For media opportunities and interviews, please contact us at 609-880-0210.
Facts and Figures:
- Children in New Jersey:
A child in New Jersey is born into poverty every 42 minutes.
A child in New Jersey is abused or neglected every hour.
A child in New Jersey dies before his or her first birthday every 12 hours.
A child or teen in New Jersey is killed by gunfire every week.
- Child Welfare in New Jersey:
Number of children who were victims of abuse and neglect: 8,103
Number of children in foster care: 11.260
Number of children adopted from foster care: 1,365
Number of grandparents raising their grandchildren: 71,478
(Source: Children's Defense Fund, 2005.)
- In New Jersey in 1996:
The median age of children who were neglected was 7.
The median age of victims of physical abuse and sexual abuse was 10.
(Source: NJ Department of Human Services, 2005.)
- Nationally:
Compared with low-income housed children, homeless children experience more health problems, developmental delays, increased anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and lower educational achievement.
(Source: National Center on Family Homelessness, 1999.)
What does Crossroads Programs do for homeless, abandoned, neglected and abused youth?
Crossroads is a non-profit agency that provides residential and support services for abandoned, abused, neglected and homeless youth in New Jersey. With residential and community-based programming, we are able to address the needs of youth according to age and specific needs. The Agency's primary goal is to provide safe housing, with a warm family atmosphere and normal everyday activities for displaced youth. Our secondary goal is to use the time we have with the young people to help promote healthy youth development, provide them with a sense of worth and belonging, and reduce the stress and symptoms of abuse and/or abandonment. We serve both boys and girls, from birth to age 21, including pregnant and parenting teens.
Crossroads has been a provider of services to homeless youth and as-risk families since 1978. The Crossroads continuum of care for homeless youth – shelter care, group homes, residential treatment, community-based treatment homes, life skills training and family counseling – has resulted in improved outcomes and enhanced futures for thousands of kids and families we have served over the years. Please click on the programs and services tab for more information.
