Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention

For over twenty-five years, PROCEED, Inc. has provided both in-home counseling services and one-on-one counseling at PROCEED’s offices for children and parents affected by child abuse and neglect. We believe that child abuse and neglect is a family-wide issue and one that all family members must acknowledge and agree to address. Experienced counselors and social workers help family members as they learn to identify the signs of child abuse and neglect and locate the appropriate resources to protect their children.

Child abuse and neglect are often the manifestations of other problems within the family. In light of this, PROCEED takes a holistic approach to address child abuse and neglect. Not only do we take concrete steps to first and foremost ensure the protection and safety of the child, but we also help families work through problems that may previously have been unnoticed or unidentified but that disrupt how the family functions. As part of our case management strategy, family members, both adults and children, are either individually referred to additional services as appropriate or are recommended for group family counseling and therapy. 

For more information about child abuse and neglect services, contact Elizabeth Piñeros at (908) 351-7727 ext.251. Read below to learn more about specific programs.

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention

There are certain steps all parents can take to ensure that they do not commit child abuse and neglect. These include finding ways to redirect anger through Anger Management Classes and participating in parenting classes. Experienced counselors work with parents to address common factors that can lead to child abuse and neglect. These factors include, but are not limited to, alcohol and drug abuse, parent-child conflict, marital conflict, and external stresses caused by family, work, and financial burden. Families are connected to appropriate, long-term family and child resources offered in the community.

Through individual counseling, family counseling, educational groups, advocacy domestic violence counseling, and case management interventions, families learn to permanently prevent child abuse and neglect in their homes. This leads to greater family stability and a more satisfying family life.

Child Protective Services

Once the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) has become involved in a situation of child abuse and neglect and has brought the case to court, the family is required to receive intensive, in-home counseling. With a strong sense of dedication and commitment, PROCEED’s staff members provide in-home counseling and monitoring. Once they start working with a family, they are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week (24/7) to respond to any problems that may arise. 

Counselors work to provide case management services, anger management classes, and parenting skills classes as well as to address underlying factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of child abuse or neglect. These factors include, but are not limited to, alcohol and drug abuse, parent-child conflict, marital conflict, and external stresses caused by family, work, and financial burden. Families are connected to appropriate, long-term family and child resources offered in the community. 

To be eligible for this program, DYFS must have intervened in your case and you must have been referred for child protective services by the court.