Truth & Transformation Community Forums

We would love to hear from community members directly impacted by the NJ child welfare system (DCP&P- the Division of Child Protection and Permanency or DYFS). To improve the system, we need your voices to effect change and strengthen communities. We want to hear your recommendations for what could be better, what resources are needed in your community, and we want to learn about your experiences with the system (only if you are comfortable sharing).

Are you a parent who had a “case” (whether your child was in foster care or not)? Are you over 18 but spent time in foster care and/or a group home? Have you been a kinship caregiver for your younger relative or a foster parent? Do you live in a community where a lot of your neighbors have been impacted by the system? If so, this forum is for you! We need to hear from you.

Trenton
Truth & Transformation Community Forum
Saturday, June 6^th
12pm To 4pm
Calvary Pentecostal Church

471 Parkway Ave, Trenton, NJ
(Registration Begins At 11am)

Yes, PFPC will be assisting with coordinating transportation and childcare assistance for those who need.

Dependent upon need and availability, transportation assistance may consist of mileage reimbursement, shuttle service, or a ridesharing service.

Childcare assistance is provided in the form of a stipend per family to your chosen childcare provider to be sent upon confirmation of your attendance at the Forum.

If you did not select that you would benefit from transportation or childcare assistance or provide your contact information when you registered for the Forum, please reach out to Powerful Families Powerful Communities (PFPC) by email at info@powerfulfamiliesnj.org or by phone at 609-585-7666.

Further details will be provided as the date nears.

Yes, we will be serving a hot lunch buffet style.

The forum will include a facilitated and supportive discussion  about how to improve child and family services ( including the child welfare system or DCPP) in NJ.  We will discuss:

• The truths of community members’ experiences with the child welfare system (including harms done, the impact on communities and things that helped)
• Efforts being made to transform the system- including changes that have been made to improve the system so far
• What still needs to change to best support families and communities

Most importantly, we want to hear from you on what will the make the child welfare system better and what your community needs to support families so that every child can grow up safely with their family without system involvement.  We’ll break bread together, listen, learn, and co-create solutions that reflect the experiences of families and the values of our communities.

We need you to be a part of the work to design the future of NJ’s child and family well-being system (including DCPP-the child welfare system).  This is just the beginning.  After the forums, PFPC community chapters will be starting in the 3 regions of the state to keep the work going.  The chapters will bring together community members to provide mutual support, expand advocacy skills, and to continue to identify and advocate for improvements needed in the child welfare system and other systems that impact families in NJ.

Yes, we are seeking community resource partners that offer services in the community that community members may benefit from learning more about, i.e. Housing, Youth Support Programming, Employment Services, Mental Health Services, Energy Assistance, Food Assistance, etc.

We ask that you register and select that that you would like to attend as a Community Resource Partner.  Upon receipt, we will confirm with you that there is space available as the Forum nears due to spatial limitations.

On the day of the Forum, please plan to arrive by 10am in order to be ready for Community Forum attendees to begin arriving at 11am.

Please reach out to Powerful Families Powerful Communities (PFPC) by email at info@powerfulfamiliesnj.org or by phone at 609-585-7666 with any questions.