Episode 14: Family Preservation & Reunification Services

In this episode of DCF, we're talking to our Office of Family Preservation and Reunification Services within our Division of Family & Community Partnerships. This office is responsible for programs and services for families that have DCP&P involvement, that are geared towards the goal of reunification. In 2023, almost half of all CP&P exits resulted in reunification.

This episode is our first repeat topic 😎 We're giving you an update on NJ4S (New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services) which are in-school, in-community and evidence based mental health supports for every NJ student! We're talking to Diane Travers, Senior Director of Programs at the Essex NJ4S Hub and Jenira Hill, Director of the Office of Family Support Services within DCF’s Division of Family & Community Partnerships about what programs have been offered and their impact on the wellbeing of NJ students, teachers, and schools! For more information about NJ4S, visit: https://nj4s.nj.gov/

DCF | Family Success Centers (nj.gov) Many struggle with domestic violence, addiction, limited resources, etc. How can people get access to Family Success Centers, even with the stigma around seeking help, in relation to culture, religion, and fear of the situation? How can we encourage more people to seek out help and know they they are not alone?

In this episode of DCF On The Air, we will be talking to the codesigners of DCF's documentary "Truth To Transformation" ahead of the film's debut at the Garden State Film Festival this March! Truth to Transformation is an unflinching and powerful look at child welfare in America through the eyes of three people who experienced firsthand the trauma and complexities of being a part of the foster care system. Through their voices, lived experiences, and willingness to co-design the future, NJ’s child welfare system is being transformed into a children and family serving agency that aims to assist, empower and heal.

Family Connects NJ, DCF's Universal Home Visiting program launched in January 2024! Its mission is to improve the physical and emotional well-being of infants, children, and their families by providing supports like parent education, home visit assessments, and more. We'll be talking to Brandie Wooding, Ericka Dickerson & Dr. Sanjna Shah to talk about how this program will best help new families.

In our first 2024 episode for DCF On The Air, we will be talking with Nancy Carre-Lee & Nooge Hartsfield in our Office of Staff Health & Wellness about New Year's Resolutions. How can we make wellness an intention through our work with families and staff, and what does it look like in practice?

This month at DCF on the Air, we're welcoming Mark Dinglasan and Dr. Jenny Schrum from the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate to talk about how they're using healing-centered practice and a trauma-informed lens to transform the ways they're supporting families throughout the state  -- including many connected to the child welfare system -- who are challenged by food insecurity.

Secure housing impacts everyone and we will be talking to KerryAnne Henry, Director of the DCF Office of Housing and a representative from the Department of Community Affairs to talk about available housing support programs such as Voucher Programs, KFT, and other supports like LIHEAP that help families in need.

We'll be talking to DCP&P Deputy Director Clinton Page about reunification -- how DCF is honoring its commitment to support reunification as the primary goal in family separations, how kinship caregivers can help support that goal, and avenues for post-reunification support and connecting bio parents to the prevention continuum in NJ.

In this episode of DCF on the Air, we welcome DCF First Deputy Commissioner Katherine Stoehr to discuss child maltreatment prevention efforts in New Jersey and the federal Family First Prevention Services Act which prioritizes proactive, innovative, in-community prevention services in child welfare jurisdictions throughout the nation.