New Jersey State Public Affairs Committee

The New Jersey State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) is a statewide, non-partisan committee comprised of delegates from the eight Junior Leagues of New Jersey. SPAC advocates on behalf of women and children in New Jersey in the areas of health, education, and the environment. 

SPAC was formed out of concern that abandoned babies were being places in an overcrowded municipal hospital in Newark for extended periods of time. The Junior Leagues of Newark, Montclair, and The Oranges-Short Hills appealed to the elected freeholders for an infant shelter in Essex County. Due to the work of the three Leagues in affecting this change, they became acutely aware of the need for improved services for children. This issue prompted the reactivating of SPAC in April 1970 to study problems of New Jersey's abandoned, abused, and neglected children and to work toward changing the state's laws affecting children. SPAC has since grown in size and stature in the state of New Jersey and lobbies on behalf of over 3,000 women in eight Leagues throughout the state.

SPAC selects public issues, concepts or legislation for study and action based on established guidelines. Activities include: advocacy, education of member leagues, coalition building, lobbying and testifying before commissions and legislative committees. 

Please visit the SPAC website at www.jlnjspac.org for more information.