Assault prevention initiative launched in Sussex County

NEWTON — Legislators, social service organizations, municipal officials and educators recently convened in Newton to begin a local effort to combat child sexual assault. Sussex County non-profit agency Project Self-Sufficiency has been chosen, along with two other non-profit organizations in New Jersey, to take part in a ground-breaking effort to end child sexual abuse in partnership with Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey. The agency will be joined by PEI Kids, located in Mercer County, and Wynona’s House, headquartered in Newark, as the first organizations in New Jersey to replicate the Enough Abuse Campaign throughout their communities. The initiative aims to educate teens and adults about the nature and scope of child sexual abuse, and provide the tools necessary to protect children. For example, studies continue to show that many parents believe the major risk of child sexual abuse involves strangers, when in fact, up to 90 percent of sexual predators are actually known to the victim. Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey (PCA-NJ), the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, is a non-profit organization which works throughout the state to eliminate child abuse and neglect. “Child sexual abuse is a serious public health problem in New Jersey and causes devastating harm to victims,” said Rush Russell, Executive Director of PCA-NJ. “We congratulate these three communities for their courage and commitment to taking action now to prevent any child from being sexually abused, and we look forward to expanding the network of committed communities statewide.” “Project Self-Sufficiency is proud to be partnering with in this important effort to eliminate child sexual abuse in northwestern New Jersey,” said Alison Lampron, Enough Abuse Program Coordinator. “This educational outreach program will build on Project Self-Sufficiency’s 25-year history of assisting families with their goals of becoming stable and economically self-sufficient. Protecting our children from harm is an adult responsibility, and we are confident that the Enough Abuse Campaign will help to prevent child sexual abuse and result in safer, more stable families in our community.” 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. Since 1986 Project Self-Sufficiency has served more than 19,500 families, including more than 30,000 children. For information about the Enough Abuse community outreach program, or any of the other programs and services offered at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500.