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 ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Advocacy Focuses on Legislation & FY23 Budget |
In February, The Arc of New Jersey continued to advocate for funding priorities impacting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. Governor Murphy will deliver his annual State Budget Address on March 8th. Following his address, we will determine additional details about his funding plan and then provide our feedback at hearings hosted by the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees. Keep a lookout for action alerts and additional ways you can provide input to the Legislature to help support our Budget advocacy in the weeks to come. On the legislative side, The Arc of New Jersey supported a number of bills voted on by the Assembly Human Services Committee on February 14th. To continue reading, click here.
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March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month |
March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month! The New Jersey Self- Advocacy Project is celebrating this year by aligning with a current Action Alert from The Arc US, "Share Your Story: Why Home and Community-Based Care Matters".
Use the template below to share your story! How have community-based services helped you live more independently? We will be featuring these submissions on social media throughout the month of March. Click here to find out more about submissions and download the template.
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The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute is pleased to present: Tell Us About... Conversations about specific diagnoses, and the community organizations that focus on them.
This podcast features the different organizations that specialize in providing services and supports for a specific diagnosis. Topics include Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Fragile X, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and many more.
Listeners will learn about how and when each diagnosis is usually identified and what resources are available to individuals and their families.
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The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute invites you to Zoom with Us. Join us each month to discuss a topic that affects children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Our next topic will be:
IEP Meetings Don't Have to Be Scary
Wednesday, March 9th
6:00pm-7:00pm
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Join us every Monday at 10 am on Facebook Live for a brief update from Michael Pearson Jr., Assistant Director of Children's Advocacy at The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute.
Each week, Michael will share new information about special education in New Jersey or feature a helpful resource from The Family Institute. Some topics include IEPs vs. 504 Plans, Compensatory Education, Extended School Year, DDD Services for Students Who are 21, and many more!
No need to register, just visit our Facebook page every Monday at 10 am. You can also turn on notifications so you don't miss any events!
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Blue Light Music Program takes place in recording studio facilities located in Mt. Holly, Trenton, Blackwood and online.
- Blue Light provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in music Performance, music production, recording, video production, and graphic design. Students participate in small groups during 1.5 to 2 hour sessions.
- Students work with experienced instructors in professional studio performing activities such as: recording singing and rapping, creating original songs and beats, learning to play drums, guitar, bass and piano, learning to use recording equipment and more!
- Blue Light offers person centered educational enrichment for youth and adults with special needs through their Special Needs Programming Service.
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- The NJ Department of Human Services' Division of Developmental Disabilities has launched The Office of Education on Self-Directed Services.
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The Office of Education on Self-Directed Services provides a centralized place for the delivery of education and training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving services, their families, advocates, support coordinators, interested community partners and other internal and external stakeholders.
- The Office serves as an additional support to help people understand how self-directed services can work if chosen by the individual.
- Self Directed Services/Self Direction is an approach to delivering home and community-based services (HCBS) that offers increased choice and authority over how, and from whom, an individual receives their waiver services.
- Self-direction provides an opportunity for participants to manage the organization of the supports and services they elect to receive, supported by their Support Coordinator through the person-centered planning process.
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Thursday, March 16th, 2022
6:00pm to 7:00pm
Join us while we chat with Beverly Roberts, Director of the Mainstreaming Medical Care Program at The Arc of New Jersey, about individuals with IDD who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Beverly will share her extensive knowledge about this topic, share a few resources and take questions at the end of our chat.
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For 2022, the Children's System of Care (CSOC) will be providing Summer Camp Services for eligible children, youth, and young adults under 21 years of age.These services include Financial Support toward Summer Camp Tuition and One-to-One Aide Services for Summer Camp.
The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute developed a checklist and guide to help you with CSOC's camp application process. Links, dates and other important information can be found in the materials below. Click the images for pdf downloads. Completed applications for CSOC Summer Camp Services (Financial Support toward Summer Camp Tuition and One-to-One Aide Services for Summer Camp) must be postmarked or received by PerformCare no later than June 30th, 2022.
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From Our Local Chapters of The Arc |
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The Arc of Monmouth
- The Arc of Monmouth offers a 3-year Keep Achieving (KACH) college program with Brookdale Community College that provides academic opportunities to study beyond high school. KACH provides classroom and experiential learning on campus and in the community. Students attend Kach classes to strengthen basic academic skills, audit regular courses during years two and three, and enjoy full integration into the Brookdale community, including time in the fitness center and campus volunteer work. Students develop a life-long love for learning, gain marketable employment skills, and better social awareness.
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