From the Desk of the Executive Director - There are currently over 7,500 people with developmental disabilities on the state waiting list for services and another 1,500 people in institutions who were determined prior to 1998 as being better served in community placements. Eight states have closed all their institutions. CAU supports the agenda of the Community Association of Community Providers in meeting the needs of residents in New Jersey who have developmental disabilities.(continue reading)
Homeownership for People with Developmental Disabilities - Mark Straka grinned broadly as he snipped the wide red satin ribbon stretched across the doorway of his two-bedroom condominium, as the crowd gathered outside cheered and shouted congratulations. Wednesday, Aug. 23 was a momentous day for Mr. Straka. Dec. 19 was Mary Kurnos' day to beam. "It felt great to sign all the papers. It felt like we were somebody." On Dec. 19 she and her husband Ed become the owners of the two-bedroom condominium on West Grand Street where they have rented for the last six years. Why the fuss? All three new homeowners are low income and have a developmental disability.(continue reading)
2006 Annual Gala Dinner Dance - The Mayor of Elizabeth, Christian Bollwage, was among those honored by Community Access Unlimited (CAU) at its 26th annual Gala Dinner Dance Celebration Oct. 25 at L’Affaire. CAU is a Union County nonprofit that provides support services for people with developmental disabilities, youth aging out of foster care, and people who need affordable housing.(continue reading)
What it’s All About: The Rewards of Foster Grandparenting - James Crivello has led a rich life since retiring from the corporate world in 1996. He left New Jersey for the California wine country where he taught high school and lived for a time in the hills of Tuscany. He has written two books.(continue reading)
2006 Performance Recognition Night - On Wednesday, June 21, there was celebrating Community Access. The occasion was Performance Recognition Night and over 100 people turned out to clap and cheer for seven CAU members who had achieved personal goals that ranged from traveling abroad to holding down jobs to losing weight.(continue reading)
TOP Celebrates Youth Rising to Meet Their Goals - "Rise to the Top" was the theme of the Community Access 12th annual TOP (Transitional Opportunity Program) Youth Achievement Night. The staff served dinner to all the youth in program and honored those that had achieved personal milestones.(continue reading)
Stepping Up to the Plate: The 2006 CAU Youth Conference - The sun was shining brightly the morning of August 23, 2006, as at-risk youth from all over NJ assembled at the Community Access Unlimited Institute. They came from far and wide escorted by staff, parents, and various youth programs to the 8th Annual Youth Conference, which is sponsored by TOP-Community Access Unlimited.(continue reading)
CAU Holds Successful Walk - CAU held its annual Walk-A-Thon Sept. 30 at Rahway River Park. 300 walkers set out on a warm early fall day and covered 1.6 miles, raising over $14,000 for the Elizabeth-based nonprofit. CAU supports people with developmental disabilities and at-risk youth with a range of housing, educational, and vocational programs. The walk is held each year in memory of Ira Geller, a much-loved Community Access member and tireless fundraiser for the organization.(continue reading)
Board Member Walter Kalman - Walter X. Kalman, MSW, and LSW is Executive Director of the New Jersey chapter of The National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NJ) since 2001. He was honored as NASW-NJ's Social Worker of the Year in 1994. He has served as Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, founding President of the NJ Association of Community Providers, Inc., and as executive staff of two local chapters of The Arc. He was appointed to the NJ Developmental Disabilities Council by Governor Florio and has served on the boards of numerous community service organizations. A graduate of Rutgers and Kean Universities, he is a foster parent for DYFS, the father of three daughters in college and an adopted son with a disability.
CAU Collaborator AMERIGROUP Community Care - Community Access has developed a unique collaboration with AMERIGROUP Community Care to better serve the needs of people with disabilities within the community. AMERIGROUP Corporation was founded in 1994 and operates a community-focused managed care company with an emphasis on the public-sector healthcare market. Through its subsidiaries, AMERIGROUP serves approximately 1.2 million people in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Ohio.(continue reading)
There are currently over 7,500 people with developmental disabilities on the state waiting list for services and another 1,500 people in institutions who were determined prior to 1998 as being better served in community placements. Eight states have closed all their institutions. CAU supports the agenda of the Community Association of Community Providers in meeting the needs of residents in New Jersey who have developmental disabilities.
New Jersey provider agencies have had nominal contract increases over the years since 2000. Sharply increasing costs for healthcare, utilities, transportation insurance and other basic costs have grown faster than contract renewals. In a recent survey of New Jersey providers of services for people with disabilities, about 35 of 125 New Jersey DD providers are operating in the red.
Annual operating support is but one of a series of critical issues that must be resolved to maintain and improve the lives of people with disabilities in New Jersey. Other areas that significantly weaken the viability and stability of the community based service structure are:
- Adjusting annual operational funding support through cost indexing,
- Long-term capital needs for Olmstead expansion but also for existing community infrastructure needs to be addressed,
- Unfunded mandates need to be funded,
- Identifying and serving the need of an aging DD population with funding, and
- Fulfilling the Olmstead mandate and resolving the various legal suits against the state of New Jersey.
Community Access, although affected by state and federal funding cuts and the current lack of funding of community-based services, continues to remain strong and viable. Our core value and belief is that ALL people can be integrated into the community. This is desirable, both from a moral as well as an economic perspective. We are committed to assisting people facing adversity to live self-sufficiently and independently within the community. We will continue our work with adults and youth in need of transitional and community supports. We will continue to advocate for the rights of youth and people with disabilities. We will continue to grow and prosper.
In our efforts to reach out into the community, CAU welcomes our new 2006 corporate partners: Sovereign Bank, Commerce Bank, AMERIGROUP Community Care, Schering-Plough Corporation and Security Business Solutions. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to meet the needs of people with disabilities with you.
Best wishes for a prosperous new year.
Mark Straka grinned broadly as he snipped the wide red satin ribbon stretched across the doorway of his two-bedroom condominium, as the crowd gathered outside cheered and shouted congratulations. Wednesday Aug. 23 was a momentous day for Mr. Straka. Dec. 19 was Mary Kurnos' day to beam. "It felt great to sign all the papers. It felt like we were somebody." On Dec. 19 she and her husband Ed become the owners of the two-bedroom condominium on West Grand Street where they have rented for the last six years. Why the fuss? All three new homeowners are low income and have a developmental disability.
The purchases were made possible through the combined effort of Community Access Unlimited (CAU) and the city of Elizabeth. CAU is a nonprofit organization that provides support services for people with developmental disabilities. Mr. Straka and Mr. and Mrs. Kurnos are CAU members. Mr. Straka and Mrs. Kurnos also work for CAU.
CAU, the Elizabeth Housing Authority, and the city’s Home Improvement Program joined forces to help Mr. Straka and the Kurnos' buy the condominiums where they have lived as renters. "Now have my own condo and I am proud of it," Mr. Straka said. "I’m not worried about paying the mortgage," he added. "It’s just another bill."
CAU, a pioneer in the low-income housing field, was one of the first nonprofits to take advantage of a federal tax credit program, the Community Reinvestment Act. The program offered incentives for investors to partner with nonprofits and create low-income housing, and in the late-1980s CAU acquired over 50 housing units throughout Union County. Now the agency has taken another pioneering move by offering some of that housing stock to members who are qualified to own, rather than rent, their homes.
Bob Laux, of Bethel, ME, works to help people with disabilities acquire housing and he is helping CAU convert rental units owned by the agency into home ownership opportunities. "Most organizations try to build capital, but CAU wants to create opportunities for their members to own their own homes." The closings are part of a larger effort on the part of CAU to convert rental units to home ownership opportunities. CAU intends to sell between 8 and 12 units to members who are currently renting them.
The city of Elizabeth, which will benefit since the properties once owned by a nonprofit agency, and therefore tax exempt, are now on the tax rolls, played a key role in both purchases. The purchases involved converting his Section 8 federal rental subsidy to a mortgage subsidy under a new Section 8 home ownership program—the first time this has been done in Elizabeth. Bill Jones, Executive Director of the City of Elizabeth Housing Authority, said, "We hope that this is the first of many Section 8 home ownership opportunities in Elizabeth." He also praised the partnership that CAU had achieved with his agency. "We do the red tape and they provide the support."
Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage sent his congratulations to Mr. Straka and the Kurnos' in realizing their dreams. "In Elizabeth we know that a home serves not only as a place to live, but is an important component to improving the quality of life for our residents."
Presently CAU is working with Union County officials to open up home ownership opportunities in a range of areas, such as Garwood, Hillside, Roselle, and Linden. The organization will also work with the state government, specifically the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency in Trenton, which aim to create affordable housing throughout the state.
The Mayor of Elizabeth, Christian Bollwage, was among those honored by Community Access Unlimited (CAU) at its 26th annual Gala Dinner Dance Celebration Oct. 25 at L’Affaire. CAU is a Union County nonprofit that provides support services for people with developmental disabilities, youth aging out of foster care, and people who need affordable housing.
More than 500 people attended the Commerce Bank-sponsored event, at which Mr. Bollwage received the organization’s Public Leadership Award; Robert Laux, of Bethel, ME, received the Humanitarian of the Year Award; and CAU Board Member Michael Fabricant received the Geller Award. Angel Estrada, representing the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, presented each recipient with a proclamation in recognition of his or her respective efforts on behalf of CAU and the Union County community.
CAU Executive Director Sidney Blanchard said of Mr. Bollwage, "In his 14 years as the Mayor of Elizabeth he has consistently used his position to advance the cause of people in the community who need support." Mayor Bollwage was instrumental this year in helping CAU member Mark Straka buy his own home in Elizabeth. Mr. Straka had been renting his two-bedroom condominium from CAU. The mayor aligned city resources - the housing authority and the home improvement program - to make the purchase possible. He noted, "Without CAU, people with mental disabilities would be in the streets. Anything government can do to assist with providing housing is important, not just for CAU members but for the government and society as a whole."
Humanitarian of the Year Mr. Laux, who develops housing opportunities for people with disabilities, has long worked as a consultant to CAU. In the late 1980s, for example, he helped CAU acquire housing throughout Union County through a federal tax credit program. He noted that CAU was a pioneer in low-income housing then, and now, as it begins to sell housing to some of its members, it is making another pioneering move. Mr. Laux described CAU as an organization that shares his values. "CAU respects the people they serve and they are willing to help them have choices and control over their lives."
Mr. Straka, who has worked for CAU for the last 14 years, cited the efforts of Mr. Laux, the Mayor, and the City of Elizabeth in his becoming a homeowner. He also noted, "If Sid Blanchard didn’t start this organization, I don’t know where I would be today."
Michael Fabricant, Executive Officer of the Ph.D. program in Social Welfare at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and CAU Board Member, was honored with the Geller award, named for the late Ira Geller, a much-loved CAU member and dedicated fundraiser. Mr. Fabricant has served on the board for six years. Mr. Blanchard described Mr. Fabricant’s unique ability to combine "action with knowledge" and noted that he has played a key role in helping CAU become an effective advocacy organization. Mr. Fabricant praised the leadership of CAU and the organization’s ability to use entrepreneurial effort into long-term stability for the benefit of its members.
James Crivello has led a rich life since retiring from the corporate world in 1996. He left New Jersey for the California wine country where he taught high school and lived for a time in the hills of Tuscany. He has written two books.
But now he enriches his life by spending time with young people who are at risk, often living without family and in danger of succumbing to gang violence or drugs. He is a Foster Grandparent with Community Access Unlimited (CAU), a nonprofit organization that provides support services for people with developmental disabilities and at-risk youth. He was one of nine foster grandparents honored by CAU at its Foster Grandparent Recognition Event Dec. 7 at the Westwood Restaurant in Garwood.
Mr. Crivello, who was an executive director for AT&T for 30 years, has worked with the CAU program for the last eight months. For much of that time he worked with youth living in CAU's West House, a group home for boys 13-16, who are part of the New Jersey foster care system. He and the boys spent time together, doing things like going to movies, eating out, and visiting the library. He often cooked Italian dishes at home and brought them to the house to share. He also set up a tutoring program, and once arranged a fishing outing on a party boat in the Atlantic Highlands. Of the boys, he says, "One thing they love is to have someone care about them in a small way. We talk about parents, problems in school, anything that is on their mind."
But it is not a one-sided bargain. "I feel good when I help," he says. "I enjoy giving back to community. There is so much pain and suffering in world. Doing something positive can offset the negativity. Praying is good, but sometimes it takes a little activity too."
Denise Carroll, project director for the CAU Foster Grandparent program, says the program provides an opportunity for seniors over age 60 to utilize their skills, education and training to help children with special needs in the areas of physical, social, and emotional development. The volunteers, she says, give the children individual attention and personalized care and help them develop trust. The older adults serve as role models who can help stimulate positive change in the children's lives.
Seniors might tutor, mentor, or help young people with language or parenting skills. They could work in schools, day care or Head Start Centers, or in residential settings throughout Union County. Potential volunteers have to fill out an application, pass a physical exam, and a background check. They receive a small stipend for travel. Professionals, such as teachers or social workers, refer the children they are matched with.
CAU's goal is to recruit and train 41 foster grandparents in total. "The program saves money for nonprofits, the children get help with their lives, and the volunteers get a sense of purpose and value," says Ms. Carroll. "These are extra special relationships," she says. "It’s like becoming a family."
On Wednesday, June 21, there was celebrating Community Access. The occasion was Performance Recognition Night and over 100 people turned out to clap and cheer for seven CAU members who had achieved personal goals that ranged from traveling abroad to holding down to jobs to losing weight.
Mistress of Ceremonies Jagruti Patel, a Director at CAU, told the audience that CAU "takes great pride in its members' achievements and developed Performance Recognition Night in order to formally recognize those achievements."
Executive Director Sid Blanchard noted, "We are here to celebrate your achievements, which have to do with change and learning things in order to be independent, live in the community and be successful citizens and role models."
Ron Wasserman, Senior Community Program Specialist with the NJ Department of Developmental Disabilities, noted, "it is nice to see the people at Community set goals, then watch people achieve those goals and grow."
The honorees, all adorned with corsages, came from three programs: the Supervised Apartment Program (SAP), the Supported Living Apartment Program (SLAP), and the Community Support Program (CSP).
The Supervised Apartment Program (SAP) honored three of its members: Shawn Cooke has been with CAU since 2003; this year he has learned to self-medicate and improved his cooking skills. He looks forward to moving into his own apartment. Joyce Cargle, of Plainfield, works at the CAU Chat Room. She was described as sociable, caring and considerate. One of the reasons she was honored was that she traveled on her own to Ireland last year. "This took 13 years," she said. "My fellow friends, do not give up. Next year you will be standing here!" she told the crowd after she accepted her award. Marcella Truppa, of Cranford, was honored for being incredibly tidy and neat, for inspiring her housemates in Cranford to be more the same, and for baking long into the night for the recent Helping Hands bake sale.
Lyman Thompson has worked for the borough of Roselle for over 20 years and is a registered voter. Last year he also overcame serious illness.
The Supported Living Apartment Program honored Reginald Payne, Raheem Smith, and Sharon Mohry. Mr. Payne, who has been with CAU for 10 years, works full-time at Shop Rite and part-time at Target. He drives a car and lives on his own. "I know how to handle my business," he says. Mr. Smith, of Roselle, has found and kept a job on the CAU cleaning and cafeteria crew, where he is known as a dedicated and valuable staff member, the one people seek out when they have a question.
Sharon Mohry had five supporters on hand: two co-workers from Shop-Rite in Clark, two friends and her mother. She has worked nine years at Shop-Rite, where she recently earned a promotion. Last year, she also determined to lose weight, joined Weight Watchers, and has lost 26 pounds. In the process she has educated herself on healthy eating and become an inspiration to others.
Marie Mohry marveled at how far her daughter had come. "She is outstanding and beautiful," she said. Her daughter lived with her until she was 15, and then moved to a residential program in South Jersey. When she returned, the two had a very difficult time, until Sharon joined Community Access. "Now we are best friends," said Mrs. Mohry.
"Rise to the Top" was the theme of the Community Access 12th annual TOP (Transitional Opportunity Program) Youth Achievement Night. The staff served dinner to all the youth in program and honored those that had achieved personal milestones.
Suzzy Pelissier, TOP Director of Residential Services, said, "These youth come to us with negative self-esteem. The program is about learning to be independent. The awards recognize important steps along the way, such as learning to budget or graduating from high school."
Community Access Executive Director Sid Blanchard told the youth being honored, "You should be proud of yourselves. A lot of you have graduated; some are going on to college. You are here for people to look up to as role models." He concluded, "You are the future, and coming here I feel we have a good future."
Guest Speaker Carl L. Marshall, a municipal court judge in Elizabeth, told the youth that his background had been similar to theirs - his mother died, his father was abusive, and he ran away from home at a young age. He advised them to get a goal for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and to believe in themselves. "You are in an environment with professional people who want to help you. Take advantage of that," he added.
John Maldonado won a Wall Street Award (for budgeting). He maintains his own apartment and car, a job, and he his headed to New York City for a Job Corps position where he will learn to be an auto mechanic. He came to CAU in May 2004 from a lock-down juvenile detention center. His advocate Nick Scalera directed him to CAU. "If not for that I’d be doing five years in Jamesburg," he said. The 19-year-old had been locked up from age 12 to 17. He resisted the program when he first arrived, but says he has since "“been learning to do what I need to make my life better."
Jahyla Williams, who won a Butterfly Award for most improved youth, came to CAU’s Summer Street Complex in January 2004 from Asbury Park where she had been getting into fights in high school. Her mother is incarcerated and she does not know her father; she had been living with her aunt. When she joined the program, she says, "The whole vibe about me was negative." Soon, though, she realized that she wanted people to see her differently. "I want people to know me as a smart person, helping and caring and always smiling. Someone who made it, even though people dictated that I wouldn’t."
Her plan is to finish high school and attend Farleigh Dickinson University to study nursing. She has served as a Youth Advocate, on a team that makes presentations to social workers about working with at-risk youth, at CAU and at national conferences. She serves on the TOP Youth Advisory Board and an event planning committee; she has also organized a book club for fellow TOP members. According to her, "The program teaches you to be responsible and how to deal with different situations. I learn something new every day. But you won’t like it if you are doing bad, because you get what you deserve."
Other honorees include Myrlande Wilson, Jimmy Alford, Sebastian McDermott, Tangenay Spinks, Jessica Williams, Nate Higgins, Chanel Chance, Jaquill Ingram, India Rose, Rashaid Wilson, LaJuan Henry, Terrance Williams, LaShaniece Alford, Greg English, Luke Drummoind and Monique Williams. High school graduates include Victoria Turner, Jessica Williams, Tracy Williams, John Maldonado, Novielette Grier, Christina McLaughlin, Tyliesha Jackson, and Quadir Coleman.
The sun was shinning brightly the morning of August 23, 2006, as at-risk youth from all over NJ assembled at the Community Access Unlimited Institute. They came from far and wide escorted by staff, parents, and various youth programs to the 8th Annual Youth Conference, which is sponsored by TOP-Community Access Unlimited.
Earl Best, known as the Street Doctor of the Street Warriors addressed the audience of over 150 youth and adults. As a motivational speaker, he spoke about self-pride and accountability of ones own actions. Mr. Best, a man that has experienced various life struggles as a youth, spoke about his journey and life lessons that taught him to "Step Up to the Plate".
The afternoon provided several workshops that hit home with information such as "Interview Skills", "Living with Cultural Diversity" and a MAC presentation of "Stepping Up to the Plate". Adults had their own workshop, "Coaching Youth through Independence". Everyone met back in the main hall for a surprise performance by Rapper J Jordan. The audience, delighted by this surprise, only clapped louder when the raffles were drawn and goodie bags distributed.
A day of life and skills brought together to shape the youth of tomorrow. An event held in one day that allowed youth to learn something new. Teaching them to "Step Up to the Plate".
CAU held its annual Walk-A-Thon Sept. 30 at Rahway River Park. 300 walkers set out on a warm early fall day and covered 1.6 miles, raising over $14,000 for the Elizabeth-based nonprofit. CAU supports people with developmental disabilities and at-risk youth with a range of housing, educational, and vocational programs. The walk is held each year in memory of Ira Geller, a much-loved Community Access member and tireless fundraiser for the organization.
Olympic track star Joetta Clark Diggs was on hand to urge on the walkers. She told them, "Because I am a four-time Olympian people think I am a champion, but I am not the champion here. You are the real champions." Ms. Clark, whose appearance was facilitated by Amerigroup New Jersey, has been America’s premier middle distance runner for over three decades. She represented the U.S at the 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics Games.
Walter X. Kalman, MSW, and LSW is Executive Director of the New Jersey chapter of The National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NJ) since 2001. He was honored as NASW-NJ's Social Worker of the Year in 1994. He has served as Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, founding President of the NJ Association of Community Providers, Inc., and as executive staff of two local chapters of The Arc. He was appointed to the NJ Developmental Disabilities Council by Governor Florio and has served on the boards of numerous community service organizations. A graduate of Rutgers and Kean Universities, he is a foster parent for DYFS, the father of three daughters in college and an adopted son with a disability.
Community Access has developed a unique collaboration with AMERIGROUP Community Care to better serve the needs of people with disabilities within the community. AMERIGROUP Corporation was founded in 1994 and operates a community-focused managed care company with an emphasis on the public-sector healthcare market. Through its subsidiaries, AMERIGROUP serves approximately 1.2 million people in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Ohio.
AMERIGROUP Community Care is a New Jersey health maintenance organization (HMO) that offers free or low-cost health coverage through the NJ FamilyCare program. They currently provide managed health services to more than 100,000 members in New Jersey. By working together, CAU and AMERIGROUP have distributed health awareness and promotion information to those who most need it.
CAU and AMERIGROUP are currently in the midst of designing and implementing a health education program whereas CAU members will learn about basic health and safety. AMERIGROUP has agreed to provide the materials and instruction to CAU staff that will then take the information to members, both our youth and adults. Topics will include Nutrition, Sun Safety, STD’s, Pregnancy Prevention, Dating Violence, Conflict Resolution and General Health Guidelines.
AMERIGROUP Community Care has also demonstrated a commitment to helping people with disabilities by facilitating the appearance of Joetta Clark-Diggs, a four-time Olympian, at CAU’s Annual Ira Geller Memorial Walk-a-thon in 2006. AMERIGROUP contributes health promotion materials such as first aid kits to CAU’s Walk-a-thon and Golf Classic. In addition, AMERIGROUP has become a corporate sponsor of Community Access. CAU is looking forward to continuing our successful relationship with AMERIGROUP Community Care.
Healthcare products provided by AMERIGROUP Community Care for New Jersey residents include:
- AMERICAID - A family-focused Medicaid managed healthcare product. This product is designed for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or TANF population that consists primarily of low-income children and their mothers.
- AMERIKIDS - A managed healthcare product for uninsured children not eligible for Medicaid. This product is designed for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) initiative.
- AMERIPLUS - A managed healthcare product designed for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, recipients. This product is for persons with low-income who are aged, blind or disabled.
- AMERIFAM - A FamilyCare managed healthcare product focused on uninsured adults and parents of SCHIP or Medicaid-eligible children.
For more information about AMERIGROUP Community Care call 1-877-453-4080 or visit their website at: www.amerigroupcorp.com. For more information about Community Access and our services, please call 908-354-3040, ext. 272 or visit www.caunj.org.