In This Edition:
News:
DCA: New Jersey Receives an Additional $31.5 Million
in Federal Funding for State’s COVID-19 Response
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CMS Issues Nursing Homes Best Practices Toolkit
to Combat COVID-19 and Guidance on
Safely Reopening Nursing Homes
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National Association of Social Workers Releases
Guidelines for Reopening Social Work Practices
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SAMHSA Certifies PPE Procurement as Essential Services for Mental Health and Addiction Services Providers
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National Council for Behavioral Health Distributing PPE to Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Provider
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PPE Available from the New Jersey Innovation Institute
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Federal Guidance On Vocational Rehab
Services During the Time of COVID-19
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DDD Weekly COVID-19 Updates
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New Changes to Support Person(s) Permitted for
a Patient with a Disability in Acute Care Hospitals
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CSH Virtual Supportive Housing Summit
Planning Beyond the Crisis
June 23-26, 2020
Webinars:
New Division on Developmental Disabilities Webinar
Transitioning into Adulthood:
Information on DDD Services for 2020 Graduates
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National Council for Behavioral Health Webinar:
Imagining Behavioral Health Delivery Post-COVID-19
May 20, 2020
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Webinar from DRNJ:
Healthcare Directives and Advance Care Planning
New Date & Time: May 20, 2020
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Withum Webinar:
PPP Forgiveness Guidance Expected Mid-May
May 21, 2020
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NJAMHAA: Free Webinar
Coping with
Provider-Related Grief and Loss
May 28, 2020
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NJFA Webinars Learning from COVID-19:
June 5, 2020 & June 12, 2020
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DCA: New Jersey Receives an Additional $31.5 Million
in Federal Funding for State’s COVID-19 Response
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TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced that the State of New Jersey received $31,511,487 from the second round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act funding allocated by the federal government. Today’s CDBG funding allocation is in addition to the $4 million the State of New Jersey received on April 2, 2020. Both funding rounds are helping the State respond to public health, housing, and economic disruption needs that have arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
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CMS Issues Nursing Homes Best Practices Toolkit
to Combat COVID-19 and Guidance on
Safely Reopening Nursing Homes
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Under the direction of President Trump, CMS
released a new toolkit developed to aid nursing homes, Governors, states, departments of health, and other agencies who provide oversight and assistance to these facilities, with additional resources to aid in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic within nursing homes. The toolkit builds upon previous actions taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which provide a wide range of tools and guidance to states, healthcare providers and others during the public health emergency. The toolkit is comprised of best practices from a variety of front line health care providers, Governors’ COVID-19 task forces, associations and other organizations, and experts, and is intended to serve as a catalogue of resources dedicated to addressing the specific challenges facing nursing homes as they combat COVID-19.
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The administration also directed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to
release new guidance for state and local officials to ensure the safe reopening of nursing homes across the country. It details critical steps nursing homes and communities should take prior to relaxing restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including rigorous infection prevention and control, adequate testing, and surveillance. The vulnerable nature of the nursing home population requires aggressive efforts to limit COVID-19 exposure and to prevent the spread within facilities. The recommendations issued would allow states to make sure nursing homes are continuing to take the appropriate and necessary steps to ensure resident safety and are opening their doors when the time is right. This also serves to help states and nursing homes reunite families with their loved ones in a safe, phased manner.
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National Association of Social Workers Releases
Guidelines for Reopening Social Work Practices
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SAMHSA Certifies PPE Procurement as Essential Services for Mental Health and Addiction Services Providers
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The US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has certified its agreement that the services provided in mental and substance use disorder treatment programs across the country are essential medical services. The following letter serves as confirmation from SAMHSA that the ordering of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves by providers of mental and substance use disorder treatment services is for a legitimate need and purpose.
Excerpt:
This letter serves as confirmation from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that the ordering of such supplies by providers of mental and substance use disorder treatment services is for a legitimate need and purpose.
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National Council for Behavioral Health Distributing PPE to Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Providers
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Washington, DC
– The National Council for Behavioral Health began distributing 2.3 million surgical face masks to mental health and addiction treatment organizations unable to acquire personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect staff.
A
survey
of National Council members in April found only 7% of community behavioral health care organizations had enough PPE to last the next two months, while 86% said they didn’t have enough PPE and 8% were unsure. To address the national shortage of life-saving PPE, the National Council began a global search for masks. The National Council informed members it would make a single, massive purchase of masks and make the PPE available at cost to members. More than 1,000 behavioral health care providers – almost a third of the National Council’s membership – have placed orders. Delivery of the masks began last week.
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PPE Available from the New Jersey Innovation Institute
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NJII has developed relationships with suppliers of high-demand PPE that is currently difficult for healthcare providers and other organizations to source such as masks, gowns, gloves, goggles, testing kits, sanitizer and more.
To get request a quote based on your needs, please complete the
online form.
Once received, a member of the NJII team will respond with more detailed information.
If a supplier can meet your needs, NJII will connect you to place an order. NJII will provide all customer support, process your payment, and handle fulfillment and shipping.
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Federal Guidance On Vocational Rehab
Services During the Time of COVID-19
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Vocational rehabilitation agencies can continue to serve individuals with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, though some adjustments may be needed, federal officials say.
In a question-and-answer
document
released this week, the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration is offering up details on how agencies can tweak their procedures given the need for social distancing to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Services that can be provided remotely include job coaching, follow-along and the assessment of employment stability, among others, the guidance indicates. Vocational rehabilitation agencies and providers are urged to communicate with the individuals they serve about the switch to virtual supports and document adjustments in their individualized plans for employment as needed. (Disability Scoop, May 15, 2020)
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DDD Weekly COVID-19 Updates
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During his weekly COVID-19 update, Jonathan Seifried,
Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities
reviewed the following updates particularly related to the availability of testing:
This update permits testing for COVID-19 without needing to receive a prescription from a
doctor. Furthermore, it enables any healthcare provider, licensed pharmacist or trained personnel at a healthcare facility or medically-supervised COVID-19 testing site in the State to administer a test to people with or without symptoms.
Increasing Testing Capacity:
New Jersey will double testing capacity & increase to 20,000 tests per day by the end of May. This will include increased testing capacities at pharmacies and other sites.
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New Changes to Support Person(s) Permitted for
a Patient with a Disability in Acute Care Hospitals
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The Department of Health (DOH) updated the guidance related to support persons accompanying an individual with IDD in the hospital. The update makes the following changes:
- If the hospital determines that an additional support person is necessary for the care of the disabled patient, and PPE availability permits, hospitals may allow for a second support person be designated.
- Only one designated support person is to be permitted with the disabled patient at any time.
- Support persons can now leave the hospital and re-enter as long as enough PPE is available and the support person is screened with every return to the hospital, including a temp check and screening questions.
- Although re-entrance is permitted, it is strongly encouraged that the support person stay with the individual and not leave.
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CSH Virtual Supportive Housing Summit
Planning Beyond the Crisis
June 23-26, 2020
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Now more than ever, it is important for the supportive housing field to come together and assess where we are and how we rebuild more inclusive and resilient systems. While we cannot join together in person this year, we can come together, virtually. Join us from your office, remote work station or from home for the
CSH Virtual Summit 2020
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Over the course of four days, we'll talk about what matters right now and where we need to be in the future as the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis unfold. With two tracks focused on supportive housing programs and the systems that touch supportive housing sessions will dive into racial equity, organizational resilience, care coordination, listening to lived expertise, federal policy, tracking data in the crisis and more.
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National Council for Behavioral Health Webinar:
Imagining Behavioral Health Delivery Post-COVID-19
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Wednesday, May 20, 2020 | 12:00-1:00 PM EDT
To meet the enduring challenges of COVID-19, behavioral health providers across the country will have to adapt to meet the needs of their communities – and keep their doors open. Many are rapidly deploying innovative solutions to maintain their accessibility and delivery of behavioral health care. Still others are struggling to embrace the “new normal,” wondering:
- Can, and should, we ever go back to the way we practiced before?
- What will behavioral health care look like in the future?
These questions will be explored, with highlights of provider best practices in “
Imagining Behavioral Health Delivery Post-COVID-19.” What does behavioral health care look like, post-COVID-19? Contribute to the conversation, hear from visionaries and explore a potential new blueprint.
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Webinar from DRNJ:
Healthcare Directives and Advance Care Planning
New Date & Time
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Wednesday, May 20, 2020 | 4:00 PM
Please join staff from
Disability Rights New Jersey,
along with Ryann Siclari from
Central Jersey Legal Services,
in discussions on the varying options for advance care planning as it relates to healthcare decisions.
Topics to address will include:
- Advanced directives
- Healthcare proxy options
- Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form and what is involved
- Standby guardianship for minor children
If registration is full, a recording will be made available after the webinar.
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Withum Webinar:
PPP Forgiveness Guidance Expected Mid-May
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May 21, 2020 | 11:00 AM EDT
With anticipation of additional guidance being released by the SBA, we invite you to join our SBA and Federal Tax Policy experts for a discussion regarding the PPP loan forgiveness process. This webinar will address the new up to the minute guidance in detail, focusing on the known information, the unknowns, and the strategies for borrowers to make sure they are maximizing their forgiveness through their 8-week covered period.
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NJAMHAA: Free Webinar
Coping with
Provider-Related Grief and Loss
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May 28, 2020 | 10-11 AM EDT
Losses of life, job, routine and freedom of movement have made this a devastating pandemic for many clients and providers. As a consequence, many are and will be struggling with feelings of grief. In this interactive workshop with Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and healthcare consultant, personal and agency practices for healing from grief will be shared. These include distinguishing between normal and complicated bereavement, utilizing and creating rituals for community-sanctioned emotional expression and resolution, and implementing supportive policies and practices.
Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, is a Pennsylvania clinical psychologist,family therapist and a Principal in the Philadelphia office of Health Management Associates, a national healthcare consulting firm. He specializes in working with individuals and families coping with medical illnesses in his clinical practice in Media, PA. He is the author of two books on family caregiving and writes a self-help column for family caregivers for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP.org).
Registrants will receive a link to join the training 1 day prior to session.
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NJFA Webinars Learning from COVID-19:
June 5, 2020 & June 12, 2020
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June 5, 2020 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT
Impact on Long-Term Care and Medical Decision Making
Please join the New Jersey Foundation for Aging to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Advance Care Planning. Dr. David Barile will introduce you to the NJ POLST form and talk about the importance of POLST forms for at-risk people. A NJ POLST form can be downloaded at
goalsofcare.org for you to have on hand during the webinar.
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Friday, June 12, 2020 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Impact on Age-Friendly Communities and Immigrant Families
Join us as our presenter discusses the barriers faced by immigrant seniors in accessing need-based services and benefits that can assist in preventing vulnerability. Navigating public benefit systems while adhering to immigration-based policies for these benefits can be a complex process. Jonelle will explain how the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated this process even further and how service providers can assist with increasing access for their clients and be effective in providing support and guidance.
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Advocate ● Educate ● Support
The Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey unites its diverse coalition of members engaging development, resources, and information to sustain supportive housing systems within New Jersey. Since 1998, our statewide mission seeks to enhance lives and accessibility to enable independent living within our communities.
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Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey
185 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ 07079
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