The Media's Impact on Children Discussed at County Council Gathering

A group of concerned parents, educators and social service representatives came together for a discussion of the impact of media on children at a recent gathering at Project Self-Sufficiency.  The meeting was facilitated by Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children.  Attendees also received an update on the progress of the new council which was launched last year by the New Jersey Department of Children & Families in order to address the needs of local families who are expecting or parenting young children. 

Keynote speaker Gwen Federico-Malone, MSW, Associate Director of Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Intervention Services (DASI), offered an informative presentation, “The Role Media Plays in How Children Perceive the World and Themselves.”  Participants learned about the potentially harmful messages children receive from the media on a regular basis, and discussed ways for parents to mitigate the impact of the media onslaught.  “Children have always learned how to behave in the world from the stories of their time, and the mass media are today's story-tellers,” explained Federico-Malone.  “If the stories our children see routinely involve violence as a solution to problems, or simply as a random omnipresence, what kind of personal value system and cultural worldview are we passing on to our children?”

County Councils for Young Children have been established in all of the state’s 21 counties to bring together parents and caregivers, as well as health, education and social service professionals to enhance communication, coordination and collaboration of services.  The meetings of the General Council are designed to gather information from area residents about their concerns and to disseminate updates on the progress of the council.  Project Sussex Kids Coordinator Haley McCracken provided an overview of council activities and plans for upcoming events. 

In addition to joining the General Council, the agency continues to seek volunteers to join workgroups to identify community needs.  Groups meet locally to seek input about health and wellness, safety, community events and other topics.  The groups are divided according to the age or needs of the children in the family, including prenatal, special needs, families of infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children, families of school-aged children, and Spanish-speaking families.  To facilitate participation, meetings are held regionally in Newton, Sussex, Vernon, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg and Montague. 

Project Self-Sufficiency is a private non-profit community-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey. The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the lives of their children through the achievement of personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability. Since 1986 Project Self-Sufficiency has served more than 20,500 families, including over 30,000 children. 

To attend an upcoming General Council Meeting or to volunteer to participate in one of the Project Sussex Kids workgroups, call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500.  Additional information is available at www.projectsussexkids.org.