“Name of Grant Program: Career Pathways Initiative
Fiscal Year of Grant Program: 2017
Start Date and End Date of Grant Program: September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Purpose for Which Funds will be Used:
The purpose of the grant is to establish model demonstrations to expand or improve programs serving persons with the most significant disabilities who are currently in extended employment. Funding for this competitive grant is under the auspices of the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS), which will serve as administrator and fiscal agent for the funds awarded. In particular, the DVRS is interested in proposals that develop, implement, and build upon career pathway initiatives that will lead to community based competitive integrated employment opportunities within the seven Talent Networks. The term “career pathway programs” means a clear sequence of education coursework and training credentials and should lead to the attainment of an industry-recognized degree or credential, which may include stackable credentials of value in the labor market and that articulate progressively to higher-level credentials or degrees.
Entities that Can Apply for Funding Under This NGO:
Eligible applicants for this 12-month, competitively awarded grant must be agencies that provide Extended Employment Programs authorized and approved by the LWD. The organization must currently be using a center-based employment model and be interested in transitioning participants into competitive integrated employment.”
“Name of Grant Program: Pre-Employment Transition Services
Fiscal Year of Grant Program: 2017
Start Date and End Date of Grant Program: January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018
Purpose for Which Funds will be Used:
Entities that Can Apply for Funding Under This NGO:
Eligible applicants for this 12-month, competitively-awarded grant must be organizations with the capacity to serve people with disabilities. Applicants can be private or public non-profit or for profit organizations including faith-based organizations (FBO), such as non-profit organizations with a religious or faith-based association, community-based organizations (CBO), such as non-profit local, neighborhood or grass-roots entities, or Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRP), such as for profit or non-profit programs providing employment-related services to people with disabilities. Such organizations are generally familiar with community needs, appropriate service delivery and are often viewed by clients as comfortable venues for access to services.”
“The Office of Special Education has a responsibility under federal statute and regulations to operate a system of general supervision that monitors the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) by local education agencies (LEAs). The system is accountable for enforcing the requirements and for ensuring continuous improvement. The office supports the mission of the Department by providing leadership in establishing standards which promote improved outcomes for students with disabilities, as well as by ensuring consistency in the procedures that public agencies implement for meeting compliance with state and federal regulations.
The office provides professional development, technical assistance, coaching, and resources to educators, parents and other stakeholders across the state to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, ages three through 21. The office oversees four Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) strategically placed across the state to provide families of students with disabilities and educational professionals with information, materials, technical assistance, consultation regarding policies, laws and regulations and best practices in special education. The office is engaged in partnerships with state universities and organizations offering school-based professional learning opportunities with a focus on those practices that promote self-advocacy, preparation for postsecondary education and competitive employment, and inclusion of students with disabilities in all school and community environments.”
New Jersey DHS DDD Transition from School to Adult Life
“Division services are available to people 21 or older who meet all other eligibility requirements.
Students receiving services through school are able to continue doing so through age 21. If you choose to graduate or leave school between the ages of 18 and 21, it is important to discuss service options with your Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team and your school’s transition coordinator.”
This page has resources for transition services available in New Jersey.
New Jersey FAQs: Moving DDD’s Community Care Waiver (CCW) to New Jersey’s Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver
“Effective November 1, 2017, DDD’s 1915(c) Community Care Waiver (CCW) will be incorporated into New Jersey’s larger and more wide-ranging 1115(a) demonstration waiver, known as the Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver.
This is an internal, administrative change. It has no effect on an individual’s DDD-funded services and there is nothing that an individual or his parent/guardian needs to do.”
Opportunity Partnership Training Grant (OPG) program
“Name of Grant Program: Opportunity Partnership…
The purpose of the Opportunity Partnership Training Grant (OPG) program is to assist displaced/dislocated workers secure employment by providing occupational training in industry-valued credential areas that employers have identified as a requirement of the job. The Opportunity Partnership Grants is designed to provide industry needed occupational training to a statewide audience of displaced/dislocated workers, to support the development of high-quality employer-driven partnerships, to build on career pathways in the state's key industries, and to increase the number of adults who have obtained an industry-valued credential.”
New Integrated Health Advisory Panel Holds First Meeting
“TRENTON – The advisory panel appointed to help guide the creation of an integrated primary and behavioral healthcare system in New Jersey held its first official meeting today.
Created last month by the Department of Health (DOH) as part of Governor Chris Christie’s reorganization plan which moved the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services into the DOH, this panel of experts will hold quarterly meetings to discuss the issues affecting the blending of separate systems of care in order to create one system that treats the whole person…
The 18-member Integrated Health Advisory Panel includes the DOH Commissioner or designee as Vice-Chairperson, and brings expertise in clinical services, medical care, policy, legal issues, and technology. It will assist in creating a patient-centered system of care that includes prevention, wellness, treatment, and sustained recovery through coordinated care. It also will advise on issues impacting integrated care including research, data-driven and evidence-based practices; statutory and regulatory barriers; education of community providers; and expansion of and increased access to patient-centered delivery and information integration.”
New Jersey Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance
“Temporary Disability Insurance provides cash benefits to New Jersey workers who have to stop working due to a physical or mental health condition or other disability unrelated to their work. The healthcare provider certifies how long you need to recover from your medical condition, up to a maximum of 26 weeks. Most employers in New Jersey are required to have Temporary Disability Insurance for their employees.
Employers may choose an insurance plan offered by the state or by a private insurance company. Ask your employer which coverage you have. If you are covered by the state plan, apply for Temporary Disability Insurance benefits online via our secure system. If you are covered by a private insurance company, your employer will tell you how to file a claim. Click here for more information about private plan Temporary Disability Insurance.”
New Jersey AB 1827: Concerns Earned Sick Leave (2018)
“Each employer shall provide earned sick leave to each employee working for the employer in the State. For every 30 hours worked, the employee shall accrue one hour of earned sick leave. The employer shall not be required to permit the employee to accrue at any one time, or carry forward from one benefit year to the next, more than 40 hours of earned sick leave if the employer is a small employer, or more than 72 hours of earned sick leave if the employer is not a small employer. Unless the employee has accrued earned sick leave prior to the effective date of this act, the earned sick leave shall begin to accrue on the effective date of this act for any employee hired before the effective date of this act and the employee shall be eligible to use the earned sick leave beginning on the 90th day after the hiring of the employee, and if hired after the effective date of this act, the earned sick leave shall begin to accrue upon the date of hire and the employee shall be eligible to use the earned sick leave beginning on the 90th day after the hiring of the employee, unless the employer agrees to an earlier date. The employee may use earned sick leave as it is accrued.”
New Jersey SB 104: Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act (2018)
“It shall be an unlawful employment practice, or, as the case may be, an unlawful discrimination:
a. For an employer, because of the race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or breastfeeding, sex, gender identity or expression, disability or atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait of any individual, or because of the liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States or the nationality of any individual, or because of the refusal to submit to a genetic test or make available the results of a genetic test to an employer, to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge or require to retire, unless justified by lawful considerations other than age, from employment such individual or to discriminate against such individual in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment;”
