NCVRW is year-round at PEI Kids,

POSTINGS | Spring 2021 edition

News & Events

that you don't want to miss!

Showing our Work

We won't soon forget the year 2020. It was a memorable year full of opportunities and challenges, not the least of which was COVID.

Thanks to the support of a caring community and dedicated staff, PEI Kids was able to find innovative solutions to continue reaching our kids.

We kept the focus on our mission's work...providing services for over 9,000 vulnerable children and youth last year -- including crisis counseling, delinquency prevention and intervention, victims' support, prevention education, and foster care support services.

We're proud to share our 2020 Impact Report video highlighting some of our accomplishments. Check out our work! < View the video >

Note: A comprehensive version of our 2020 Annual Report will be printed and available in July. To request a copy, send a quick note using the form on our Contact Us page.

It's National Crime Victims' Rights Week

"PEI Kids has two programs dedicated specifically to serving

young victims of crime in our community."

April 18 - 24, 2021 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), so this edition of Postings focuses on our work serving young crime victims in our community.

The 2021 NCVRW theme emphasizes the importance of building the trust of victims and survivors of crime, collaborating with victim service providers and allied professionals, and engaging communities in addressing enduring and emerging forms of crime victimization.

To learn more about National Crime Victims Rights Week, view the 2021 NCVRW Theme Video.

PEI Kids has two programs dedicated specifically to serving young victims of crime: the Council Against Youth Violence (CAYV) and our Crisis Intervention for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse program...

1. Launched in 2020, our Council Against Youth Violence (CAYV) project was one of only ten sites selected nationally to launch this Department of Justice initiative addressing victims of gang-related violence and crime.

Based on a multidisciplinary team (MDT) response model, we formed a collaborative with local community-based organizations to deliver direct services for young victims including case management, mental health counseling, emergency shelter, victims compensation, educational support, life-skills training, and other specialized services for young crime victims, age 12-17.

To learn more about the Council Against Youth Violence, see the press release and program brochure.

2. Established in 1987, our Crisis Intervention for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse program has helped more than 6,000 child victims heal from the trauma of sexual abuse using one-on-one Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Through this program, we serve some of the youngest crime victims in the region, with some clients as young as 3 years old.

Over 250 cases of child sexual abuse are reported each year in Mercer County; and the County Prosecutor’s Office refers 98% of these cases to PEI Kids for immediate assessment and treatment. See the Crisis program brochure to learn more.

Additional services. In addition to dedicated programming, PEI Kids provides supportive services like court preparation and accompaniment to help children testify against their offenders during litigation.

Mobile Apps for Crime Victims

The US Dept. of Justice has identified several innovative, user-friendly apps to help crime victims with important tasks, like collecting evidence, reporting remotely to law enforcement, finding urgent shelter, and more.

You can review and download these free apps from the Office for Victims of Crime website.

If you, or someone you know may be a victim of crime, click here for

Crime Victim Services & Referral Information.

Capital Health + PEI Kids = A Winning Team

"It was only a few minutes into our meeting that we had the 'eureka' moment..."

Working with crime victims isn't just for law enforcement. In January, we met with the specialists at Capital Health to better understand how they're serving crime victims in our community.

In 2020, Capital Health was one of only four sites awarded funding by the NJ Office of the Attorney General to operate a new Trauma Recovery Center program serving victims of violence in Mercer County. The program, Violence Intervention for the Community Through Outreach Recovery, is known as the VICTORY program.

As it turns out, the VICTORY program is funded exclusively to serve adult victims of violence; while our Council Against Youth Violence (CAYV) program is funded exclusively to serve youth victims.

According to Executive Director, Roz Dashiell, "It was only a few minutes into our

meeting that we had the 'eureka' moment, realizing that together we could offer meaningful support to help the entire family unit heal from the trauma of violent crime."

A "Please" and a "Thank You"

It's Super Sponsor Season!

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to our Super Sponsors.

Thanks to their support, we’ve been able to provide uninterrupted services throughout the year. By making a one-time, annual contribution early in the year, Super Sponsors provide a secure foundation for our programs and enable us to continue providing meaningful services for children in need—at no cost to their families.

This year, early sponsorship commitments are in from wonderful community partners like Bartlett Family Foundation, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chris & Denise Pratico,

Dave and Marlene Thompson, Fennelly & Associates, John Horvath, NJM Insurance Group, Northfield Bank, Nottingham Insurance, Team Toyota of Lawrence, and The Wawa Foundation.

Please consider the option of supporting PEI Kids as a Super Sponsor. If you own or manage a business, your decision to be a sponsor can make all the difference for vulnerable children in our community.

In return, we will highlight you as a top sponsor on our website homepage, and give you premium visibility at our signature events including our online webinars and virtual events. We will also feature you in press releases and promotions, provide admission to our events, and create opportunities for you to connect with the community throughout the year. The deadline for 2021 Super Sponsor commitment is June 1st.

< Learn more about becoming a Super Sponsor >

Visit our Website

Donate

MISSION STATEMENT

PEI Kids is dedicated to promoting and maintaining a safe environment for all children. PEI Kids works with the child, family, and caregiver to provide prevention, intervention and advocacy programs relating to personal safety, sexual abuse, and the overall well-being of the child.

PEI KIDS | 231 LAWRENCE RD. LAWRENCE TWP, NJ 08046