|
In this Week's Edition
News
SHA Member Meeting
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 | Trenton, NJ
---------
DMHAS RFP
Substance Use Disorder Peer Recovery
Specialists for Residential Treatment
---------
NOFA on Comprehensive
Opioid Recovery Centers
---------
NAEH New Framework Materials Available:
Reimagining Interim Housing
---------
NJ Housing Market Seeing Rise of Teardowns
---------
New Report: Progress and
Challenges For NJ Nonprofits
---------
Resources from The Boggs Center
Deciding to Self-Direct:
Making Choices, Becoming Empowered
---------
Newark Progresses on
Plans for Helping Homeowners
---------
NJCDD Helps with
Redefining Supportive Housing
in New Edition of People and Families
---------
The New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Seeking Input on Issues Affecting the Public
---------
DDD Updates
Residential, Day Program, and Support Coordinator COVID-19 Policy
DHS OPIA Bulletin
Resume Employee On-Boarding
Notice of Readoption Announced
Resources & Virtual Forums
NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid & Individuals with IDD
Preparing For The Start
Of Medicaid Redeterminations
March 25, 2023
---------
KSR Development Workshop For CSS Staff
March 27, 2023
---------
HUD’s Office Of Policy Development
And Research (PD&R) Hosts
Meeting On Housing First
April 6, 2023
---------
NEW DATE! Webinar: Housing Supports
For Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness
April 19, 2023
---------
Older Adult Mental Health
Awareness Day Symposium
May 11, 2023
| |
|
--------------------------------------
Next SHA
Members Meeting
April 5, 2023
In-Person, Trenton
-------------------------------------
Next SHA
Developers Meeting
May 8, 2023
-------------------------------------
Registration Open
HCDNNJ Summit
Healthy Homes & Communities Summit
April 28
-------------------------------------
Registration is now open for the 2023 Law & Disability Conference!
May 4th from 9am-1pm Annual FREE Law & Disability Conference hosted by the New Jersey Bar Foundation.
-------------------------------------
Join HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase! The Showcase is a three-day HUD event on June 9-11, 2023, on the National Mall between 4th St and 7th St. The event will be open to the public and free of charge.
-------------------------------------
Save the Date!
SHA's 25th Annual Conference
November 3, 2023
-------------------------------------
| |
Cliffside Park
Apply by April 21st
Applicants must be 62+
or 55 and disabled.
| |
In-Person Member Meeting Agenda | |
|
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 | Trenton, NJ
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Breakfast Bites & Networking
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Meeting
Note: The SHA Policy Advocacy Committee
will meet following the Membership Meeting.
-------------------------------------------
Our Speakers:
| | |
|
|
Steve Schoch
SHA Board of Directors
| | |
|
|
Assistant Division Director
DMHAS
| |
|
Sawyer Morgan
NJ Board of Public Utilities
| |
|
Yvette Viasus
Solar Landscape
| |
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has launched the New Jersey Community Solar Project Finder. This online tool allows New Jersey residents to search by zip code for community solar projects serving their community. NJBPU is partnering with Sustainable Jersey on this initiative and they will host the Community Solar Project Finder on their website. The New Jersey’s Community Solar Program allows those who rent, lack control of their roof, live in an apartment or multi-family building, or cannot afford the cost of a solar installation to benefit from the cost savings and reduced carbon footprint of solar power. To date there are 24 community solar projects that have come online and are in operation. Join us for this presentation that will include a demonstration of the New Jersey Community Solar Project Finder and an overview of community solar resources and some highlights from SHA Solar member organizations. | | |
|
|
Karen Fluharty
Parents with a Plan
| |
Since 2019, Parents with a Plan has been committed to expanding the quality and options for supportive environments for neurodiverse adults. Founded by two parents of children with special needs they went about the challenge systemically by building strong best in class partnerships and doing the research. In October 2022, they released, “Market Analysis for Neuro-Inclusive Apartment Building” a first of its’ kind private market study that captures the need and preferences for a New Jersey property located in Red Bank. Karen Fluharty, Founder, will discuss the research which led to the development plans currently under way. | | |
|
Homeless Diversion
Pilot Program
| |
|
Kate Leahy, SHA
Garden State Homes
Jewish Family Services of
Atlantic and Cape May
| |
|
In 2021, DCA provided grant funding to pilot the first Homeless Assistance Diversion Program. The program provides flexible financial assistance to families and individuals at imminent risk of homelessness who may not be eligible for other assistance programs or when time is critical. Funds are used to quickly retain or obtain a safe stable living situation. The program renewed in 2022 and is currently operating in 8 counties and helping people with first months rent, security deposits, moving costs and more.
Presenters: Kate Leahy, SHA, Garden State Homes and Jewish Family Services of Atlantic and Cape May will share the program guidelines, lessons learned and successes.
| |
Members can RSVP to Joseph Christensen for complete details on the meeting location and parking. | |
|
SHA Welcomes New & Returning
Members In 2023
| |
|
DMHAS RFP
Substance Use Disorder Peer Recovery
Specialists for Residential Treatment
| |
 | |
Title: Substance Use Disorder Peer Recovery Specialists for Residential Treatment
This Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued by the New Jersey Department Human Services (DHS), Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) for substance use disorder (SUD) residential treatment agencies contracted by DMHAS to hire Peer Recovery Specialists to provide non-clinical assistance and recovery supports services to individuals in SUD residential treatment. Total annualized funding is $5M subject to federal appropriations. This RFP is funded by the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant COVID-19 Supplement and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The DMHAS is making approximately 65 awards, depending upon demand, of up to $75,000 annually to support the hiring of a Peer Recovery Specialist to work in residential services. Funding is available for two years. This includes inpatient withdrawal management, short-term and long-term residential, and halfway house. Agencies can request one peer for each different level of care they provide at a given site.
No Mandatory Bidders Conference.
Questions on RFP Due Date – no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on March 29, 2023
Intent to Apply / DHS SFTP Login Credentials Due Date
no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on April 27, 2023
Proposal Due Date – no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on May 4, 2023
Notify Date – June 8, 2023
| |
NOFA on Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers | |
|
The Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers (CORC) is a grant program to establish or implement comprehensive treatment and recovery centers which provide a full spectrum of treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services to address the opioid epidemic and ensure access to all three FDA approved medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
NOFO Number: TI-23-020
Application Due Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 93.788
Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372): Applicants must comply with E.O. 12372 if their state(s) participates. Review process recommendations from the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.
Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS) / Single State Agency Coordination: Applicants must send the PHSIS to appropriate State and local health agencies by application deadline. Comments from Single State Agency are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.
Description
The purpose of the program is to establish or implement comprehensive treatment and recovery centers which provide a full spectrum of treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services to address the opioid epidemic and ensure access to all three FDA approved medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
Eligibility
Eligibility is statutorily limited to public and private nonprofit entities which provide treatment and other services for individuals with substance use disorders.
Award Information
Funding Mechanism: Grant
Anticipated Total Available Funding: Up to $1,430,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to 2 awards
Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $850,000 per year per award
Length of Project: Up to four years
Cost Sharing/Match Required?: No
Proposed budgets cannot exceed $850,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) in any year of the proposed project. Annual continuation awards will depend on the availability of funds, grantee progress in meeting project goals and objectives, timely submission of required data and reports, and compliance with all terms and conditions of award.)
Click here for the full NOFA information and to apply.
| |
|
NAEH New Framework Materials Available:
Reimagining Interim Housing
| |
|
The following resources have been provided by the National Alliance to End Homelessness:
The guidance and recommendations of people with lived expertise of homelessness make it clear that we must create and seize opportunities to transform our approaches to sheltering people experiencing homelessness.
The Framework for an Equitable Homelessness Response team has released new materials on reimagining interim housing to discuss these approaches:
| |
NJ Housing Market Seeing Rise of Teardowns | |
|
The following article was presented by Fortune and details a concerning trend in the state that shows signs of exacerbating the housing affordability crisis. Some of the data trends may highlight the rebalancing housing market from earlier market highs, but the prevalence of knockdowns means increased costs for potential homebuyers and renters with decreasing affordable options. Read more about the affordability crisis in New Jersey here.
Instead of renovating the pink bathroom from the 1980s and hunter green kitchen of the 1990s, people are knocking down homes and starting from scratch, Curtis Counts, a New Jersey-based real estate sales associate with eXp Realty, tells Fortune. Think of it as causal buyer teardowns, a sort of do-it-yourself house flipper, if you will.
But the rise of teardowns isn't just because of old-fashioned bathrooms.
Not only does New Jersey have a lack of inventory, it also has a lack of vacant land. As of February, the number of homes for sale was down 13.7% from the previous year and the number of newly listed homes was down 28.5% over the same time period, according to Redfin, with only three months of supply.
That lack of homes for sale coupled with few places to build leaves New Jersey move-up buyers, among others, with little choice but to knock down and start over. But don’t be fooled, buying a home to knock it down and build a new one in its place is not a simple process and it’s not necessarily a solution for a lack of affordability.
“Desperation is becoming a bigger part of the marketplace right now,” Counts said. “I think a lot of [buyers], they’re kind of forced to do it if the stars don’t align…we’re dealing with some pretty severe housing demand needs and people are just getting creative.”
House flippers have always been around, but the rise of teardowns in New Jersey is happening at a much larger scale, and it’s becoming a more common practice in the market. Look no further than this would-be buyer, who recently tweeted that he’d been trying to upgrade his home in Central New Jersey for the last two years before finally deciding to knock down his “old house and build a new one.”
| |
New Report: Progress and Challenges For NJ Nonprofits | |
|
A persistent gap between rising demand for services and lagging resources continues to pose challenges for the state’s nonprofit organizations, according to a new report by the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits.
New Jersey Nonprofits: Trends and Outlook 2023, the Center’s annual survey of the nonprofit community, shows that nonprofits have experienced improved circumstances compared to the worst of the pandemic, but economic concerns, resource scarcity, the ending of government relief programs and key federal charitable giving incentives, and ongoing racial inequities all affect their ability to address continually escalating community needs. New Jersey’s nonprofits are a major part of the economy, employing nearly 10% of the state’s private workforce.
The survey results were presented at a web briefing, “The State of New Jersey's Nonprofit Community,” on March 16, 2023. Among the major findings:
- Demands for services and rising expenses are still outpacing funding – a longstanding problem with deep ramifications for delivery of programs and services in our communities. Nearly four-fifths (78%) of surveyed nonprofits reported that demand for services rose in 2022, but only 51% said that their funding increased in the same period. Similarly, 84% expect demand for their services will rise in 2023 and 82% are projecting increased expenses, but only half (52%) expect that their funding will increase.
- Nonprofits are still struggling with significant workforce shortages that threaten their ability to meet community needs. More than half (53%) of nonprofits with employees reported that they had staff shortages, with an average vacancy rate of 19%. The biggest obstacles to filling vacancies included difficulty offering competitive compensation due to budget constraints or lack of funding; trouble recruiting credentialed employees for positions that require them; and competition for employment from other sectors.
- Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging as a permanent and intentional priority of all aspects of nonprofit work remains critically important. Nonprofits that primarily served communities of color were more likely to be engaged in front-line services such as human services and health, where rising demand for services and increasing expenses are especially acute.
The Center has conducted this survey annually since 2001. It tracks prior year funding and expenses, outlook for the coming year and actions taken by nonprofits to address trends. The 2023 report is based on responses from 228 New Jersey 501(c)(3) organizations between February 1 through 24.
| |
|
Resources from The Boggs Center
Deciding to Self-Direct:
Making Choices, Becoming Empowered
| |
The Boggs Center is excited to share Deciding to Self-Direct, the latest guide in the Making Choices, Becoming Empowered series for people with developmental disabilities. People receiving support through NJ’s Division of Developmental Disabilities can choose to self-direct some or all of their services. Available in English and Spanish, this guide helps readers to think about their lives and whether self-directed services are right for them. | |
Newark Progresses on Plans for Helping Homeowners | |
|
The quest for quality, affordable housing in Newark gained an important ally with the 2022 launch of the city’s Acquisition Fund. Leveraging a $10 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act, Newark has committed to raising an estimated $100 million to purchase distressed assets, repurpose vacant or abandoned sites as affordable housing, and help homeowners on the brink of mortgage default remain in their homes. Mayor Ras Baraka’s new initiative and his ongoing commitment to revitalize the city’s neglected neighborhoods deserve vigorous applause and deep support. They should serve as a springboard to do more.
The Acquisition Fund is an important step back from a housing crisis steeped in a legacy of racist zoning practices, urban disinvestment, predatory lending, and a vast wealth gap that has left Black and Brown families behind. A recent surge of investments from institutional buyers with deep pockets and shallow interest in the communities where they purchase properties is a fresh assault. In “Who Owns Newark?,” the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity reports that almost half the residential properties sold in the city over the past few years went to corporate buyers. The result of their often opaque and speculative practices in communities of color, says the report, is a “quiet capture of the real estate market by groups of anonymous investors [that] frustrates the city’s goals of greater homeownership, more affordable rental housing as well as the American Dream of communities stabilized by the collective power of stakeholdership.”
| |
|
NJCDD Helps with Redefining Supportive Housing
in New Edition of People and Families
| |
|
The latest edition of People and Families has arrived from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. Each installment includes a range of stories including this latest article titled: "Redefining Supportive Housing" as excerpted below.
Similar to most trends, architecture addresses the needs and desires of the moment. Just look at all the new homes that are being built around New Jersey, as the latest and greatest appeal to demanding buyers who consistently call for the most modern conveniences, innovation and ease.
That same need for quality and comfort is also in the intellectual/developmentally disabled community, where architects are steadily redefining the “group home.” Many are quick to dismiss supportive living as the traditional single-family ranch in a residential neighborhood, with a shared kitchen and living space.
As leaders of the Supportive Housing Association of NJ (SHA) note, there is no longer a cookie-cutter definition of design for group homes accommodating people with I/DD. In fact, the association sponsors an award program each year that honors remarkable design, as architects and builders find new ways to redefine the way in which people of all abilities live.
“People are quick to have an antiquated vision when they think of supportive housing,” said Diane Riley, executive director, SHA, based in South Orange. “But what some architects have done over the last few years has been astounding. Meanwhile, families are creating their own models of supportive housing, rather than waiting for someone else to create it. It has all created a tremendous new and exciting trend for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Continue reading for examples of some recent award-winning projects, showcasing how they are changing the landscape in New Jersey for people with I/DD. Special shout outs to SHA members including Pennreach, Parents with a Plan, and Thriven Design.
| |
The New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Seeking Input on Issues Affecting the Public | |
 | |
The New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) and its State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) are seeking the public’s input about topical issues impacting consumers, vendor communication, and dialogue with employers.
Your voice is extremely important to both the DVRS and the SRC and will help to shape program delivery and policy to ensure that people with disabilities receive rehabilitation services that result in employment.
We are particularly interested in hearing from people with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, educators and others about their lived experience with transition planning and/or services. We want to learn about the issues, concerns, strengths, and suggestions you may have about transition from school to work in our state generally, and as it pertains to DVRS specifically.
Representatives from DVRS and the SRC will be available to provide information on available services, and to hear public comments and testimony.
Registration closes March 28, 2023.
Click here to register.
Written comments may be submitted at registration, and by emailing them by the close of business on April 11, 2023 to: Margaret Gilbride, Chair of the SRC: mtg99@rwjms.rutgers.edu.
Below are some suggested topics this year:
- Service provision to individuals who have high support needs
- Obtaining vocational services following a public health emergency
- Pros and cons of receiving virtual services
- Challenges of finding and keeping jobs during these difficult times
- Coordination and provision of Pre-Employment Transition Services
- (Pre-ETS)
| |
|
Residential, Day Program, and Support Coordinator COVID-19 Policy
The Division is pleased to release an updated policy related to COVID-19 entitled Residential, Day Program, and Support Coordinator COVID-19 Policy. Applicable to Licensed Residential, Certified Day, and Support Coordination Agencies, this policy supersedes previous versions. This includes the March 2022 guidance titled Support Coordination Field Visits. The policy provides additional information and flexibility related to COVID-19. While the policy is released today, the effective date is March 29, 2023 to allow time for implementation. Please review the full policy below (Remember to hit Refresh on your browser so you see the updated version):
· Residential, Day Program, and Support Coordinator COVID-19 Policy
| |
|
DHS OPIA Bulletin - Resume Employee On-Boarding
With an increased availability of fingerprinting appointments, the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) will be returning to normal onboarding requirements of direct support professionals and self-directed employees effective May 15, 2023. OPIA will continue the temporary clearance process until then.
Effective May 15, 2023, new hires must complete onboarding requirements prior to employment and OPIA’s Employment Controls and Compliance Unit (ECCU) will no longer process emergency requests for hire. For employees who have already begun employment based on emergency approval prior to May 15, 2023, employers will have until June 15, 2023, to complete criminal background checks via fingerprinting.
Read the full bulletin here:
OPIA Bulletin-Resume On-Boarding 3.17.2023.pdf (state.nj.us)
| |
Resources & Virtual Forums | |
|
NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid and Individuals with IDD:
Preparing for the Start of Medicaid Redeterminations
| |
|
Join NJCDD on March 25 from 10AM to 12PM for information on Medicaid and different Medicaid categories in New Jersey. You will learn what you need to do now so that the Medicaid redetermination process goes smoothly. We will discuss potential areas of confusion and what to do if you encounter a problem with your loved one’s Medicaid redetermination. Beverly Roberts, Director, Mainstreaming Medical Care at The Arc of New Jersey will be our guest presenter and will answer your questions. We will also be joined by Lee Ginsberg from Community Health Law Project and Michael Brower from Disability Rights New Jersey to discuss the appeal process. This forum is directed at families with individuals who are 18 years old and up.
Click here to register for this meeting.
Multilingual closed captioning is available. If you need it other than English, please indicate in it the registration or contact Kyoko.Coco@njcdd.org
| |
KSR Development Workshop For CSS Staff | |
|
The Rutgers School of Health Professions (SHP) is offering a Knowledge, Skills, and Resources (KSR) Development Workshop to any CSS staff who participates in the development of the IRP. Participants will meet with SHP CSS staff (Crystal, Emilie, and Earle) and other CSS staff to review a KSR for a CSS consumer, allowing the staff to ask for and receive feedback during the workshop.
This 2.5 hour workshop is designed to support CSS staff in the use of the KSR form, allowing those who are unlicensed to contribute as meaningfully as they can to the IRP planning process. The workshop is interactive, and participants must bring a de-identified KSR form they have previously completed with a CSS consumer. We suggest bringing a KSR for a CSS consumer who has an IRP that is due in the next few months.
This will be entirely practice-based, and participants must be willing to bring a de-identified KSR form and provide feedback to others. Participants will work in small groups led by a SHP CSS staff. Each participant will present their previously completed KSR, ask questions, and receive feedback and suggestions from their group. CSS programs should limit registration to 1 to 2 staff.
The CSS KSR Development Workshop will be remote and held live through Zoom on Monday, March 27th, from 1:00 pm until 3:30 pm. Space is limited, so staff should register as soon as possible. Registration information must be for the staff attending the training.
Register for the CSS KSR Development Workshop
| |
HUD’s Office of Policy Development And Research (PD&R) Hosts Meeting On Housing First | |
|
On April 6, 2023, HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) will host a virtual PD&R Quarterly Update on Housing First, a service model that addresses homelessness by quickly getting individuals and households experiencing homelessness into housing without any preconditions or barriers. Opening remarks will be provided by Jeff Olivet from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. After a housing market update from PD&R’s Kevin Kane and a data spotlight segment from PD&R’s Veronica Helms Garrison, the event will feature two panel discussions. The first panel will highlight Housing First activities in Richmond, New Orleans, Houston, and Mississippi, and the second panel will do a deeper dive into the work being done in Seattle, Washington.
We hope you can join PD&R for this discussion on Housing First. We also invite you to participate in the event via social media by following @HUDUSERnews. We’ll be tagging our updates with #PDRUpdate.
Click here to register for this webinar
| |
|
NEW DATE! Webinar: Housing Supports
For Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness
| |
|
April 19, 2023 | 2:00-3:30pm ET
This webinar was originally scheduled for March 22 but will be rescheduled for April 19 to accommodate panelists. We apologize for any inconvenience. Those who have already registered should receive a message from Zoom.
Webinar Description:
People experiencing homelessness disproportionately experience a high burden of chronic illness, substance use disorders, and mental illness, which hasten the onset of conditions associated with aging. Shelter systems struggle to meet the needs of older unhoused adults, and existing housing systems are not designed to support individuals who need assistance with activities of daily living or experience cognitive impairment. Existing community resources for seniors often have age limits that exclude those that could otherwise benefit based on functional need. The lack of adequate shelter, housing, and supportive services results in continued homelessness, and individuals often cycle through services that are not equipped to address their needs. This webinar will present an overview of factors impacting older adults experiencing homelessness and share strategies to support their housing needs.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe unique considerations affecting older adults experiencing homelessness.
- Identify 2-3 promising practices to support older adults experiencing homelessness as they transition into housing.
- Discuss 2-3 strategies to address the needs of older adults experiencing homelessness within the community.
This webinar will be recorded and ASL and live captioning will be provided. Certificates of participation will be provided to those who complete a post-event evaluation, but no CEUs are included in this event.
Click here to register for this webinar
| |
Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium | |
|
The National Council on Aging, in collaboration with the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will host the 6th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium on Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 10:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. ET. This all-day, virtual event is free and will feature several sessions on how to best meet the mental health needs of older adults.
For more information or to register, please visit the event page.
| |
|
There are many great ways of supporting SHA: Join as a member or send donations.
Thank you for your support!
| |
Want all the member benefits with SHA? Visit our website or contact Joseph Christensen to apply or manage your membership.
| |
Members can post jobs to find applicants within the wider supportive housing community. Click on the button to visit our job page.
| |
Advocate ● Educate ● Support
The Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey unites its diverse coalition of members engaging development, resources, and information to sustain supportive housing systems within New Jersey. Since 1998, our statewide mission seeks to enhance lives and accessibility to enable independent living within our communities.
| |
Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey
185 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ 07079
| | | | |
