Sussex County residents
are invited to attend one of two meetings of the innovative Project Sussex
Kids, the County Council for Young Children designed by the New Jersey
Department of Children & Families to address the needs of local families
who are expecting or who are parenting young children. The meetings of the Project Sussex Kids
General Council will be held at Project Self-Sufficiency on Wednesday, July 13th,
at 9:00 a.m. and again at 6:00 p.m., in order to maximize opportunities for
participation by the general public. Participants
will receive an update on Project Sussex Kids activities as well as an overview
of the Enough Abuse child sexual assault prevention campaign. Refreshments will be provided; childcare is
available upon request. Project
Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.
The Enough Abuse Campaign is a cooperative effort of Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey,
Project Self-Sufficiency and the Sussex Warren Partnership to Prevent Child
Sexual Abuse. The community-wide
education initiative aims to mobilize adults and communities to prevent child
sexual assault by increasing awareness of safe practices for potential
victims. Training sessions are offered
regularly at Project Self-Sufficiency as well as sites throughout the region.
County Councils for Young Children
have been established in all of the state’s 21 counties to bring together parents,
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. Several projects are in the works already,
including the creation of a comprehensive resource guide. Plans to work alongside childcare centers and
preschools are being developed.
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.
The Project Sussex Kids General
Council Meeting is free and open to the public, but registration is
required. To attend the 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.
