NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY PROVIDERS INC

THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY PROVIDERS (NJACP) HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING MORE THAN 75 PROVIDER AGENCIES THAT SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD). THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY PROVIDERS CONTINUED THE EXPERIENCE GROWTH IN 2024 BOTH IN TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP AND REVENUE. THE FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ADVOCACY FOR FUNDING FOR THE IDD COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT WAGE INCREASES (AND ALLEVIATE THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE OF DSPS AS WELL AS KEEP UP WITH THE RISING COSTS OF HOUSING UTILITIES, FOOD AND GENERAL SUPPORTIVE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE IDD COMMUNITY. WHILE PROVIDING UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT TO ITS MEMBERSHIP, NJACP ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE CONSORTIUM OF COUNTY COLLEGES ON A MULTI-YEAR GRANT AIMED AT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENTERING A "CARING FIELD" IN THE IDD COMMUNITY, WITH A FOCUS ON DSP RECRUITMENT IN YEARS 1-3. THE MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH INCLUDED TARGETED AT RISK HIGH SCHOOL UPPER CLASSMEN WHO WERE STRUGGLING TO STAY IN SCHOOL TO EARN THEIR DEGREE WHILE TRAINING IN THE DSP FIELD, INCLUDING JOB MENTORING, SHADOWING AND UPON GRADUATION, JOB PLACEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, ADULTS LOOKING TO GAIN OR CHANGE EMPLOYMENT WERE OFFERED FREE COLLEGE CREDITS AND TRAINING, INCLUDING A STIPEND, WITH JOB PLACEMENT UPON GRADUATION. NJACP HAS INCREASED ITS MEMBERSHIP ANNUALLY ATTRIBUTED IN LARGE PART TO THE SUPPORT AND SERVICES IT OFFERS. MEMBERS RECEIVE A COMPREHENSIVE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER TWICE A WEEK THAT IS TIMELY AND RELEVANT AND IT REFLECTS INFORMATION AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. THIS INFORMATION IS OF IMPORTANCE AS IT ASSISTS PROVIDERS WITH THE PLANNING AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, NJACP HAS FOCUSED ON BRINGING LEGISLATORS TO THE TABLE TO ENSURE THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT PROVIDERS OF SERVICES TO THE IDD COMMUNITY HAVE. PROVIDERS OF SERVICES TO THE INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COMMUNITY ARE INVALUABLE AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH OVERLY BURDENSOME REGULATIONS, COSTS THAT HAVE OUTPACED REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASES AND A CHANGING SYSTEM THAT HAS CREATED UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS. NJACP PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF ITS MEMBERSHIP WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS THE IDD COMMUNITY AND THOSE BEING SERVED THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM A STRONG PROVIDER NETWORK. TOWARD THAT END, ADVOCACY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF NJACP'S STRATEGIC AGENDA. SUCCESS CAN BE MEASURED, IN PART, BY THE NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS THAT HAVE VISITED WITH NJACP'S MEMBERS; MORE THAN 17 IN 2024. SUCH ATTENDANCE AND INTERACTION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE VISIBILITY THAT NJACP HAS ACHIEVED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS; THAT HAS ALLOWED NJACP TO BECOME A VOICE THAT IS NOW BEING HEARD IN TRENTON. SUPPORTING NJACP'S MEMBERSHIP CAN ONLY SERVE TO SUPPORT THE CONSUMERS THEY SERVE. THIS EFFORT WILL ALWAYS BE A CRITICAL OBJECTIVE OF NJACP.