(left to right) Amanda Wells (SPAN Youth Empowering Voices Council (YEV), Dr. Nashon Hornsby, Jordan Pratt (SPAN YEV), Commissioner Dr. Stephen Cha, Jeremy Hayer (SPAN), and Beth Cosentino (SPAN).

NJ Community of Care Consortium Hosts Successful Meeting

On October 19, 2026, SPAN and the New Jersey Community of Care Consortium (COCC) hosted a successful meeting that brought together family leaders, youth advocates, and community partners to strengthen systems of care for New Jersey’s children and families.

Featured speakers included Dr. Stephen Cha, Commissioner of the NJ Department of Human Services, and Nashon Hornsby, Deputy Commissioner of the NJ Department of Health. Discussions focused on improving access to services, reducing disparities, strengthening care coordination, supporting children with special health care needs, and elevating family voices. The meeting also honored SPAN's Lauren Agoratus for her lifelong advocacy for children with complex medical needs and their families.

Get Involved! Join the NJ Community of Care Consortium to help build a more equitable, coordinated, family-centered system of care. Families, youth, professionals, and community partners are encouraged to share their perspectives, participate in workgroups, and help turn ideas into action. Together, we can make a difference! Look for the next COCC in the early Spring.

Measles Preparedness for Schools

On October 15, the NJ Department of Health (NJDOH) released a Public Health Advisory directed towards Local Health Agency Leads, School Health Services, School Nurses, Outreach Personnel, and Parents/Guardians.

Background:

• New Jersey has 2 confirmed measles cases in 2026 (1 in April, 1 in October).
• The US continues to experience a large increase in measles cases, including a large on-going outbreak in Pennsylvania.
• Increasing cases increases risk of measles exposures, both in NJ and in other states. NJDOH continues to be notified of NJ residents exposed to measles through domestic travel, on transit services, at healthcare facilities, etc.
• Measles can spread quickly in schools among unvaccinated individuals, because students and staff spend a lot of time in the same rooms together. Measles exposures can result in time out of school that disrupts learning.
• Vaccination remains the most reliable and effective tool for preventing measles. Two doses of measlesmumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine provide 97% protection against measles, and one dose provides 93% protection.

To read more and access the Department's Measles Preparedness for Schools information, click here.

New Statewide Resource Released - Inclusion Guide for Arts Education!

Arts Ed NJ, in partnership with All In for Inclusive Education and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, has released the Inclusion Guide for Arts Education — a new statewide resource designed to help ensure that students with disabilities are fully included in arts education. Built around asset-based systems and structures, illustrative examples, and key guiding questions, the guide offers a broad framework that districts can adapt for coordinated, purposeful efforts centered on inclusivity, student well-being, and shared responsibility for all students.

A student's disability or need for services should not become a barrier to participating in arts education — the guide is both a resource and a starting point for deeper conversations among families, educators, school leaders, and other partners.

To view and download the guide, click here.

October Is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the abilities, accomplishments, and contributions of people with Down syndrome while promoting inclusion and understanding.

People with Down syndrome are valued members of our families, schools, workplaces, and communities. By encouraging meaningful opportunities for learning, employment, and independence, we can help ensure that people with Down syndrome have the support they need to thrive.

For New Jersey families, access to information, community connections, and support can make a meaningful difference at every stage of life.

The Down Syndrome Association of Central New Jersey offers valuable resources for families, including information about early intervention, education, health care, and services for adults.