 79 fathers participated in a support group • Topics included job readiness, leadership skills, legal services • 75 fathers enrolled in individualized support • 44 have accomplished or made progress toward goals set • 14 individuals participate in Community Advisory Board • 8 were fathers, 6 were community representatives • Suggestions made: outreach strategies, promotional materials, activities for the enrolled fathers Outcomes

29. Play, Grow, and Heal Project • A high violent crime rate, trauma, and poverty in Irvington leads to early childhood trauma • Only service of its kind in Irvington • Began the 3 year pilot program in 2006 • Expanded to a 4th year (2009-2010) • Services are offered at the Center and at the child’s school • Work closely with Daycare and Preschool Center Directors, Family Workers, Teachers, Irvington CST, PIRT members, and Parents • Clinical expertise and support for PGH is provided via a contractual relationship with the Youth Development Clinic

30. Play, Grow, and Heal Project • Classroom observations • Parent and teacher consultations • Time-limited individual play therapy for children ages 2-5 • Educational workshops for parents • Educational trainings for school staff Services

31. Play, Grow, and Heal Project • Children are displaying: • Aggressive Behavior • ADHD-related behavior • Isolated/withdrawn/ depressed • Anxiety

32. Play, Grow, and Heal Project • 43 children received therapy (646 treatment hours) • 1209 children were observed (48 obs hours) • 175 staff members were trained (192 staff support hours) • Topics: Identifying Behavioral Red Flags, Promoting Positive Behavior in the Classroom,, The Power of Play • 196 parents attended educational workshops (306 family support hours • Topics: Positive Parenting, Promoting Positive Behavior at Home, Communication at Home Outcomes

33. Play, Grow, and Heal Project • Decrease in: • Depression, • Anger, • Aggression, • Bullying, • Conduct Problems, • Anxiety, and • ADHD behaviors Outcomes

34. AbbottFamily Outreach Program • 1998 Abbott vs Burke decision • State is required to offer all 3 & 4 year old children in the lowest-income school districts (now known as the “Abbott districts”) a well-planned, high quality preschool program • Objective is to close the learning gap between the disadvantaged children and their suburban peers

35. AbbottFamily Outreach Program • Abbott staff provide supervision and guidance to Family Workers • Serve the Irvington, Passaic, and Orange Abbott districts • 46 Family Workers • 20 Abbott Preschools • Provide monthly group meetings & trainings for Abbott Family Workers • Provide individual supervision to Family Workers Services

36. AbbottFamily Outreach Program Outcomes • 46 Family Workers supervised • 1656 individual supervision hours • 105 group supervision hours • 38 Family Workers supported through Family Development Credentialing • Trainings offered: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Cultural Competency, Early Childhood Development

37. Thank you for your kind attention!