| | | | NJCDD's Eye on Advocacy weekly e-newsletter published every Tuesday focused on important news and events for the intellectual and or developmental disabilities community. You are welcome to submit news items and feedback to njcdd@njcdd.org. | |
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| | | | | The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) announces a funding opportunity of up to $225,000 (excluding required match) over 18 months for a qualified entity to develop project(s) designed to improve the capability of New Jersey’s behavioral health care system to meet and respond to the mental health and dual diagnosis needs of individuals with I/DD and their families, including those in urban and rural areas of the state. Projects that will provide information, and develop and deliver training, for healthcare/community organizations to provide wraparound patient support and/or navigator support for children and adults with I/DD and behavioral concerns. Applicants must be established to do business in New Jersey. | |
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| | Question & Answer Period NJCDD will hold an Applicant Question Period from December 11–27, 2023. All questions must be submitted in writing to grants@njcdd.org by 5 P.M. on December 27, 2023. Answers to questions will be posted to the NJCDD’s website at www.njcdd.org/applying-for-a-grant/ by January 8, 2024. |
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| | | | | The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) announces a funding opportunity of up to $185,000 (excluding required match) over 18 months for a qualified entity to develop project(s) designed to provide education, training, technical assistance, and advocacy support to parents of Black and Hispanic Projects using best practices designed to eliminate the inappropriate use of seclusion, restraint, suspension, and expulsion for Black and Hispanic students with disabilities, in targeted areas (schools and districts with high rates of seclusion, restraint, suspension, expulsion, and/or high rates of referral to law enforcement). NJCDD is seeking applicants to propose education, training, technical assistance, and advocacy support to help parents, guardians, and caregivers of Black and Hispanic students with disabilities engage in advocacy work at the local level to eliminate the inappropriate use of seclusion, restraint, suspension, and expulsion in school. The desired outcome of this funding initiative will lead to a reduction in the use of these procedures and an increase in parent, caregiver, and guardian engagement in local advocacy. Applicants must be established to do business in New Jersey. | |
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| | Question & Answer Period NJCDD will hold an Applicant Question Period from December 11–27, 2023. All questions must be submitted in writing to grants@njcdd.org by 5 P.M. on December 27, 2023. Answers to questions will be posted to the NJCDD’s website at www.njcdd.org/applying-for-a-grant/ by January 8, 2024. |
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| | | | | | Tell Us About Your Experience with Transportation Safety on School BusesNJCDD and Regional Family Support Planning Councils co-hosted the School Bus Transportation Safety Listening Session to obtain family testimonies. We continue collecting family voices through our online survey. | |
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| | | | | For 2024, the Children's System of Care (CSOC) will be providing Summer Camp Services to 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. Out of an abundance of caution, PerformCare recommends that applications for CSOC Summer Camp Services be submitted online through the Family Portal.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and CSOC are offering Alternative Recreational Sessions (ARS) as an additional component of Summer Camp. ARS provides youth an opportunity to engage in a recreational activity with peers within the community, on a per session basis, rather than a full day of camp. This shorter time frame will increase camp access for youth who may benefit from a brief structured period compared to a longer traditional camp day. | |
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| | | | | 3rd Annual Youth Bias Task Force Student Competition | |
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| | New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights is launching the third annual student competition Youth Bias Task Force Student Art Competition with this year's focus being "Combating Bias Through Art". Young people throughout New Jersey are encouraged to create and submit artwork and videos that will raise awareness around the need to counter the recent rise in bias incidents and inspire others across the state to stand up to hate in their communities.
NJ residents ages 25 years and younger are encouraged to submit original art work or a 30-90 second video encouraging others to stand up to hate and prejudice within their communities. The deadline to submit is January 31, 2024. | |
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| | | | | Starting on September 25, every U.S. household had an opportunity to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests through a partnership between the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the United States Postal Service.
On November 20, a second round of ordering opened, allowing each household to place a second order to receive four more free tests. Households that have not yet placed an order can place two orders now, to receive a total of eight tests.
To order your free tests, go to COVID.gov and complete the form with your contact and shipping information.
People who are blind or have low vision can place a second order for free Ellume COVID Home Tests, which are more accessible than other options. For more information, including ordering instructions, please visit ACL's website. | |
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| | | | | | 2024 Public Meetings NJCDD members meet quarterly to discuss state and national issues impacting people with developmental disabilities and their families. During these public meetings, members hear from projects funded by NJCDD. They also discuss best practices and policies needed to be an active and effective organization. | |
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| | Date: March 14, 2024 Time: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Location: Hilton Garden Inn Hamilton 800 US-130, Hamilton Township, NJ 08690 Register Here
Date: May 09, 2024 Time: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Location: Hilton Garden Inn Hamilton 800 US-130, Hamilton Township, NJ 08690 Register Here
Date: August 15, 2024 Time: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Location: Hilton Garden Inn Hamilton 800 US-130, Hamilton Township, NJ 08690 Register Here
Date: November 14, 2024 Time: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Location: Hilton Garden Inn Hamilton 800 US-130, Hamilton Township, NJ 08690 Register Here | |
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| | | | | SPAN Resource Parent Virtual Training (SRP)Winter 2024 Self-Advocates, Parents, Caregivers and Professionals are welcome to participate. The training is free if participants agree to volunteer for 30 hours upon completion. There is a $350 fee for those who do not wish to volunteer. The course includes eight weekly sessions from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. starting January 10, 2024 · 6:30pm.
Participants learn about: - Laws and regulations
- Special education processes
- Strategies for working effectively with the school team
- Dynamics of systems that serve children with disabilities and special health care needs
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| | | | | How will Work Affect my Social Security Disability Benefits Wednesday, December 20th 3:00 pm – 4:30pm ET Call to Register Here 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY)
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| | Want to try work but unsure how it will affect your Social Security disability benefits? Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program service providers can help! Join this month’s Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinar to find answers to questions like: - What is Social Security’s Ticket Program?
- Will I lose my disability benefits if I start working?
- Will I lose my Medicare or Medicaid if
I start working? - Who can help me on my path to employment? Jen Shukaitis, MPH
Ticket to Work ASL Guide can help individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing access our monthly WISE webinars using Video Relay Service. | |
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| | | | | The Youth Ambassador training program helps youth become leaders around supported decision-making and other alternatives to guardianship in their states. Please join us to hear from
South Carolina, New Jersey, and Oregon youth about the great work
they have been doing to create change
in their states.
For more information, email: Allison.Hall@umb.edu
Join us on Jan 17, 2024, at 6pm EST (South Carolina, New Jersey, and Oregon) | |
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| | | | Overview of the TBI Fund Thursday, January 18th, 2024 The Brain Injury Alliance of NJ offers a free webinar called Overview of the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund. The webinar will take place on January 18th at 12:00 PM and will be presented by Susannah Combs.
The Traumatic Brain Injury Fund is an important resource for TBI survivors in New Jersey. In this webinar, we will discuss: - Eligibility
- What services are covered by the fund
- How the fund works
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| | Suicide and TBI Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 The Brain Injury Alliance of NJ offers a free webinar called Untangling the Complex Relationship Between Suicide and Traumatic Brain Injury. The webinar will take place on February 13th at 12:00 PM and will be presented by Matthew Peters, MD. Research shows that there is a relationship between suicide and traumatic brain injury, but what exactly is the relationship and how do we understand it? In this webinar, we will: - Identify the relationship between history of TBI and future risk of suicide attempt.
- Examine TBI rates and presentation in suicide attempt survivors.
- Consider future directions on this topic.
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| | | | | | AT Announcement- Application Reopening The Children’s System of Care (CSOC) is pleased to announce the reopening of the Assistive Technology program for youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities up to age 21. Effective 12/15/2023, CSOC will resume accepting new Family Support Services (FSS) applications for Assistive Technology requests. Interested families may call Perform Care (1-877-652-7624) to request Assistive Technology services and complete the FSS application over the phone. For more information about CSOC’s Family Support Services programs including Assistive Technology, please visit: https://www.performcarenj.org/pdf | |
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| | | | | New Website Helps Youth with IDD Take the Lead In Healthcare Transition | |
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| | According to the National Survey of Children's Health (data from 2020/2021), 7% of youth aged 12-17 have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Eventually, they will need to transition from pediatric to adult health care services, but only 14% of youth with IDD received health care transition preparation and guidance from their doctor. Teens and young adults with IDD can make this transition smooth with support from their health care providers, families, and other supporters. The Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities, a national center funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), has launched a new site to help young people and their families take the lead in health care transitions. The accessible site was developed for and by youth with IDD. It has tools and resources for youth and their families, as well as resources for health care professionals who are supporting these families through health care transition. | |
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| | | | | Marisol Ramos helps daughter Naomi while standing near front door of house Marisol Ramos, left, wipes excess makeup off her daughter Naomi's cheek as the family gets ready to go on a shopping trip in 2017. Naomi has intellectual disability and spent years on a waiting list before finally receiving government-funded services. (Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
Waiting Lists For IDD Services Continue To Swell Disability Scoop by Shaun Heasley | December 12, 2023 Hundreds of thousands of people with developmental disabilities remain on waiting lists for services across the country and their numbers are growing.
A new analysis finds that nearly 700,000 people in 38 states are on waiting or interest lists for home and community-based services. That total is up 6% since 2021. |
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| | The findings come from a survey of Medicaid programs by KFF, formerly known as Kaiser Family Foundation, which conducts health policy research.
Almost three-quarters of those waiting for home and community-based services are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, data shows, while seniors and adults with physical disabilities account for the rest.
Currently, people are waiting an average of three years for waivers, but most do have access to other services through Medicaid state plans while they wait, KFF found.
One factor driving changes in the number of people reported to be waiting for services, KFF noted, is that states are increasingly using alternate terms such as “interest lists.” When the organization modified its survey to account for new terminology, it found that there are actually more people on interest lists this year than waiting lists.
In addition, more states are moving to screen individuals for Medicaid eligibility before adding them to waiting lists, which has limited volumes. Going forward, KFF warns that ongoing shortages of direct support professionals could exacerbate waiting and interest lists.
Almost three-quarters of those waiting for home and community-based services are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, data shows, while seniors and adults with physical disabilities account for the rest.
The findings come from a survey of Medicaid programs by KFF, formerly known as Kaiser Family Foundation, which conducts health policy research. |
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| | | | | The NJCDD is proud to support NJ DB101, a free, user-friendly, all-in-one place, resource guide for employment and benefit questions/information. Find out how working impacts benefits like SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and more! Resources are in plain language and available in both English and Spanish. | |
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| | | Transportation Resources for Individuals Living with Disabilities NJCDD Resource Page has been updated and we are proud to present the New Jersey Transportation Resources for Individuals Living with Disabilities Infographic, available in English and Spanish. | |
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| | | | | | The purpose of this expanded version of the Toolkit is to empower individuals with disabilities and their family and professional caregivers by providing information to more effectively advocate for persons with complex severe behavioral health conditions (which we formerly referred to as “dual diagnosis”) for treatments, supports, services and the conditions that promote mental wellness. |
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El propósito de esta versión ampliada del kit de herramientas es facilitarles a las personas que tienen discapacidades y a sus cuidadores familiares y profesionales herramientas que los empoderen, al proveer información que permita abogar de una forma más efectiva por las personas que tienen condiciones graves y complejas de salud conductual (a las que antes se denominaban con “diagnóstico dual”) para conseguir los tratamientos, apoyos, servicios y las condiciones que fomentan el bienestar mental. |
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NJCDD Disclaimer: New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities does not endorse or recommend any programs, providers, or organizations. This is for information-sharing purposes only. |
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