Passaic County CASA to Implement First-Ever Infant-Toddler Court Team in New Jersey – TAPinto.net
WAYNE, NJ – With a grant of $425,000 Passaic County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), will create new infant-toddler court teams in Passaic, Essex and Hudson Counties. These teams will serve children from birth to three years old in foster care or at risk of removal of their families. Passaic County CASA will lead the program in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, and the Turrell Fund.
The grant comes from ZERO TO THREE’s National Resource Center and will fund these new programs which are based on the Safe Babies Court Team™ approach, according to a statement released by CASA.
“The ZERO TO THREE Safe Babies Court Team model has a strong reputation for reducing the duration of child welfare intervention with at-risk families and providing supports that promote healthy child/family development,” said Carmen Diaz Petti, Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ Division of Child Protection and Permanency.
Passaic County CASA believes the program will dramatically reduce the number of babies and toddlers removed from their families, nurture family relationships, and strengthen positive life trajectories for those who enter foster care.
“Research agrees that the first 36 months of a child’s life are the most critical to successful development,” said Erica Fischer-Kaslander, Executive Director of Passaic County CASA. “This approach will make a lifelong difference for our most vulnerable infants and toddlers.”
Passaic County CASA’s Senior Advocacy Supervisor Sarah During will transition from her current position to lead the program as the State Coordinator.
“I’m excited to get started with the Safe Babies Court Team and do this collaborative and evidence-based work on behalf of infants and toddlers in New Jersey,” During said.
During will oversee the three sites and collaborate with state leadership to ensure best practices for infants, toddlers, and their families who are under court jurisdiction.
This new program has the potential to change the life trajectory of children in foster care, or at risk of removal from their families, and will serve those who are most vulnerable.
“Strengthening families through programs and services that keep children safe with their parent(s) is our department’s ultimate goal,” said Petti. “We, at DCF, look forward to celebrating this program’s successful outcomes.”
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To learn more about Passaic County CASA, click here.
To learn more about the Safe Babies Court Team™ approach, click here.
ABOUT PASSAIC COUNTY CASA FOR CHILDREN
Passaic County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a fully independent 501(c)3 non-profit which champions the best interests of children in the foster care, child welfare, and court systems. The organization’s mission is to ensure all youth have a safe, nurturing, and permanent home. Visit www.passaiccountycasa.org for more information.
About ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE works to ensure all babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. Since 1977, the organization has advanced the proven power of nurturing relationships by transforming the science of early childhood into helpful resources, practical tools and responsive policies for millions of parents, professionals and policymakers. For more information, and to learn how to become a ZERO TO THREE member, please visit zerotothree.org, facebook.com/zerotothree, or follow @zerotothree on Twitter.