In this heartwarming holiday episode of "DCF on the Air," we delve into the impactful work of One Simple Wish, a remarkable New Jersey-based non-profit dedicated to granting wishes for children in foster care and vulnerable families.

Join your host Jason Butkowski as we explore the inspiring stories behind the wishes, talk to the people who make them happen, and learn how this community-driven initiative is changing lives, one wish at a time.

Join us for another episode of "DCF On The Air," where we dive into the pressing issue of youth mental health in New Jersey. We're thrilled to partner with 2NDFLOOR, an extraordinary helpline that offers anonymous and confidential support to the youth of New Jersey 24/7. Through a heartfelt conversation with the team at 2NDFLOOR, we explore:

• The severity of the youth mental health crisis in NJ, where 1 in 3 teen boys and 3 in 5 teen girls experience persistent sadness.
• The journey of the 2NDFLOOR helpline, now having touched over a million young lives with trauma-informed care.
• How the inclusion of young voices shapes more effective and empathetic services, leading to transformative apps that foster digital engagement and peer support.
• The power of maintaining a safe space where teens feel free and emotionally secure to discuss their struggles.
• How stigma is steadily diminishing, encouraging more youth to seek the help they need.
• Insights into the development process of 2NDFLOOR’s app, which provides personal, confidential engagement while ensuring support in crisis situations through compassionate intervention.
• Understanding the necessity of a solid support system for the staff handling these crisis communications.
• Moving success stories illustrating the app's life-changing impact on New Jersey’s youth.

Tune in as we unravel the development, impact, and future vision of the Second Floor helpline and its continued commitment to fostering a supportive environment for all young individuals.

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.

In this episode, we hear from Mollie Greene, DCF Assistant Commissioner for the Children's System of Care (CSOC), the public behavioral and emotional health system for anyone under the age of 21, regarding work to provide deep-end therapeutic support to children and their families in their homes and in the community during a historic youth mental health crisis happening nationally.

In this episode, we're talking with Dr. Rebecca Bryan, Executive Director of the DCF Office of Resilience, around the groundbreaking work happening through her office around Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs), and what they can mean for the lifelong health and social connections of individuals who experience both.

In this episode of DCF on the Air, we’re talking with Sanford Starr, DCF Assistant Commissioner for Family and Community Partnerships, about a new mental wellness initiative coming to NJ’s schools and communities, the NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) network.

In our first episode of the DCF on the Air podcast, we will be talking with NJ DCF Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer about her vision for the Department's work -- ensuring that all New Jersey residents are safe, healthy and connected.

In this episode of DCF on the Air, we're shedding light on New Jersey's adoption registry. Dating back to 1977, the adoption registry plays a pivotal role in connecting adoptees with their roots, emphasizing the significance of access to available birth information for adoptees. We talk to our staff within our Office of Adoptions to share insights of adoption and the steps being taken to support adoptees and birth families.

Host Jason Butkowski offers a brief introduction to DCF on the Air, the new podcast from the New Jersey Department of Children and Families to share the story of the department's efforts to revolutionize child welfare in the Garden State.

We will be talking with Kelley Michalowski, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Education to talk about our OOE Regional Schools. With her, she has special guests Miluska Gamarra-Yanez from our Cherry Hill Campus and Renee Freeman from our Union Campus, to give their perspective of the OOE programs. We'll focus on the supports and services that are available and what makes DCF classrooms unique in how they support their students.

In this episode of "DCF on The Air," host Jason Bukowski sits down with leaders from New Jersey's Division on Women (DOW) within the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Since its inception in 1974, the DOW has been a steadfast advocate for women's rights and interests.

We'll dive into the pivotal milestones of DOW, tackling paramount issues such as:

• Domestic violence
• Sexual violence
• Employment readiness
• Intersectionality

Discover the essential role of culturally specific providers in aiding survivors, the transformative "Domestic Violence Housing First" model, and a look ahead at DOW's future goals of promoting equity and supporting underserved communities. Join us as we celebrate the golden anniversary of a division that's been at the forefront of championing women's rights for half a century.

Keywords: Division on Women, DOW, Department of Children and Families, DCF, New Jersey, women's rights, domestic violence, sexual violence, employment readiness, intersectionality, culturally specific providers, domestic violence housing first, celebration, equity, underserved communities

Description: Tune in to our latest episode as we delve into the groundbreaking work of the Office of Family Voice within the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF). Learn how this office, inspired by Commissioner Beyer’s listening tour, is prioritizing family involvement in decision-making and fostering shared leadership.

Episode Highlights:

• Understanding the mission and goals of the Office of Family Voice.
• Initiatives by the DCF Youth Council to support youth transitioning to adulthood, mental health, and access to case records.
• Celebrating significant achievements like the Sibling Bill of Rights and the NJYRS website.
• Insights into the DADS Council’s work to engage fathers in the child welfare system and reduce bias.
• Efforts to enhance training for staff and involve fathers in the training process.
• The role of the Parent Council and the new Lived Experience Expert Partnership (LEEP) consultancy.

Join us as we explore the vital role of family voices in shaping New Jersey’s child welfare policies and practices.

Follow and rate our podcast to stay updated on more inspiring stories and initiatives!

Welcome to a new episode of DCF On The Air! This episode shines a spotlight on the transformative work of the Office of Family Preservation and Reunification Services (OFPR) within New Jersey's child welfare system. Our focus is on how OFPR is revolutionizing family services to keep families intact and prevent out-of-home placements.

Join us as we discuss:

• The mission to support families as intact units and prevent out-of-home placements.
• Comprehensive services offered by OFPR, including family preservation programs, in-home family support, and visitation services.
• How these services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each family, focusing on areas such as parenting, concrete needs, and mental health.
• The shift towards a holistic and family-centered approach in child welfare.

Key Takeaways:

• The OFPR's commitment to supporting intact family units and preventing out-of-home placements.
• Insights into family preservation programs, in-home family support, and visitation services.
• Understanding the evolution of child welfare services towards a holistic and family-centered model.

Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction to DCF On The Air and the Role of OFPR

01:01 Transforming the Child Welfare System: Preventing Out-of-Home Placements

03:33 Supporting Reunification: The Launch of Supportive Visitation Services

07:05 Family Preservation Services: Supporting Families in Crisis

09:07 Visitation Services: Supporting the Goal of Reunification

19:02 Family Preservation Services: A Combination of Prevention and Protection

20:32 Culturally Competent and Adaptable Services for Diverse Family Structures

33:42 The Exchange Parent Aid Program: Providing Support and Concrete Assistance

42:26 Supporting Families to Keep Children in Their Homes

44:18 The Evolution of Services: A Holistic and Family-Centered Approach

Tune in to learn how OFPR is making a significant impact on the lives of families across New Jersey!

In this episode, we provide an insightful update on the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) program, which is dedicated to delivering mental wellness and prevention services to students and families across New Jersey schools.

Join us as we discuss:

• The success of NJ4S in engaging thousands of families with tier one services.
• The integration of NJ4S into the existing youth mental wellness infrastructure and the importance of building strong relationships with schools and community stakeholders.
• The tiered approach of NJ4S, including universal supports, evidence-based programs, and individual counseling.
• The significance of incorporating local voices—parents, students, and community experts—in shaping the program.
• The process of reviewing proposals and selecting agencies to implement the NJ4S program.
• The importance of effective communication and collaboration with the community and families.
• Innovative outreach and marketing strategies to promote the program.
• The critical role of engaging youth and addressing mental well-being as part of the larger continuum of mental health care.

Key Takeaways:

• NJ4S aims to provide comprehensive mental wellness and prevention services to New Jersey students and families.
• Successful engagement with thousands of families through tier one services.
• Importance of integrating NJ4S into existing infrastructure and building relationships with stakeholders.
• Tiered approach offering universal supports, evidence-based programs, and individual counseling.
• Involving local voices and diverse stakeholders in shaping and implementing the program.
• Effective communication and collaboration with the community are crucial.
• Innovative outreach strategies to promote NJ4S.
• Engaging youth in mental well-being efforts is vital for overall mental health care.

Keywords: New Jersey, mental wellness, prevention services, NJ4S, students, families, schools, tiered approach, counseling, community stakeholders, local voice, mental health care

Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction to NJ4S and the Mental Health Crisis

04:00 Integrating NJ4S into the Existing Infrastructure

06:09 Building Relationships with Schools and Stakeholders

07:07 Engaging High-Need School Districts

14:13 The Importance of Tier One Services

18:25 The Tiered Approach of NJ4S

24:13 Building Intergenerational Resilience

29:42 Incorporating the Local Voice in NJ4S

30:39 Building Local Advisory Boards and Involving Diverse Stakeholders

32:00 Effective Communication and Collaboration with the Community

35:31 Innovative Approaches to Outreach and Marketing

40:28 Engaging Youth and Addressing Mental Well-being

46:53 Flexibility and Patience in the First Year of Implementation

Tune in to learn how NJ4S is making a significant impact on the mental wellness of students and families across New Jersey.

DCF | Family Success Centers (nj.gov)

In this episode of "DCF On the Air," we explore the pivotal role of Family Success Centers in New Jersey's child welfare system. The New Jersey Department of Children and Families is shifting towards a prevention mindset, reallocating resources from reactionary child protective services to upstream prevention. Learn how Family Success Centers offer tailored, in-community supports designed to build resilience and strengthen family connections. Discover how these centers provide a welcoming environment where family voices and shared leadership are prioritized, allowing parents to direct the work of the centers. Join us as we delve into the policies, procedures, and implementation support that make these centers a cornerstone of preventive care in New Jersey. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Adopting a Prevention Mindset

03:12 Family Success Centers: Meeting Families Where They're At

05:09 Understanding Prevention as a Continuum

08:21 Supporting Families in Need of Protective Services

11:32 Creating a Welcoming Environment at Family Success Centers

13:02Family Voice and Shared Leadership in Prevention Efforts

15:23 Building Resilience and Connections within Families

18:16 Partnership with Families in Prevention Work

19:13 Engaging Parents in Directing the Work of Family Success Centers

24:02 Shifting the Narrative: From Child Welfare to Family Wellbeing

25:30 Investing in Each Family Member: The Role of Family Success Centers

27:25 Supporting Family Success Centers: Policies, Procedures, and Implementation

31:21 Honoring Child Abuse Prevention Month

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.