Report: NJ doing better at protecting kids since cases of extreme abuse threw state into court

Report: NJ doing better at protecting children

TRENTON, N.J. — A federal court-appointed agency says New Jersey’s once-failing child welfare system has made strides in keeping children safe from further abuse and neglect.

The Center for the Study of Social Policy said Thursday that the state has made key improvements although work remains to be done.

New Jersey’s Children and Families Department was ordered to overhaul its operations after a series of abuses. One boy in state care was found dead and four foster children were discovered severely malnourished. The department has been under court supervision since 2006.