Mayor Baraka, Programs for Parents, Foundation for Newark’s Future Launch New Mobile App for Parents

App allows Newark parents to have health, academic, other information at their fingertips

(left to right) Kimberly McLain, CEO of FNF, Beverly Lynn, CEO of Programs for Parents, Mayor Ras Baraka, and members of the parent planning team

Newark, NJ – Today, at a press conference at Programs for Parents’ headquarters in Newark, Mayor Ras Baraka announced the launch of the Tap the App campaign to promote the new mobile app, aXcess Newark, which gives Newark parents access to comprehensive listings of family serving agencies in their community. From mental health and health care services, to early childhood facilities, parents will have Newark’s vast resources right at their fingertips.

“aXcess Newark puts the power of information in the hands of Newark families,” says Mayor Baraka. “The city’s renaissance will happen through partnerships like the one we’re announcing today with Programs for Parents. aXcess Newark is for family’s finding resources as what MyNewark is for residents getting information about city services.”

The app was underwritten by Foundation for Newark’s Future (FNF) as part of the Increasing Quality and Expanding Access initiative, a $1 million commitment by Newark’s early learning funders that was announced in the spring. FNF, an education-focused foundation in Newark launched to manage Mark Zuckerberg’s $100M challenge grant to the City, supported this work as part of its commitment to both early learning and community engagement.

“We know that helping parents is the best way to help kids,” said Kim McLain, President and CEO at FNF. Newark has a wealth of resources, and thanks to Programs for Parents and the Newark Family Engagement Network, they will now be coordinated and easily accessible to families. “Foundation for Newark’s Future is proud to support this work and we thank Mayor Baraka for his partnership and commitment to parent voice and community empowerment.”

Programs for Parents (PfP), the childcare resource and referral agency in Essex County, designed the app with extensive input from Newark parents through the formation of an advisory counsel and focus groups. Newark parents had input on everything from the app’s design, to app contents, to marketing it in the community. PfP aims to get 15,000 Newark families to Tap the App by June 2015.

“Newark has a wealth of resources,” said Programs for Parents CEO Beverly Lynn. “Most Newark families do not know the full range of services and assistance that is available to them. aXcess Newark was specifically designed to address this need.”

aXcess Newark users can download the free app on their mobile device on both Android and Apple systems. The app contains a directory database featuring social service organizations that will assist individuals with finding employment, housing and child care subsidies, and medical assistance. Users can sort search results by zip code and find directions through Google Maps. To support the app, the Newark Family Engagement Network has been formed. Programs for Parents will convene this network of community serving organizations to coordinate their work throughout the year.

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Programs for Parents CEO, Beverly Lynn, prepares to make her remarks

FNF CEO, Kimberly McLain, addresses representatives of community based organizations.