NJ promotes education and events to help stop child abuse
Jessica Miller was the granddaughter of New Jersey natives, Bernie and Sally Miller. More than 10 years ago she died from injuries inflicted by her stepfather. Jessica was living in Florida with her mother and stepfather. Her father was stationed between Georgia and Florida, serving in the Air Force and was actively working to get child welfare involved.
The Millers were devastated by this experience.
However thanks to love and support from their family members, friends and the community, the Millers have persevered and made a commitment to honor Jessica’s life by holding a 5K race in her honor and raise support for child abuse programs.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
The month of April has been designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month by the United States Department of Health & Human Services. It was created to help prevent stories such as that of Jessica Miller from unfolding.
Locally, organizations including the Enough Abuse Campaign, a cooperative effort of Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, Project Self-Sufficiency and the Sussex Warren Partnership to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, will be holding events during the month to help raise awareness of the importance of preventing child abuse in all of its forms.
Northern New Jersey residents can learn how to help prevent child sexual assault by joining the Enough Abuse Campaign. The community-wide education initiative aims to mobilize adults and communities to prevent child sexual assault by increasing awareness of the warning signs displayed by predators and as well as victims.
“The goal of the Enough Abuse campaign is to educate every adult in the community about the true nature and scope of child sexual assault, and give them the tools and knowledge they need to better protect children,” said Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of the Newton-based Project Self-Sufficiency. “Project Self-Sufficiency is proud to be partnering with the Sussex Warren Partnership to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey in this important effort to eliminate child sexual abuse in our area. This educational outreach program will build on Project Self-Sufficiency’s legacy of assisting families with their goals of becoming stable and economically self-sufficient. We are confident that the Enough Abuse Campaign will help to prevent child sexual abuse and result in safer, more stable families in our community.”
Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey: The New Jersey Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America's mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect in all forms for all New Jersey Children. The agency's vision is that of a world “where every child has a safe, happy and healthy childhood free of abuse and neglect."
Pinwheels for PreventionPamela DePompo, Director of Development and Communications at Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey said one of the biggest events during April will be the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign which began as a grassroots effort in Georgia, Florida and Ohio.
“Since 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America has implemented this campaign nationally, in all its chapters; more than 3.5 million pinwheels have been displayed throughout the U.S. The pinwheel is a whimsical, child-friendly symbol which we have adopted to represent happy, healthy and safe childhoods for all children, free of abuse and neglect,” she said.
In New Jersey, people can get involved and support great childhoods for all children by “planting” pinwheel gardens in their communities, such as at a workplace, school, municipal building. Those interested can contact Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey.
DePompo said, “We have garden signs and pinwheels available for purchase.”
PCA-NJ also offers paper pinwheels, which may be sold at $1 each to benefit our child abuse and neglect prevention programs.
“Schools, service organizations, and businesses have embraced the paper pinwheel campaign and many are creating pinwheel bulletin boards and pinwheel walls,” she added.
Project Self-Sufficiency cited that sadly, studies continue to show that many parents believe the major risk of child sexual abuse involves strangers, which in reality, up to 90 percent of cases are committed by someone known and trusted by the victim and family. Educators with the Enough Abuse campaign are particularly interested in training middle and high school youth, their parents, teachers, administrators, coaches and other youth-serving professionals on how to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse.
Education year-roundDePompo said that helping prevent and educate about child abuse isn't just for April.
“Year-round ways to get involved include: inviting PCA-NJ to speak at your company, service organization, house of worship, etc. or inviting us to present a film screening/panel discussion in your community; encouraging a stressed-out parent — whether family member, friend or neighbor — to get help and offering your support.”
People can also donate knitted or crocheted purple baby caps for the agency's Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention program or host a fundraising event to benefit PCA-NJ’s prevention programs.
Local eventsState events include the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign's Big Pinwheel Garden event which will be held in Atlantic City on Friday, April 24 at One Atlantic and will be co-hosted by Mayor Don Guardian. Anyone can participate, but a RSVP to Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey is requested.
Saturday, April 18 will mark the agency's Third Annual Race for Prevention 5K Run. Held in partnership with Sigma Delta Tau-Rutgers, this year, the event will be held at Buccleuch Park in New Brunswick, and will have a superhero theme and Children's Fun Run. To register, visit www.crowdrise.com/PCA-NJRace.
A second race has been added this year to remember Jessica Miller. It will be held on Saturday, June 6 and will be called The Race for Prevention 5K. This event is in partnership with Road Runner Sports in Cherry Hill. To register, visit roadrunnersports.fundly.com/pca-njrace.
Locally, training sessions will be held at Project Self-Sufficiency on Wednesdays, April 15, 10 a.m. to noon and 6 to 8 p.m. Project Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton. Participation is free and open to anyone interested in stemming the tide of child sexual assault, but advance registration is required. To register, or to find out more about the Enough Abuse campaign, call Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500.
For more information about child abuse prevention, visit: www.preventchildabusenj.org or call 732-246-8060 ext 123. To report suspected child abuse or neglect call 1-877-NJABUSE, but if a child is in immediate danger, call 911.