On June 1, 2011, the State of New Jersey celebrated its one year anniversary of NJ Parent Link, The Early Childhood, Parenting and Professional Resource Center. "Thank you" to all of New Jersey's parents and professionals who have chosen to use NJ Pa rent Link as a service and resource for themselves, families and clients over this last year. For those not familiar with NJ Parent Link, please take a moment to log on today to http://www.njparentlink.nj.gov to experience New Jersey's premier Early Childhood, Parenting and Professional web-based Resource Center.

NJ Parent Link is a broad based public/private initiative (10 state departments, and 25 community partners) supported by the federal Health Resources & Services Administration's, State Early Childhood Comprehensive System (ECCS) Program Grant (2009-2012). New Jersey's Department of Health and Senior Services is the lead agency for the project, coordinating over 30 government service units participating on the website development team. 

Highlighting state services and resources, the goals of NJ Parent Link are to improve the accessibility, coordination and delivery of information and services to parents of young children, to improve the communication capabilities between the public and private sectors, and to provide the IT foundation for inter/intra agency service collaborations and policy development.

Website linkages are quite comprehensive and are designed to facilitate parents' and professionals' ease of use and engagement with government services and stakeholder resources. Federal, nationally respected, statewide and local early childhood initiative partner resources are included. Website content includes early childhood health, development, early learning, parenting and family support resources. All educational and promotional materials for the site are downloadable, including the NJ Parent Link homepage, designed as a teaching tool for new parents. You can also go to  http://www.nj.gov/njparentlink/how/print_media_services.html to order handout materials for your customers.

Innovative community building features include: interactive consumer content sections; tailored subscription services; a community calendar of events; continuing education/leadership postings; a children's art gallery; an easy to navigate En Espanol feature and translation service for over 50 languages and an upcoming streaming video for public service announcements.

For a more in depth overview of the website/project, please contact Jamie Anderson,  NJ Parent Link Administrator @ 609-292-5666 or via email: ...@doh.state.nj.us">nj.p...@doh.state.nj.us