An Innovative Community Development Strategy in NJ:

The Irvington Family Development Center

The Honorable Mayor Wayne SmithIlise Zimmerman, MPH, MS

June 1, 2011

Irvington, NJ

Map of Irvington, NJ

• 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

Facts about Irvington

• 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%

Facts about Essex County

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.

NJ vs. WI

Northern NJMaternal / Child

Health 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

Bergen

EssexMorris

Passaic

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?

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000

4,500,000

5,000,000

5,500,000

6,000,000 • Licensed by NJDHSS• Initial funding:

– “baby tax”• Core Values:

– social justice– community

involvement– Diversity– program measurement

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

IFDC is a program of the NC

Board of Trustees

President & CEO

Newark Site Coordinator IFDC Manager VP of Programs & Education Chief Financial Officer Director of Administration

Essex Pregnancy & Parenting Connection

M.Ed MentorsProgram

East Orange HealthyFamilies/TIP

Family Success Center

Abbott FamilyOutreach Program

Play, Grow, andHeal Project

F.E.L.L.A.S.Fatherhood Program

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

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

IFDC’s status as a FSC

• Access to health information

• Economic Self-Sufficiency

• Information & Referral Services

• Life Skills Training• Advocacy

10 Core Services

• Develop Family Success Plans

• Housing-related Services

• Parenting Education

• Parent/Child Activities

• Home Visiting

IFDC’s Approach• 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

IFDC’s staff is attentive to:

• Culture • Language• Literacy • Socio-economic status• Sexuality• Disability / Chronic Illness• Fear

IFDC’s staff is aware of:• Resources:

– Health– Social Services– Housing– Welfare

• Residents’ Needs:– Pregnancy Testing– Community Education– Resume Writing – Employment Training– Counseling– Encouragement

IFDC’s Program Growth1. Prenatal and health

information2. Literacy3. Parenting education4. Quality childcare

1. Prenatal and health information2. Literacy3. Parenting education4. Quality childcare5. Child abuse and neglect

prevention6. Fatherhood7. Economic Self-Sufficiency8. Early Childhood Mental Health9. Strengthening Families10. Community Advisory Boards

1998 2010

IFDC’s Funding Growth

1. NJ Department of Human Services

2. Healthy Mothers/ Healthy Babies of Essex

3. Northern Consortium

1. NJ Department of Children and Families

2. Healthcare Foundation of NJ

3. NJ Department of Human Services

4. The Township of Irvington5. Schumann Fund for New

Jersey6. The Turrell Fund7. Northern Consortium

1998 = $200,000 2010 = $1,000,000

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

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

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

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

• 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

Fathers Empowered to Learn, Lead, and Achieve Success

F.E.L.L.A.S.

• 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

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

F.E.L.L.A.S. Fatherhood Program of Essex County

Services

• 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

F.E.L.L.A.S. Fatherhood Program of Essex County

Outcomes

• 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

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

Play, Grow, and Heal Project

Services

• Children are displaying:– Aggressive Behavior– ADHD-related

behavior– Isolated/withdrawn/

depressed– Anxiety

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

Play, Grow, and Heal Project

Outcomes

• Decrease in:– Depression, – Anger, – Aggression, – Bullying, – Conduct Problems, – Anxiety, and – ADHD behaviors

Play, Grow, and Heal Project

Outcomes

• 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

AbbottFamily Outreach Program

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

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

Thank you for your kind attention!