As caregivers, we rely on the support of other caregivers to:

• Help us learn how to navigate a complex system
• Share our stories and
• Discuss our challenges.

Caregiving is a lifelong journey that no one understands, unless they have experienced it. This program offers education, support, and socialization for caregivers caring for a loved one with a disability. 

There is a focus on those caring for a loved one with a developmental disability, but all are welcome.



We hope you will consider joining us.

January 2026

January Caregiver Recreation and Education Sessions

Caregiver Recreation Activity: Winter Craft



Join us for our informal support group for caregivers. Connect with other caregivers, discuss your journey, the challenges encountered, and learn from each other all while engaged in a fun, seasonal craft activity! This month we’ll be making bead snowflake suncatchers to hang in the window.

Facilitated by: Carmela Slivinski, CEO of DAWN Center for Independent Living

and Julie Ferguson, Caregiver Support Coordinator

 Supplies will be provided by DAWN.                 

Caregivers will need to come to DAWN to pick up their supply bag.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

 Register in advance for this meeting

Caregiver Education Sessions

** PLEASE READ **

DAWN’s Caregiver Connection & Support Program, which brings you this caregiver education series, is funded by a grant from the Morris County Office on Aging, Disabilities, and Community Programming. The funding that DAWN receives to provide this program is directly tied to how many caregivers attend our Zoom sessions live. We will ensure that you receive the available information regardless of your attendance, but please help support us by joining the Zoom sessions live whenever you are able to do so.

Emergency Preparedness Tips & Register Ready

   Presenter: Kelly Boyd, Access & Functional Needs Planner

Preparedness Bureau/Emergency Section, NJ Office of Emergency Management

Coping with an emergency or disaster (such as a hurricane or snowstorm) is often stressful, especially when caring for a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability. Additional measures need to be carried out in order to ensure everyone's safety and wellbeing. This presentation will cover essential tips to help caregivers prepare to withstand various types of emergencies as well as what items they will need to shelter-in-place or evacuate. Ms. Boyd will also provide an overview of the NJ Register Ready program and answer caregiver questions at the conclusion of the presentation.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Register in advance for this meeting:

The Effects of the Budget Bill, H.R.1, on NJ’s Medicaid Program

Presenter: Connor Griffin, Director of Health Care Advocacy

The Arc of New Jersey

H.R. 1, previously known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), will have major implications for New Jersey’s Medicaid program, NJ FamilyCare. Connor Griffin, Director of Health Care Advocacy at The Arc of New Jersey, will provide a detailed overview of NJ Medicaid and H.R. 1, explaining the basics, major provisions, and both the direct and indirect impacts on people with disabilities and their families. The presentation will also highlight how funding restrictions and new administrative requirements may limit access to optional Medicaid services, including services that support people remaining in their homes and communities. At the end of the presentation, Mr. Griffin will answer caregiver questions.

Thursday, January 22, 2026

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Register in advance for this meeting:

***Caregiver News Corner***

New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD)’s Proposed 5 Year Plan

This is an opportunity for you to help advocate for your loved one with a disability!

“Following a comprehensive review and analysis of issues affecting people with IDD and their families, including input from families, people with IDD, and other stakeholders; and in accordance with federal rules concerning the work of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, the NJCDD voted on November 12 to approve and publish for public comment the draft Goals and Objectives for the five-year State Plan for 2027–2031.” 

Click here to read the proposed plan.

Click here to read the Plain Language Plan.

Click here to provide public comment through a survey link.

Public Comment can also be provided by sending an email to njcdd@njcdd.org

or sending a letter to :

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities

PO Box 700

Trenton, NJ 08625-0700

* All comments must be submitted by January 15, 2026 and mailed comments must be postmarked by December 31, 2025.

Take a look: My Life Now

The digital magazine created by Rutgers’ Community Living Education Project

In CLEP’s words:

We are excited to share the release of the third digital edition of our magazine, My Life Now.

Our mission for this publication remains the same: to spotlight individuals who have transitioned from developmental centers, nursing homes, or family homes to vibrant community settings. We celebrate their journeys of empowerment and self-discovery and share how they have embraced choice and control in their lives.

Each issue tells the story one individual CLEP has supported as they explored community living options. Included in the magazine are links to video clips so you can hear for yourself what that process was like and how life has changed.

In our third edition, we shine a spotlight on the strength and determination of a mother and son. Gabrielle and Harry Nitti overcame many obstacles and never lost hope that Harry would find a permanent home where he could thrive.

We invite you to read their story and see what they were able to make possible.

https://issuu.com/clepmylifenow/docs/my_life_now_-_harry 

A resource for you: The Arc of NJ’s Family Institute “Go-Bags”

The Arc of NJ’s Family Institute has put together “Go-Bags” that provide information and guidance to caregivers on a wide variety of topics: ABLE Accounts, Advanced Care Planning, Assistive Technology, Autism, Day Programs, DVRS, Early Intervention, Emergency Preparedness, Guardianship & Alternative Options, Health Care, IEPs, Post-Secondary (College), Public Policy Advocacy, Respite Services, A Step by Step Process to DDD Eligibility, Special Needs Trusts, Support Coordination, Transportation, Medicaid, Social Security, and 504 Plans.

 Click here to explore these resources.

SSI Basics: In-Kind Support Rules

From Justice in Aging: This fact sheet explains how Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries’ benefits can be reduced under “in-kind support and maintenance” rules when someone else provides shelter or other support, details what does and doesn’t count as in-kind support, and highlights recent rule changes that exclude food and expand exclusions to help older adults and people with disabilities receive full SSI benefits or qualify for SSI.

Click here to access the Fact Sheet.

A Lifeline for New Jerseyans: The Importance of Protecting and Expanding NJ FamilyCare Home and Community-Based Services

From Justice in Aging: Our new fact sheet, co-branded with Disability Rights New Jersey and The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development, provides an overview of Medicaid Home & Community-Based Services in New Jersey and their vital role in supporting the health and well-being of older adults and disabled people. It makes the case for why New Jersey must commit to maintaining and expanding these vital supports in spite of federal and other fiscal threats.

Click here to access the Fact Sheet.

New Jersey Department of Health and Department of Human Services Expand Access to Hospital Care and Outpatient Services for State’s Most Vulnerable Residents

On December 16, the NJ Department of Health and NJ Department of Human Services announced federal approval of approximately $540 million in funding for State Fiscal Year 2026. This investment will help hospitals care for uninsured residents and enhance outpatient services for Medicaid patients.

The initiative reinforces New Jersey’s commitment to ensuring that everyone—regardless of income or insurance status—can access essential health care. By strengthening hospital resources and supporting safety-net programs, the state continues its efforts to improve care for underserved communities.

Read the full NJ DHS Press Release in English and Spanish.

If you are new to our caregiver programming, Julie Ferguson, DAWN’s Caregiver Support Coordinator, will reach out to you to welcome you to the program, share information, and answer any questions you may have.

Please contact Julie Ferguson at (862)-753-7424 for further information.



This program is supported by Morris County Office on Aging, Disabilities, and Community Programming. Contributions are gladly accepted. Contributions are voluntary and are not required to participate in this programming.