NJDDD Communications Updates

• The deadline to register to vote in the November General Election is Tuesday, October 13. Visit the 2020 New Jersey Vote Information Portal for information about how to register, to register online, or to find out whether you are already registered.
• The Census deadline is extended through October 31. If you haven’t already, please visit NJ Census 2020 to complete your census.
• The NJ Department of Human Services has numerous COVID-related resources available to assist residents and their families:
• Visit COVID-19 Consumer and Family Resources if you or a loved are struggling with emotional, mental health or substance use issues.
• Visit COVID-19 Child Care to learn about and apply for the School-Age Tuition Assistance Program.
• Visit the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program to learn about and apply for housing assistance.
• Visit NJ Helps to find out whether you are eligible for food assistance, cash assistance, or health insurance.

 Finally, the Division’s next bi-weekly COVID-19 Update webinar is Thursday, October 15, from 10:30 – 11:30 am. If you did not already register, you can register here for the October COVID-19 Update Webinars. (Registering once will register you for all webinars in October.)

Information Alert from The Arc of NJ

It has come to our attention that there is a new concern for individuals with I/DD who have had SSI, were employed, and were laid off during the coronavirus pandemic.  These individuals received $600/week due to the CARES Act, in addition to other unemployment income. Many of these individuals were receiving more than $3,200/month, and this high amount of unearned income for SSI beneficiaries has led to this problem. If this information applies to an individual with I/DD, this is what you need to know: Read More Here

New Jersey's Personal Preference Program (PPP) is helpful for individuals with I/DD

The Personal Preference Program (PPP) is an alternative to having a home health agency employee coming into the home. With the PPP, the individual or family chooses the person who will provide the ADL assistance, and that person could be the individual's mother or father, sibling, other relative or a friend. For the details about NJ's Personal Preference Program -- including the specific enrollment and operational procedures to be followed -- please see the helpful, 9-page, PPP Fact Sheet developed by the New Jersey Department of Human Services and the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS). 

Read more here.

The Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities is pleased to release updated Residential Visitation Guidance that now permits indoor visitation, when certain conditions are met, with family and friends of individuals who reside in provider managed settings such as group homes. The Division’s Residential Screening Policy has also been updated to reflect this adjustment. 

Visitation will require an attestation from the residential provider, guardian consent, and each visitor to sign a visitor agreement ahead of their visit. These forms can be found below and are also available here: NJ Department of Human Services COVID-19 Information.

• Provider Attestation for Visitation
• Guardian Consent for Visitation
• Visitor Agreement

 Further adjustments to policy will be made as more is learned about the virus. Please distribute this important information to your networks.

We are excited to announce the opening of our application process for Independence Way in Florham Park, New Jersey.

Independence Way will be home to 102 adults with developmental disabilities. Living options include 26 one-bedroom apartments and 36 two-bedroom apartments. All applicants must meet affordability requirements.

Questions? Contact us at housing@bergenunitedway.org or 201-291-0619.