New Jersey Launches New Supports Program

The New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) launched its new Supports Program this July with Implementation to continue over the next 12-18 months.  

The Supports Program will include more than 25,000 adults, ages 21 and older, living with their families or in their own homes.  As indicated in the Support Program fact sheet “The program has been designed to help New Jersey DDD better support adults with developmental disabilities, significantly reduce the number of individuals waiting for supports and services, and enhance the State’s ability to receive a federal “match” for services currently expensed using state-only funding.”    

Once implemented, employment and day services, as well as all family support services will be funded through the Supports Program.  With the exception of anyone enrolled in the Community Care Waiver (CCW), all adult individuals who are eligible for both DD and Medicaid services will be able to access the Supports Program.

Some highlights of the Supports Program include: 

• The development of an Individual Support Budget within a three tiered approach,
• The provision of employment and day services, that includes a separate budget; and,
• The following services:  Assistive Technology, Behavioral Management, Career Planning, Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy, Community-Based Supports, Community Inclusion Services, Day Habilitation, Environmental Modifications, Fiscal Management Services, Goods & Services, Interpreter Services, Natural Supports Training, Occupational/Physical/Speech Therapies, Personal Emergency Response System, Prevocational Services, Respite, Support Coordination, Supported Employment – Individual, Supported Employment – Small Group, Supports Brokerage, Transportation, and Vehicle Modifications.

 FMI:  To learn more about the Supports Program go to http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/programs/supports_program.html.