Children's Hope Initiative

07/12/2026

Being trauma informed matters. Here's some suggestions of how to respond to children and families in a trauma responsive way:

Their sense of safety, control over their body, and self-esteem have been taken away. Implication: Ensure physical and emotional safety, avoid restraints or control over the body and promote self-esteem.

They blame themselves and see themselves as damaged, and may experience a very deep sense of shame and guilt. Implication: Treat with respect. Acknowledge strengths. What inner strengths have helped you cope?

They feel helpless. Implication: Provide choices and make partner in decisions and treatment.

They may see others as threats and isolate themselves. Implication: Trauma linked with individuals not being heard, understood – disconnection from others.

Their difficulty regulating their emotional state may result in somatic symptoms – this is very important – trauma lives in the body. Implication: Ask how stress affects them physically---do you have trouble sleeping?

There is a lack of predictability in their lives. Implication: Offer predictable schedules and routines and do what you say you will.

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07/12/2026

Here's some data from FSU about military personnel and ACEs. It's shocking:

55% of military recruits experienced one or more forms of family violence including child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, and domestic violence (Merrill et al., 2004).

Over 47% of military recruits had been physically abused as children, and nearly 35% had experienced sexual abuse (Trent et al., 2007).

Military servicemen have twice the prevalence of sexual abuse as civilians (Blosnich et al., 2014).

Female military recruits who had experienced childhood abuse (47%) were nearly 5 times more likely to be r***d as adults (Merrill et al., 1999).

Military recruits who had experienced childhood sexual abuse were at much higher risk for PTSD, su***de attempts, and attrition.

High prevalence of ACEs results in increased vulnerability to physical and mental illness, PTSD, unhealthy and violent behaviors, victimization, and su***de.

An investment in support services in the early adult years for military personnel can mitigate the effects of ACEs (Blosnich et al., 2014)

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11/24/2025

Thank you for your generous support of Children's Hope Initiative! Here is the Total Community Impact of what your support enabled us accomplish through October 2025.

2026 promises to be a challenging year for Children’s Hope Initiative and for our youth serving partners who provide the services for the children and youth we serve. With government funding for social services being cut, this year our partners have lived with uncertainty. So far, none have lost their federal or state funding. In the coming months we will know who, if any, will be impacted.

In closing, we respectfully ask for your continued generous support. Your donation is fully tax deductible. To donate, please either go to our website: www.childrenshopeinitiative.org or make your check payable to “Children’s Hope Initiative” and send it to: Friends of Somerset County Youth, P. O. Box 8063, Bridgewater NJ 08807.

11/14/2024

Here is an updated summary of our Community Impact through Oct 1st, 2024. On behalf of all the children we were able to serve, we extend a sincere and hearty THANK YOU!

04/16/2024

New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) is proud to acknowledge the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. DCF promotes the health, well-being, and personal safety of children and families by working together with parents, caregivers, organizations and communities to ensure an effective network of proven support services, public education and community advocacy to prevent maltreatment.

Parents, schools, and community organizations can be change agents to prevent child maltreatment in New Jersey. DCF asks that you make a personal “Pledge of Prevention” to offer assistance, referral or resources that help children to thrive.

Below are tips/resources to get involved.

New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy proclaims April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Ask your city mayor to sign a “Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation”.

Sign and Share . In partnership with NJ DCF and the New Jersey Children’s Alliance, for the victims of child abuse by downloading and filling in the template, and share on social media a message of hope and action for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Plant a Pinwheel Garden and Wear a “pinwheel” pin during the month of April. The pinwheel is reflective of the bright future all children deserve. For more information visit Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) website at

April 2024 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month Stand with us as we build hopeful futures, together, by advocating for all families to receive the resources and support they need. Together, we can prevent child abuse, America...because childhood lasts a lifetime. Donate Learn more What We Do: Since...

04/03/2024

Friends-- We are so very grateful for your generous support in 2023/2024. On behalf of all of the children we will be able to serve this year, we extend a sincere and hearty THANK YOU!

We have exciting and wonderful news to share! Thanks to your support, the Children’s Hope Initiative is able to fully fund ALL of the programs and activities we described in our November newsletter! That means we will be able to provide the following in 2024:

• Fund CASA Tutoring: Provide at-home tutoring for abused and neglected children in out-of-home placements ($5,000).
• Provide paid mentors for up to 30 elementary and middle school children through Middle Earth Lunchtime Mentoring ($10,000).
• Provide mentors for five at-risk young people who are under the care of the Somerset County Family Crisis Intervention Union ($8,000).
• Provide Mentors for seven children in out of home placements through the CASA Fostering Futures Program ($8,000).
• Cut waiting time in half for children to begin treatment at Family and Community Services in Bound Brook ($4,000).
• Provide “Fun Trips” for up to 100 abused and neglected children to a ropes adventure course, Dorney Park, Great Adventure, and/or Schaefer Farm ($5,000).
• Serve up to nine at-risk high school students in the Promises Plus Program offered by Middle Earth ($10,000).
• Serve up to eight 18-21-year-old young adults who have “aged out” of the child welfare system through the Middle Earth Visions Plus program ($9,000).
• Support therapies and prom/graduation clothes for young people at Visions and Pathways ($5,000).

In addition to the above, from the Susan Wright Dilts Memorial Fund we are giving four $4,000 scholarships for college and technical training to four deserving formerly abused and neglected young people. These are young people served by CASA-SHaW, Middle Earth, or Visions and Pathways.

Finally, as we hoped, on April 30 we will offer a train the trainer program to youth serving organizations to assist the young people they serve with dealing with grief and loss ($7,000). On June 10 we will offer a train the trainer’s program on how to deal with aggressive behaviors in a trauma sensitive manner ($5,000). This year, we continue to work to meet the unmet need for positive parenting, pet and art therapies for Middle Earth, and to help deal with food insecurity.

Details can be found on our website: www.childrenshopeinitiative.org

08/25/2023

We recommend Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s book, "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma", makes use of the most recent discoveries in the field of science to demonstrate how trauma can literally reshape both the body and the brain, impairing the sufferer’s capacity for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is widely recognized as one of the world’s preeminent trauma experts due to his extensive, three-decade-long work with trauma survivors. He investigates new methods of healing that engage the brain’s inherent neuroplasticity, including neurofeedback and meditation as well as sports, drama, and yoga.

05/01/2023

On Friday evening, April 28th, The Hunterdon County Education Association had a black-tie gala celebration at which they honored Carol Dvoor as a “Friend of Education” for her work with Safe Harbor and the young people she helps in so many ways. Carol is also a member of the board of Children’s Hope Initiative, and board members Hon. Thomas H. Dilts and Colleen A. McCarthy, Esq. were among those who were able to be with her to celebrate. Below you will see a copy of the program insert about Carol’s work, and a couple of photos from the Friday evening gala.

Yeah Carol! And thank you for being a vital part of the Children’s Hope Initiative team!

12/01/2022

Doctors are screening more patients for adverse childhood experiences, but they aren’t required to report whether those patients receive therapy or other services they may need. Yet getting that helps is key to preventing chronic health or mental health conditions later in life, research finds.

California has increased its screenings for adverse childhood experiences, but fails to track whether patients get the services they need.

10/17/2022

In many cases, a parent or caregiver may be unaware that their child is suffering from trauma. How can parents tell if their childhood has potentially been traumatized by an adverse event, or a series of them? Look for any change from baseline behavior, e.g., sleeping, eating, socializing. More at the link.

In "Has Your Child Been Traumatized?", clinical psychologist Dr. Melissa Goldberg-Mintz reveals how parents can recognize the symptoms of trauma in children.