New Jersey Intellectual and Developmental Disability Resources
Management and State Funded Services
Special Child Health Services (SCHS)-NJ Department of Health
Each county in NJ has a SCHS Case Management Unit. SCHS case managers work with the child’s family and physicians to evaluate each child’s strengths and needs and develops an individual service plan for the child and family. They focus on the medical, educational, developmental, social, and economic needs of the child and family. SCHS houses the New Jersey Autism Registry created to better understand autism in NJ and to link families to available services and supports.
NJ Early Intervention System (EIS)-NJ Department of Health
888-653-4463
NJ’s EIS implements NJ’s statewide system of services for infants and toddlers, birth to age three, with developmental delays or disabilities. If an infant or toddler is experiencing developmental delays, EIS should be contacted. EIS provides assessments and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) to describe the services that are needed by the child and family and how they will be implemented. Services are provided by practitioners in natural environments that are most comfortable and convenient for the family, such as the home, a community agency, or a child care facility.
NJ Division of Children’s System of Care (CSOC)/Performcare-Department of Children & Families (DCF)
877-652-7624
Special Child Health Services (SCHS)-NJ Department of Health
Each county in NJ has a SCHS Case Management Unit. SCHS case managers work with the child’s family and physicians to evaluate each child’s strengths and needs and develops an individual service plan for the child and family. They focus on the medical, educational, developmental, social, and economic needs of the child and family. SCHS houses the New Jersey Autism Registry created to better understand autism in NJ and to link families to available services and supports.
NJ Early Intervention System (EIS)-NJ Department of Health
888-653-4463
NJ’s EIS implements NJ’s statewide system of services for infants and toddlers, birth to age three, with developmental delays or disabilities. If an infant or toddler is experiencing developmental delays, EIS should be contacted. EIS provides assessments and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) to describe the services that are needed by the child and family and how they will be implemented. Services are provided by practitioners in natural environments that are most comfortable and convenient for the family, such as the home, a community agency, or a child care facility.
NJ Division of Children’s System of Care (CSOC)/Performcare-Department of Children & Families (DCF)
877-652-7624
CSOC serves children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral health care challenges, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and/or substance use challenges. CSOC provides services and support based on the needs of the child and family in a family-centered, community-based environment. PerformCare is the administrative service organization for CSOC. CSOC includes Care Management Organizations (CMO), Family Support Organizations (FSOs), and Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS).
Special Education
NJ Department of Education Offices of Special Education and Project CHILD FIND
Project CHILD FIND: 1-800-322-8174
The NJ special education offices are responsible for supervising and monitoring the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in local education agencies including all school districts. Project Child Find is a free referral service and public awareness campaign to assist in the identification of unserved/underserved youth with a delay or disability from birth through twenty-one years of age.
Parental Rights in Special Education, NJ Department of Education
This document will describe the state and federal laws affecting the provision of special education to help families understand their rights in the special education process.
The goals of the Transitions Program are to help students with anxiety and/or depression, who are not attending or thriving in a typical school setting, to return to a classroom-like setting, learn coping skills, and ultimately transition back to school. The program includes group and individual counseling for each student in addition to their academic curriculum. As students progress through the program, our professional staff will assist students, their families, and school district staff with a re-entry plan to transition them back to school.
Resource Directories and Guides
ResourceNet- NJ Division of Children’s System of Care (CSOC)-Department of Children & Families (DCF)
ResourceNet is a free county specific web directory of programs, supports, services, and events for families.
Autism, Navigating Through the Maze: A Guide for Families, NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Office on Autism (OOA)
The OOA provides a centralized place to address issues associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within the DDD. OOA identifies and works with staff in sister state agencies to develop plans of service coordination for persons with ASD. The OOA website offers resources including a list of NJ’s Child Evaluation Centers and Autism, Navigating Through the Maze: A Guide for Families, a comprehensive family guide to navigating the NJ service systems for individuals with ASD and other developmental disabilities.
New Jersey Resources, NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Disability Services (DDS) – 888-285-3036
DDS provides a single point of entry for those seeking disability-related information in NJ. DDS publishes New Jersey Resources, the most comprehensive guide of services available throughout NJ for people with disabilities.
NJ Parent Link is the State of NJ’s early childhood, parenting and professional resource center.
Advocacy and Support
Family Support Organizations (FSO) – NJ Division of Children’s System of Care (CSOC), DCF – 877-652-7624
FSOs are family-run, county-based organizations that provide direct family-to-family peer support, education, advocacy, and other services to family members of children with emotional and behavioral problems.
Mom2Mom Helpline Program – 877-914-6662
24/7 Peer Support Services for moms of children or adults with special needs.
Autism New Jersey – 609-588-8200
Autism New Jersey is the largest statewide network of parents and professionals dedicated to improving lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network – 1-800-654-SPAN
The SPAN Parent Advocacy Network is a non-profit organization committed to empowering families as advocates and partners in improving education, health, and mental health outcomes for youth in NJ. SPAN’s Statewide Parent to Parent program gives families the skills and support they need to help their children with special needs.
The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) – 609-292-3745
The NJCDD provides a platform for individuals, family members, advocates, and public and private agencies to develop a coordinated social policy for advancing the rights and opportunities of NJ residents with developmental disabilities.
Disability Rights New Jersey (DRNJ) – 1-800-922-7233
DRNJ is a private, non-profit organization established to advocate for and advance the human, civil and legal rights of citizens of NJ with disabilities. They provide advice, assistance, education, and training to individuals with disabilities, the agencies that serve them, advocates, attorneys, professionals, courts and others regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities.
The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute – 1-732-246-2525
The Family Institute was developed as a resource for families of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Their goal is to help families find the tools and resources they need to navigate the system of care. They are dedicated to providing timely information and bridging the gap between service changes and families by providing advocacy and education on services, transition and system issues, individual issues and more.
Community Education and Training
The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities-Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
The Boggs Center is NJ’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The Center provides community and student training and technical assistance, conducts research, and disseminates information and educational materials.
Transitioning
into
Adulthood
Planning for Adult Life, The Arc of New Jersey
Planning for Adult Life is a statewide project funded by the NJ DDD to assist young adults (ages of 16-21) with developmental disabilities and their families in charting a life course for adulthood.
DVRS works with students who have disabilities, including those with a 504 Plan or other documented disability that impedes a student’s ability to succeed in competitive employment.
New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
DDD provides public funding for services and supports that assist New Jersey adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities age 21 and older to live as independently as possible.