What You Need To Know
Dr. Brett Biller, medical director of the Audrey Hepburn House for Children, and Juliana David, coordinator of the Hackensack Meridian Health No Hit Zone, a program of the House, presented the HMH program at this month's Academy of Violence & Abuse's 2025 Global Health Summit.
HMH was the first in New Jersey to implement the national program across all hospitals, and the first in the U.S. to roll it out across multiple care locations.
The No Hit Zone is built on four key principles:
- No adult should hit another adult
- No adult should hit a child
- No child should hit another child
- No child should hit an adult
These principles are supported by education, visual materials, and training that promote positive communication and effective parenting strategies. As part of the program, virtual and in-person parenting coaching sessions are held throughout New Jersey.
With funding from the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, our NHZ program has reached tens of thousands of people across the state, empowering parents, educators, and caregivers with tools to reduce conflict and prevent physical harm. These strategies help families build stronger relationships and promote emotional and behavioral well-being.