TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie’s cuts to a Newark-based program for abused children are misguided and should be reconsidered, said the president of the program’s board. Christie all but eliminated state funding for the Wynona Lipman Child Advocacy Center in Newark before signing the budget bill Thursday. The cut came as a surprise to many observers because it was...
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie’s cuts to a Newark-based program for abused children are misguided and should be reconsidered, said the president of the program’s board.
Christie all but eliminated state funding for the Wynona Lipman Child Advocacy Center in Newark before signing the budget bill Thursday.
The cut came as a surprise to many observers because it was not included in the governor’s original proposal, nor did Democrats increase funding as part of their $30.6 billion spending plan that Christie slashed with his veto pen Thursday.
The governor's move eliminates $537,000, or 75 percent, of state funding.
"In the wake of Christiana Glenn’s death, New Jersey should be working harder to protect children from abuse and neglect, not pulling the plug on programs that work for children," said Nancy Erika Smith, president of the non-profit's board. She described the move as "disgusting."
Christiana Glenn is the 8-year-old from Irvington whom police found dead on May 22, as a result of an untreated broken leg and malnutrition. Her mother has pleaded not guilty to aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment charges. A roommate has also pleaded not guilty to child endangerment charges.
Named after deceased Democratic State Sen. Wynona Lipman of Essex County, Wynona's House serves children who have been sexually and physically abused by providing a central place for law enforcement, medical and child welfare and mental health professionals to assess and treat victims and assist their families.
Wynona's House has been referred the case involving Christiana's surviving siblings, a 7-year-old sister and a 6-year-old brother.
The center provides services to more than 1,000 Essex County children each year while saving the state $1,000 per case as a result of service coordination and specialized training, Smith said.
Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver (D-Essex) said, “I was floored to see that redlined. I think it’s egregious.”
The governor's office is refusing to provide specific explanations for the cuts, instead relying on the broad defense that their was not enough money to prevent them.
When asked to defend the cuts at a news conference Thursday, Christie responded, "Now let’s not start going down that road, I’m not going to be answering every one of these. Because we can’t afford it. The reason, by the way, that I cut every one of these is we can’t afford it. I’d love to do it. I’d love to do most of the things they put in there."
The governor’s office did say the program would continue to receive funding through Division of Youth and Family Services grants and the Essex County prosecutor’s office.
Kerri Logosso, the executive director for Wynona's House, said she was confused by the statement from the governor's office saying grants from the Division of Youth and Family Services will sustain them. "The $537,000 they eliminated is 75 percent of our total state funding,'' which is $728,000. "That is our DYFS grant.''
Logosso said she spoke with officials from the Department of Children and Families today, who advised her to "keep operating until we talk further.''