|
Lauren Agoratus to Receive the 2026 Julie Beckett Policy
Advocacy Award
Congratulations to SPAN's own Lauren Agoratus, who will receive the 2026 Julie Beckett Policy Advocacy Award at the 2026 Family Voices Leadership Conference on April 15 for her commitment to advocacy and policy change for children and youth with special health care needs.
Lauren Agoratus M.A. is a parent and NJ Coordinator for Family Voices, Regional Coordinator for the Family-to-Family Health Information Center, and Product Development Coordinator for RAISE (Resources for Advocacy, Independence, Self-Determination, and Employment) housed at SPAN.
Learn more about Lauren and the award here.
Congratulations Lauren on this well-deserved recognition!
|
Honoring Karen Carroll
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of former Director of the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVRS), Karen Carroll. According to her family, she passed away on April 6.
The entire staff at SPAN would like to extend our deepest condolences to Karen's family at this time and recognize the many contributions she made leading DVRS and advancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
For more on Karen's life, click here to read her obituary.
|
NJ DHS Fully Reopens Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
NJ Department of Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha announced on April 9 that the Department has fully reopened the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), restoring access to all eligible families seeking child care assistance.
Commissioner Cha said, “The Child Care Assistance Program serves as a vital economic lifeline, helping to pay for quality early childhood education and allowing parents to continue their careers. That is why we are grateful to fully reopen this key program. We encourage families to review the eligibility criteria and apply at ChildCareNJ.gov.”
CCAP provides child care assistance to income-eligible parents who are working, attending school, or participating in job training, ensuring support is available to families who need help affording child care.
To learn more, click here.
For nearly 40 years, SPAN has been committed to supporting families and children in Child Care, most of that time via our NJ Inclusive Child Care Project. We are excited and hopeful that the state has once again dedicated the funds to help families with the greatest financial need to access the care they need and their children deserve for their educational foundation.
To learn more about SPAN's NJ Inclusive Child Care Project, click here.
|
SAVE THE DATE: SPAN's End of Summer Soiree 2026 is on September 18!
Mark your calendars! The date is set for SPAN's End of Summer Soiree 2026!
Join us on September 18 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM at the Princeton Marriot at Forrestal for a night of purpose, connection, and celebration.
Parent leaders, supporters, advocates, community partners and SPAN staff will all be in attendance as we present awards, share experiences, and enjoy each other's company with some great food and drinks. All to benefit SPAN and our mission!
Look for more details coming soon.
| |
April is the Month of the Military Child
April 15th is Purple Up! Day
For 40 years, the Department of Defense has set aside the month of April to honor the strength, sacrifices and unique challenges that children of military personnel face. The Department recognizes that families are the strength of our force, and the department is committed to ensuring military-connected children, youth and teens — and their parents — know support is available for their unique challenges.
One support available is SPAN's Military Family Support 360 Project which provides support, technical assistance and training to military-connected children and youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs.If you would like further information please contact: Project Director Peg Kinsell at pkinsell@spanadvocacy.org or SPAN’s phone warmline at (973) 642-8100.
Here are additional Military Student Supports from the NJ Department of Education.
Through collaboration and communication, we can amplify the department’s efforts to reach and support military-connected children and youth.
April 15 is also Purple Up! Day across most of the country, a day we can all honor the strength and sacrifices of military-connected children by wearing purple to represent all service branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard). This year, the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) has chosen April 22 as their Purple Up! Day, so you have more than one day to wear purple to support and honor military-connected youth.
|
Opening Doors:
New Jersey's
Newest Medicaid
Waiver Program for
Children with I/DD
Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 PM
Virtual
Could your child be eligible for Medicaid as a secondary insurance under the CSSP?
Join Disability Rights New Jersey for a free webinar designed for families of children with intellectual and
developmental disabilities (I/DD).
This session will help families better
understand the Children’s Support
Services Program for Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities (CSSP I/DD), a new Medicaid program through New Jersey’s Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services.
To register, click here.
|
Setting the Stage: Family Engagement as Your Superpower
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Online
For educators and administrators.
Family engagement is more than a communication strategy; it’s a catalyst for districtwide improvement. In this interactive session, participants will explore how intentional engagement practices can transform systemic challenges such as chronic
absenteeism, rapid technology shifts, and staff turnover into opportunities for building a culture of connection and belonging and clearing the way for family-school partnerships to help transform individual student outcomes.
Presented by The New Jersey Family Engagement Hub and Talking Points.
To learn more and register, click here.
|
Upcoming Events
SPAN offers a variety of learning opportunities for families and the professionals who work with them.
Highlighted Event This Week
|
Positive Solutions for Families Spring Series Begins May 20
Wednesdays beginning May 20
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Online
Brought to you by SPAN's NJ Inclusive Child Care Project, Positive Solutions for Families is a multi-session, evidence-based program designed to help families support the social-emotional needs of their young children (recommended ages 2-8 years), while also gaining resources to navigate behavior that challenges us as caregivers.
To learn more and register, click here.
| | | | |
IEL Youth Transition Reports
Check out our latest youth blog post, "IEL Youth Transition Reports," to learn about key insights, better understand the challenges and successes in transition outcomes, and discover how to support youth with disabilities, alongside the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL).
To read the post, click here.
| | | | | |
