National Core Indicators® (NCI) is a collaborative national effort to measure and improve outcomes of participants in public human service systems.

DDD mailed 22,000 NCI Family Survey invitation letters via USPS to the primary caregivers/family members and guardians of individuals receiving at least one DDD service in addition to Support Coordination. Each invitation includes a survey link and unique access code. Participation in the NCI Family Survey is anonymous and voluntary. You do not need to complete the survey if you do not want to, but it is strongly encouraged. The information collected will help us better understand caregiver/family experiences with the IDD service system and improve the quality of services for everyone.

The online NCI Family Survey closes on August 31, 2023. (If submitting a request for a hard-copy survey, please do so by August 18, 2023.)

If you have questions about the survey or wish to request an online invitation or hard-copy survey in English or other languages, please contact DDD.NCI@dhs.nj.gov.

Just a reminder about these programs for eligible staff (and whoever else.).  

https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/lihwap.shtml  Low Income Household Water Assistance Program

https://affordableconnectivity.gov/  Low Income Households – broadband and internet connected devices

https://dcaid.dca.nj.gov/en-US/  LIHEAP – Utility Assistance

The New Jersey Age-Friendly Advisory Council and the Department of Human Services have been tasked by Governor Murphy to promote inclusive communities for people of all ages. The Council is holding two virtual listening sessions to hear from older residents and those who care for them about what the state can do. 

The two sessions will be held via Zoom: Tuesday, March 14th, at 10am

Tuesday, March 21st, at 5pm.    Register Here

A conference for professionals highlighting best practices

in supporting people with disabilities in career planning,

supported and customized employment, and transition from school to work

Save the Date !

Friday, October 13, 2023 

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick, NJ

Co-sponsored by The Boggs Center and NJAPSE

Ethan & the Bean is growing. We are slated to serve the Morristown community in Valley National Bank's New Jersey headquarters! 

Ethan & the Bean is a beloved local cafe and online shop. We sell exceptional coffee, delectable treats, cool merch, and other fine goods to support our vital mission of increasing the employment rate for persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 

​

Click Here to learn more or apply for a position.

We had been anticipating an announcement from the federal government about the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).  Late in 2022, we began to hear that Congress might separate the Medicaid continuous enrollment requirement from the ongoing PHE – and they in fact did so in late December, in the omnibus spending bill signed into law by President Biden on December 29, 2022.  As a result, while the PHE continues, states are now required to resume Medicaid eligibility processes beginning April 1, 2023. 

We are anticipating guidance from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in early January, and we will be prepared to share an update with you at our February 1 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Council.  We will also be updating our StayCoveredNJ website, removing references to the end of the PHE and clearly stating the April 1 date for when eligibility processes will resume.  Please visit our Community Toolkit page for posters in English, Spanish, and 19 other languages.

In the meantime, here are the two most important things for our NJ FamilyCare members to know:

• Make sure NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid has your correct mailing address

  • Members can confirm or update their contact information by calling NJ FamilyCare at 1-800-701-0710 (TTY: 711). NJ FamilyCare will use this information to communicate with members about their healthcare coverage.

• Respond to mail from NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid

  • Members need to look for and respond to mail from the State of New Jersey or their local County Board of Social Services. If NJ FamilyCare requests information, they need to respond right away to avoid a gap in their NJ FamilyCare coverage.

Regardless of relationship to the individual receiving services, the employee hired by the provider agency as a DSP would be able to provide the service.  Any service would continue to require applicable service documentation. 

As you mention extended periods of time, should an individual plan to be out of NJ for an extended period of time, the individual/family would need to write a letter to Medicaid requesting to keep their Medicaid intact while they are out of state. The letter needs to indicate the date they are leaving, expected length of time they will be out of state, and expected return date. Otherwise, their Medicaid may be terminated – in which case no services will be funded.

If the individual/family requests and is granted approval from Medicaid to keep their Medicaid intact while they are out of state, then specific services can continue in the out-of-state setting for the period of time approved by Medicaid.  Out-of-state providers would be unable to provide a service, regardless of the provider’s status as a Medicaid provider.

Medicaid contacts to send the letter are as follows:

•     For individual enrolled in CCP: Brian Brennan:  Brian.Brennan@dhs.nj.gov

•     For individual enrolled in SP: Dena Charbonneau:   Dena.Charbonneau@dhs.nj.gov  

1-800-792-8858

Need help paying your rent?  We can help.

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As of 4/5/21 the toll free number will no longer be in service. Please use the following number: 973-491-4224.

1-609-984-7764

1-800-922-7233