The first three years in a child’s life are critical
The New Jersey Safe Babies Court Team (SBCT) uses the science of early childhood development to improve outcomes for New Jersey infants, toddlers, and families involved in the child welfare system.
SBCT operates in Passaic, Hudson, and Essex Counties.
All families enrolled in New Jersey Safe Babies Court Team have at least one child in the family from birth to age 3 and are involved with the child welfare and family court system due to allegations of abuse and/or neglect. Children are often placed in foster care or with family supports at the beginning of the Safe Baby Court case.
Ultimately, the Safe Baby Court Team serves each family in unique and personal ways but one constant is keeping the baby at the center of all decision-making.
The SBCT approach connects children ages 0-3 and their families to the services and support they need. The goal is for children to maintain healthy development and have lasting permanency, specifically family reunification, whenever safely possible.
The SBCT approach relies on the sustained cooperation of numerous individuals, working on grassroots teams.
Community Coordinator
Community Coordinators serve as a support to the parents, the children, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, and to service providers. Community Coordinators have lived experience and will offer holistic, compassionate mentoring to parents in order to best connect them to the services they need. Their goal will be to make sure parents feel heard and empowered on their path towards reunification.
Active Family Team
A Family Team will form for each individual family in the program. The Family Team will participate in monthly meetings, which will provide support for the parent and the children. All parties involved in a hearing will participate in the Family Team. Service providers will also be invited to join.
Parents and Caretakers
Parents and caretakers are integral members of the Safe Babies Court Team approach. SBCT values birth parents by continually assessing and reassessing the parents’ needs and responding to these needs in every regard. The first goal of SBCT is always reunification. SBCT initiatives are trauma-informed and promote a positive impact on protective factors in families to increase long-term success and stability apart from the child welfare system.
Relative and non-relative caretakers are crucial to any child’s experience while in the foster care system. For this reason, they will also be supported through SBCT to ensure supportive trauma-informed support is available to caretakers as well.