On June 8th, PEI KIDS completed its 39th year of conducting school-based child assault prevention workshops in public, private, and charter schools throughout Mercer County. After nearly four decades of presenting the NJ CAP curriculum as our abuse-/assault-prevention program exclusively, we're making enhancements and replacements to our suite of prevention programming to ensure that all of our school-based programs presented to children are proven effective and have earned the "evidence-based" designation.

Having the distinction of being an evidence-based program means that the curriculum has been rigorously tested by researchers and practitioners, subjected to randomized trials, and proven to make a significant difference in the lives of participants receiving the program. Executive Director, Roz Dashiell, explains, "Over the years, the field has yielded a body of evidence, practice, and research that allows us to benefit from advances in child safety education. As a result, we can bring best practices and high fidelity to the work of our prevention programs by insisting on evidence-based practices and curriculum. It's a win for everyone."

Beginning September, PEI Kids' Facilitators will present the Child Safety Matters and Teen Safety Matters curricula in our school engagements. With support from the Monique Burr Foundation and in collaboration with our more-than 50 school partners, we look forward to increasing the effectiveness of our work with students throughout Mercer County. Click to learn more about PEI KIDS' school-based Prevention Education programs.

Mark your calendar to join us at Trenton-Mercer Airport on Friday, October 13th for Uncork For A Cause: 16th Annual Wine & Food Tasting. Restaurants, chefs and breweries can sign up now!

Join me in welcoming PEI KIDS' new Prevention Director, Annette Henderson. Annette has been working in the role of Prevention Facilitator for the 2022-23 school year delivering PEI Kids’ program workshops in the areas of Child Safety, Assault Prevention, and Teen Mental Health First Aid. 

Prior to joining PEI Kids last year, Annette worked 25 years for the Princeton/Princeton Township Police Department(s) in various roles including Detective/Juvenile Officer where she led complex criminal investigations for juvenile matters and managed the Stationhouse Adjustment Program. She also supervised daily operation of the detective bureau and served as Public Information Officer establishing working relationships with the media and maintaining long-term professional partnerships with Princeton School District, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police, DCPP, Corner House, PEI Kids, and other community-based agencies serving children/youth.

Annette has a busy summer ahead as she rolls out PEI KIDS' new and expanded prevention programming (see article above). Please join us in making Annette feel like a welcome member of our PEI KIDS family!

Quick Clips

PEI KIDS' offices and programs will be closed on Friday, June 16th in honor of the Juneteenth national holiday. Happy Juneteenth!