2010: Second Chances - Children's Aid and Family Services

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2 Message FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO AND BOARD CHAIR A new beginning is a powerful gift to those we serve. Thanks to you, our donors and volunteers, the agency has been able to give thousands of vulnerable children and families second chances throughout our 112-year history. Simply put, together we change lives. For example, the fragile babies with complicated medical needs receive the gentle love and nurturing of specially trained foster parents in our Medically Needy Infants and Toddlers Foster Care program. We give them a second chance at a healthy and happy childhood. For low-income families struggling to provide the essentials for their infants and toddlers, we help reduce their anxiety and give them another chance at peace of mind through our Baby Basics program. The theme of second chances is perhaps most often seen in the lives of our foster children. Their childhoods were fractured at best. Most have suffered severe abuse and neglect. They have been separated from their birth parents and made multiple moves from home to home. But with the structure and nurturing offered by our professional staff in our group homes, along with therapeutic help and critical support services such as tutoring and life skills development, the children often overcome their harsh beginnings and go on to have productive and rewarding futures. As they grow and eventually “age out” of foster care, your support enables us to help them make the often difficult transition into adulthood. We help them find housing, medical services, education and work, all of which give them a second chance to build a solid, productive future. Last year was one in which we laid the groundwork to provide second chances for even more vulnerable children and their families and remain a strong, vital force of caring within the community. We launched the new Medical Services and Advocacy Center to serve our children in foster care, the majority of whom have pre-existing medical conditions, as well as histories of trauma, abuse and neglect. Before entering our care, their access to medical care had been inconsistent; some have received little or no medical care, and others have gone from one foster home to another and, as a result, have never seen the same doctor twice. The new Center will increase the agency’s ability to meet the complex medical needs of the medically fragile infants, as well as the older children and teenagers in our foster care programs. Services such as medical screenings, prevention education, and care coordination with primary care physicians and specialists will be provided by the pediatrician and nurses on the medical team. To help even more vulnerable children, in 2010, the agency was named an approved provider for developmentally disabled children by the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). We will be caring for children with severe challenges, including mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and in some cases, significant behavioral issues, in a community residence setting. Historically, many of these children
have been living in out-of-state facilities because there has been a lack of appropriate programs and resources within the state. A heartbreaking effect of this has been the strain on families who are unable to spend meaningful time with their children with disabilities. By bringing these children back to New Jersey, the families can spend more time together. Last year, the agency was awarded a federal grant to launch WISE (Wrap-Around Intensive Services for Families) in partnership with Wynona’s House Child Advocacy Center in Newark and Children’s Hospital at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center’s Metro Regional Child Abuse Diagnostics and Treatment Center. Only three such grants were awarded nationwide. WISE Families is a community-based program that provides specialized assessment, treatment and support services to children who have been sexually abused by another member of the victim’s family or household. This is a pioneering program that works with all members of the family to help them recover from the abuse and make changes to ensure the family environment is safe and healthy for everyone. This has been a busy and challenging year, during which we’ve continued to grow and add vital services. The new initiatives expand on the agency’s strengths and allow us to provide critical help and resources to Robert B. Jones, Ph.D. President & CEO even more children and families in need. We have been able to do this because of our generous donors, dedicated Board of Trustees, hardworking volunteers and talented staff. On behalf of the Board and staff, we thank you for your remarkable commitment to the work of Children’s Aid and Family Services and for helping us continue to play a vital role in the community. Erik Sorenson Chair, Board of Trustees 3
Page 1 and 2: CHILDREN’S AID AND FAMILY SERVICE
Page 3: What We Do Children’s Aid and Fam
Page 7 and 8: “When I was at Woodlea, the staff
Page 9 and 10: Employees of BD read to children at
Page 11 and 12: Ridgewood resident and Boy Scout Ch
Page 13 and 14: Our Donors THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE A DI
Page 15 and 16: Legacy Gifts LIFETIME GIFTS TO THE
Page 17 and 18: Annual Gifts 2010 Children’s Aid
Page 19 and 20: Annual Gifts 2010 Sandra and Christ
Page 21 and 22: Annual Gifts 2010 GIFTS FROM CORPOR
Page 23 and 24: Annual Gifts 2010 GIFTS-IN-KIND DON
Page 25 and 26: “A Green Carpet Affair” Support
Page 27 and 28: “At times our own light goes out

2010: Second Chances - Children's Aid and Family Services

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