The Arc of New Jersey's Executive Director Tom Baffuto testified last month at the Department of Human Services Listening Session about funding priorities for the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. This was a chance to advocate with the Administration and to highlight areas in the service delivery system that need to be addressed in the Governor's funding blueprint for next year. To continue reading, click here.

The Arc of New Jersey is honored and humbled to receive the 2022 Excellence in Disability Inclusion Award from New Jersey Business and Industry Association/New Jersey Business Magazine. Awards were presented to 4 executives and 13 companies that have improved the quality of life in New Jersey in outstanding ways. “The Arc of New Jersey is grateful to both New Jersey Business and Industry Association and New Jersey Business Magazine for this incredible recognition of our ongoing work to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find and maintain work in businesses big and small across the State,” Tom Baffuto, The Arc of NJ’s Executive Director, said. “The goal of our Project HIRE program is to match people with IDD to work that they enjoy. We operate under the simple but critical premise that everyone deserves an opportunity to benefit from employment. We greatly appreciate NJBIA’s continued efforts to increase awareness of this under-utilized workforce and for bringing the disability community and the business community together. We will strive every day to live up to the Excellence Award bestowed upon us.” To continue reading, click here.

On November 29, The Arc of New Jersey and The Arc of Ocean hosted a celebratory event, with special guest Department of Human Services Assistant Commissioner Jon Seifried, in honor of Family Caregivers Awareness Month. The gathering, which took place at The Arc of Ocean's Bill Burke Wellness Center in Lakewood, recognized family members and all they do for their loved one with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition, Assistant Commissioner Seifried presented families with a proclamation from Governor Murphy. (Read the proclamation here,). Attendees also received a tour of the Center and had the chance to watch an exercise demonstration by fitness instructors and program participants. In conclusion, families shared their personal stories and helped raise awareness of the challenges that caregivers encounter day to day. The Arc of NJ’s Second Vice President Lauren Zalepka was on-hand, as was Family Advisory Chair Kathy Mullery and her son Chris, and Family Advisory Committee members Joyce Quarles with her son Yusef, and Ruth Churchill.(View additional photos here.) Throughout the month of November, The Arc of NJ Family Institute spotlighted family caregivers, and their stories, on our social media channels. A special edition newsletter about family caregiving went out last month and if you missed it, you can view it here. Also last month, The NJ Caregiver Task Force, of which The Arc of NJ's Associate Executive Director Celine Fortin served as a member, released their Final Report. The report is a comprehensive analysis of current challenges facing caregivers and recommendations for how to support these critical individuals as they take on the difficulties of caregiving.

On November 30, Planning for Adult Life Director Jerisa Maseko participated in a Roundtable Forum hosted by the Lesniak Institute for American Leadership that focused on the ways New Jersey colleges and universities can be more accessible to those living with disabilities. The evening, which took place at Kean University, was a kick-off event for longer term work by the Institute to ensure higher education institutions are accessible to all. More information about the panelists can be found here. To view the video of the forum, click here.

Federal civilian, postal and military donors can support The Arc of New Jersey by going to the campaign website and using The Arc of NJ’s CFC code 92741. Thank you for your support!

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) generally are minimum amounts that a retirement plan account owner must withdraw annually starting with the year that he or she reaches 72 (70 ½ if you reached 70 ½ before January 1, 2020), the year in which he or she retires.