2026

3/14/26

Your Day, Your Way: Empowering Individuals to Shape Their Own Lives

This session helps parents and family members consider the kind of life their loved one wants and what matters most to them, including how to create a personal vision and identify the supports and services that can help make it real. The panel will discuss building a strong support team, managing staffing challenges, and developing daily routines tailored to each person’s needs, offering tools, ideas, and confidence to help shape a day (and a life) that works well for your loved one.

 

6/20/26

State Leadership Panel: Supporting People with I/DD Across the Lifespan

This cross‑department leadership panel offers an overview of each agency’s role in the service system, highlights current priorities, and examines challenges affecting individuals with I/DD and their families. Panelists will discuss how supports evolve from childhood through adulthood and share perspectives on opportunities to strengthen coordination and enhance overall system effectiveness.

2025

11/1/25

Building Collaborative Teams Across the Lifespan

This virtual session focuses on strengthening communication and collaboration to better support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It opens with powerful stories from three family advocates and one provider, who shares practical strategies and personal insights on building effective support teams. The session concludes with a professional panel discussion.

9/17/25

Community Voices & Vision: Next steps in the Blueprint for Safe, High-Quality Residences

In place of their statewide meeting, the Regional Family Support Planning Councils, in collaboration with the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities and the New Jersey Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families, co‑hosted a full‑day forum. The event featured focused, in‑depth discussions on “A Draft Community Blueprint for Safe, High‑Quality Licensed Settings,” addressing issues of abuse and neglect in licensed settings.

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5/31/25

Passing the Baton: Future Planning for Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families

“How can I ensure my loved one with disabilities will be cared for and thrive when I’m gone?” This forum explores essential aspects of future planning for individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers, including:

  1. Opening remarks by Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Seifried
  2. Guardianship, supported decision-making, and financial/legal planning
  3. Healthcare
  4. Community living and a caregiver succession story
  5. Housing options and
  6. Care guide
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3/22/25

Reimagining Adult Life for Individuals with Disabilities

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the same right to, and responsibilities that accompany, self-determination as everyone else. The purpose of this session is to show how individuals and families have used their budget and community resources to create a great life.​

2024

11/16/24

Cyber and Phone Safety for people with disabilities, parents and caregivers

Cyberspace and phones are wonderful tools but can be dangerous if used as tools for crime. While anyone can be a victim, individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities have special concerns. This meeting will focus on scam prevention education, individuals’ rights and responsibilities, guardianship and supported decision making, and tools and resources for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.

9/28/24

How to achieve coordinated support and services for children with I/DD

This session brings together professionals from the Department of Education, the Children’s System of Care, and a local care management organization to explore how these entities can collaborate to create comprehensive, wraparound services for families. Disability Rights New Jersey and the Office of Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families also shared their expertise and offered advocacy tips.

Our panelists discuss best practices and provide actionable strategies to help families navigate and access the support they need. This is an essential conversation for families with a child with IDD, offering valuable resources and guidance to ensure that every child receives the holistic care they deserve.

4/6/24

Housing Options for People with Disabilities

Listen to families who bravely endeavor their unique housing journey for their loved ones with disabilities. Learn about various housing settings such as traditional licensed group homes, “unlicensed” shared homes created by parents, apartments, and integrated housing. The panel will be joined by professionals who embrace person-centered planning and assist individuals with I/DD and their families to meet their housing and support needs. Disclaimer: Reference to any specific programs, providers, or services is for the information of the public and does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Regional Family Support Planning Councils or the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities.

3/2/24

Medical Coverage for Your Loved One with Disabilities

Insurance is a critical necessity, particularly if your loved one has a disability. Insurance can be complicated because the rules can be different from insurer to insurer and your specific circumstances. Know that you are not alone.

2023

11/4/23

Lead your loved one’s ISP team to realize their best life

Does your loved one’s Individualized Service Plan (ISP) reflect their likes and dislikes? Do you have a working relationship with your loved one’s Support Coordinator? Do you and the Support Coordinator use the ISP as a “GPS” to reach the destination your loved one envisions?

9/30/23

How to decode your child’s IEP

Whether it is a “brand new” or “same old” IEP, do you know how to read it and where to look for critical information? How can you collaborate with the child study team to meet your child’s unique needs? The Regional Family Support Planning Councils hosted a meeting to “decode” your child’s IEP.

6/3/23

A Community discussion on transportation: From barriers to solutions for community inclusion

*Due to technical difficulty, the first few minutes of the meeting were not recorded.*

Transportation is a major barrier to access to services for many individuals with intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. Paul Aronsohn, Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities opened the conversation followed by an individual and families sharing their experiences. Ms. Namecca Parker (NJ Transit) and Mr. Steve Cook (Arc Mercer) presented their innovative transportation pilot and program.

3/25/23

NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid and Individuals with IDD

NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid and Individuals with IDD: Preparing for the Start of Medicaid Redetermination.

2022

11/9/22

Managing medical care: how to get the best care for your loved one

Managing the medical care of a loved one with intellectual and developmental disabilities can be challenging. There are so many factors and obstacles for families to navigate. A few family members share their stories and tried-and-true tips for various life stages and needs including (1) young children seeking the proper diagnoses, (2) adults with complex and multiple diagnoses, (3) individuals with behavioral needs, and (4) agency coordinated care.

10/1/22

Crisis Stabilization Services for Children and Adults with I/DD

Children and adults with I/DD often have co-occurring mental or behavioral needs. New Jersey Family Support Planning Council hosted a meeting to offer a forum for families to learn about the services and supports available in NJ.

5/14/22

Moving Ahead through the Endemic, Coping with Continued Challenges in a Productive Way

Given the virus is unlikely to disappear completely, COVID-19 is becoming less “front-and-center” for some people. Some of us found that increased flexibility and options, such as telehealth, virtual meetings, and parents as paid staff, have become an essential part of their new lives. Many of us continue to face various barriers to access to services. The state leadership shared promising practices and areas of improvement.

3/2/22

The Heart of Home: Person-Centered Housing Options for People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

Finding the right housing and support for people with developmental disabilities is a constant challenge in New Jersey. Diane Riley, Executive Director of Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey (SHA NJ) and Jennifer Brown, Housing Navigator/Eiros Group, explains how they can help guide you and your loved ones to pursue appropriate housing and support.

2021

11/20/21

Employment First: An interagency collaboration

David Hoff presented an overview of New Jersey’s Employment First policies and practices and its best practices and areas for improvement. Three NJ state agency staff provided interagency support to students in the transition from school to competitive integrated employment.

3/13/21

How to build an integrated care network to increase your loved one’s health and wellness

On Saturday, March 13, 2021 parent advocates joined our meeting to learn how to build an integrated care network to keep our loved ones healthy and well. Our own Regional Family Support Planning Council members, who also have medical, nursing, or social work education, shared with you their expertise and tips.

9/25/21

Pathway to Resilience: A Community Conversation with individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and their families about the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events in childhood that can cause life-long negative impacts on the developing brain. Children with I/DD are more likely to experience traumatic events than those without disabilities. New Jersey Family Support Planning Council