Recent articles in The Times regarding child endangerment charges brought to the father in the tragic death of a 9-month-old baby girl ("Prosecutor: Father failed to give daughter medication," March 25) and parents of five children living in squalid conditions in Trenton ("Father arrested on charge of endangering 5 children," March 21) highlight the crucial need for vigilance to protect the youngest and most vulnerable in our community.
Too many children live without the love and security they need, and grow into traumatized youth. Trauma takes many forms and refers to an experience that creates a sense of fear, helplessness or horror and overwhelms a person's resources for coping. The impact of traumatic stress can be devastating and long-lasting, interfering with a person's sense of safety, ability to self-regulate, sense of self, perception of control and self-efficacy and interpersonal relationships.
Child abuse prevention is one of the keys to preventing youth homelessness. Our programs use a trauma-informed approach, providing youth with safe housing, the tools to live independent and productive lives and a support system they can depend on in the future. We help them break the cycle of abuse and homelessness and learn to value their true worth as competent, resilient individuals.
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