Everas staff were pleased to attend the 32^nd Annual New Jersey Association of Community Providers Conference, “The Future is Here, Achieving Success”, which took place in Atlantic City on November 19^th and 20^th. The crux of the NJACP mission is to guarantee individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the right to live in the community from childhood through their adult years. They believe in person-centered planning and freedom of choice. These principles were emphasized along with other vital topics including the transition to the Fee-for-Service model, time management, disability rights, and change management at this year’s conference.

Day Program Manager, Synthia Williams, and Social Worker, Allison Fedorka

Everas Community Services executive team attended the pre-conference Symposium and NJACP Annual Meeting on the 19^th, and were joined by agency-wide staff serving in direct-care, administrative, clinical, and leadership capacities to attend workshops on the following day. Attendees gained access to a trade-show featuring new and emerging technologies in our industry, relevant services, and retail solutions. Workshops focused on the pressing issues encountered by community providers on the frontline and at the administrative level. Experts in their respective fields spoke about Support Coordination, Managing Change, Implementing a Balanced Scorecard, and Managing Safety and Risk to name but a few.

Director of Housing, Maury Lonergan and Administrative Operations Manager, Amanda Rosen

Following the workshops, our own Vicky Calabro who also serves as the President of the NJACP gave opening remarks at the Keynote Luncheon. The 2015 Public Leadership Award was presented to Stephen M. Sweeney, the Senate President for the State of New Jersey,who is a tireless advocate for and with individuals with disabilities. He was motivated by his daughter, who happens to have Down Syndrome, to turn to public office as a means of working towards creating an inclusive society for individuals with I/DD. Leadership Awards were also presented to exemplary professionals in our field.

General Manager of Adult Day Services, Vanessa Gonzalez, Northern Director of Residential Services, Dominique Anderson, and Residential Program Manager, Bevon Springer

Dr. Deborah M. Spitalnik, Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the founding Executive Director of The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities gave the Keynote address- Building Embracing Community Supports: Passion and Policy.Her speech highlighted the nature of relationships in our work and how these contribute to lives of well-being, meaning, and above all happiness.

Behaviorist, Dina Matarazzo, Residential Program Manager, Elaine Gold, and Day Program Manager Devin Beals

In President Vicky Calabro’s own words, the goal of the conference is that attendees, “leave the conference with renewed determination and new ideas to bring to your work and our shared mission to advance services for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.”  On behalf of those in attendance, we are confident this goal was surpassed. We look forward to continued progress in the industry and the evolution of agencies across New Jersey and beyond.

Social Worker Toni Teague, Residential Coordinator, Joyce Atkinson and Recruitment Manager Megan Zakresky