June 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

Last month, Governor Phil Murphy named The Arc of New Jersey's Executive Director Tom Baffuto to the Governor's Restart and Recovery Advisory Council. The Council is charged with advising state leadership on economic matters impacted by COVID-19. Tom is serving on the Social Services and Faith Subcommittee and virtual meetings are already underway. We are very pleased to see the Administration is taking into account people with I/DD, their families and the community providers who serve them as they plan for life after the pandemic. It is an honor for The Arc to be named to this council and it will help to ensure the voice of those we represent is considered as the state makes critically-important decisions regarding New Jersey and its future.

Also during the month of May, The Arc of New Jersey continued to advocate with the Department of Human Services on issues impacting both individuals with I/DD and the community provider
It's Time to Be Counted!
Responding to the  #2020Census  is easy—you can even do it on your mobile phone. When you participate, you become part of a count that influences future funding for special education, health care, housing, transportation, and other important community services.
Census Resources
2020 Census: A Guide for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Family - Click to Download
EdgeUcation
Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets

The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) is honored to serve as the host for this collection of tip sheets on planning for and participating in virtual meetings, including those related to a student’s IEP ( Individualized Education Program ). The tip sheets include:
  • a sample agenda for a virtual IEP meeting, in English and Spanish,
  • technology tips for all participants,
  • suggestions for hosting a virtual meeting,
  • tips for those participating in a virtual meeting, and
  • an infographic about virtual IEP meetings, in English and in Spanish.
Kids Corner
Tracking Your Student’s Special Education Service Delivery Every Week

​​​Advocates for Children's Services (ACS) is a statewide project of Legal Aid of North Carolina that focuses on serving children in the public education system. It has created a useful tool to help parents track their student's special education services during this time of remote learning.
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!
Mission to Transition

New Jersey Partners in Policymaking 
Now Accepting Applications
New Jersey Partners in Policymaking is a free leadership development and advocacy education program for adults with developmental disabilities (over age 21) and family members of young children and transition age youth available through collaboration between The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, and Disability Rights New Jersey. The goal of this program is to prepare the next generation of disability advocates to work toward meaningful change in our state. 
Navigating the System

Updated Hospital Visitation Policy
The New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) has issued an updated hospital visitation policy for people with disabilities. This policy is effective beginning May 12, 2020. The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute recommends you print the updated policy and bring it with you in the event your loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability needs to go to the hospital.

“DOH now considers a designated support person essential to patient care for people with disabilities. As a result, hospitals must allow a designated support person to be with the individual during hospitalization.”
☝ Click the picture above to register for our free upcoming webinars! ☝
New Jersey to Launch Online Grocery Shopping for SNAP Recipients
New Jerseyans enrolled in the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be able to use their benefits to order groceries online starting the end of May. Online shopping will be available through Amazon and participating Walmarts, ShopRites and The Fresh Grocers.

NJ SNAP recipients will be able to use their benefits card to order groceries from Amazon starting on May 27. Walmarts, ShopRites and The Fresh Grocers that provide online shopping will also accept online ordering with SNAP benefits starting on May 28.

Road to Employment
Click above to view.
The Situational Tool for Exploring Possibilities (STEP) is part of a person centered, individual-focused planning process to support job seekers in an effective job search. The purpose of a situational assessment is to discover a job seeker’s skills, preferences and support needs when that person requires additional work experiences to help determine his/her career goal. Use of this situational assessment tool will provide the job seeker’s support team with important information to guide job development, facilitate a successful job match, and increase the likelihood of job satisfaction over time.
The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute | 732.828.2022 | thefamilyinstitute@arcnj.org