February 2020
The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute provides caregivers with the necessary resources and education to access the appropriate supports and services for their loved one with an intellectual and developmental disability.
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Governmental Affairs Update

Th The 218th Legislative Session ended last month and we are happy to report that Governor Murphy
took action on a number of bills supported by The Arc of New Jersey which will impact people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The Governor signed:
• S484/A2705 which revises the State’s newborn screening program and establishes a
Newborn Screening Advisory Review Committee which will be authorized to make
recommendations on the disorders to be screened for by the Department of Health, as well as
on screening technologies, treatment options, and educational and follow-up procedures, to
be used in the State’s newborn screening program.
  • S4141/A6011, also known as “Paul’s Law.” Under "Paul's Law," the parents or guardians of the student with epilepsy or a seizure disorder can
Census Day is April 1, 2020!
The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location. Join us on February 5th for a free webinar to learn more about the 2020 Census on your community.
Census Resources
2020 Census: A Guide for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Family - Click to Download
EdgeUcation

New Fact Sheet Available! Click below to download.
DD Training Resources is an online database, funded by a grant from The NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities and run by The Arc of New Jersey's Family Institute. It provides a wide range of information about trainings and support resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families throughout the State of New Jersey.
We welcome your feedback on our new DD Training Resources website!
Join the Coalition for a Direct Support Professional Living Wage Today

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) make it possible for many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead lives in their communities. They provide personal care, social support, and physical assistance to individuals in a wide range of activities when needed. They work in a variety of settings including individual and family homes, group homes, supported apartments, schools, workplaces, recreational and fitness settings, etc. Currently, the need for DSPs exceeds the number of such professionals working in the field, and this workforce shortage is only expected to increase. New Jersey must address the workforce issues to ensure services will continue for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who depend on it.
Mission to Transition

Whether you are receiving services from the NJ Children's System of Care through PerformCare (21 years old and under) or the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (21 years old and older) each state agency has its own policies and procedures. Below you will find links to each agency's guideline manual.



Navigating the System

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities provides community and student training and technical assistance, conducts research, and disseminates information and educational materials. The Boggs Center is New Jersey’s federally designated   University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities   and is part of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pediatrics.
Road to Employment
ABLE Account Employer Toolkit
The ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC), makes it easy for employers to share and contribute to the financial stability and prosperity of employees impacted by the additional and often significant expenses that can be associated with having a disability.

This toolkit includes tools and resources to introduce and explain basic information about ABLE accounts to all of your employees as part of orientation and onboarding and/or as an introduction to your existing workforce.
The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute | 732.828.2022 | thefamilyinstitute@arcnj.org