Dear Friend,

The year 2021 is a year of possibilities, and we look forward to what we can accomplish together. As we look towards the new year, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) continues to:

• Inform. ACNJ helps drive informed, data-driven decision-making among state leaders and policymakers to improve the well-being of all children in the Garden State. We invite you to visit our latest 2020 New Jersey Kids Count Pocket Guide and interactive data dashboard, which provides data on dozens of measures by county and the latest county data by race. 
   
• Advocate. As lawmakers focus on how to jump-start the economy, they need to prioritize ensuring access to safe, affordable child care. The Murphy administration has extended critical child care assistance programs through the end of January, but more work is needed to rebuild the state’s child care system to thrive long after the pandemic and help to set every child on a path to success. 
   
• Equip Caregivers. New Jersey needs policies and strong investments that help unlock the potential of every child. But to make change for babies, state leaders need to hear from families! ACNJ has partnered with Melinated Moms to facilitate Find Your Roar trainings, helping caregivers strengthen their skills to tell their story to legislators and state leaders. Register here.