Inclusive Healthy Communities
Empowered Connections
Peer Support Program
Purpose
To provide structured, strengths-based peer support that promotes emotional wellbeing, independence, self-advocacy, community connection, and recovery among individuals with physical, mental health, neurological and/or developmental disabilities.
Key Outcomes
Our program focuses on measurable life improvements and personal growth through peer-led interventions.
Reduced Isolation
Build meaningful connections and find a true sense of belonging within a supportive community of people who understand your journey.
Self-Advocacy
Gain the confidence and practical skills to navigate healthcare systems, employment, and speak up for your individual needs.
Emotional Wellbeing
Develop resilience strategies and coping mechanisms tailored to the unique challenges faced by adults with disabilities.
Community Engagement
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Who We Serve
NFSB Inclusive Healthy Community Center, Empowered Connections: Peer Support Program serves Adults (21-and over) with:
Physical
disabilities
(Ex: health condition affecting mobility, sensory, or chronic illness such as diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis)
Mental Health
disabilities
(Ex: depression, anxiety,
PTSD, bipolar disorder)
Neurological & developmental disabilities
(Ex: Autism, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Program Structure
Group Peer Support Sessions
(8-10 participants)
Weekly (60 minutes) for 12 weeks
*Participants may choose to re-join or re-enroll in these sessions again after successfully completing their first 12 weeks session.
1:1 Peer Support Check-Ins
Biweekly (30-45 minutes) for 6 week
*These check-ins will be continuous.
Facilitated by:
Well trained Peer Support Coordinator and Specialists (at least 2-4 Specialists with lived disability experience.)
Ready to find your community?
Join the next cohort of Empowered Connections.
Registration opens soon.
New Jersey IHC Program
The New Jersey Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) grant program, administered by the NJ Department of Human Services/Division of Disability Services (DDS), is a pioneering effort to enhance health equity for persons with disabilities (PWD) throughout the state.
National Model
The Inclusive Healthy Communities Model uses a phased approach to create local-level change by using community coalitions to plan and implement sustainable healthy living improvements. Through policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes, this model focuses on increasing access to healthy living opportunities, such as Healthy eating;
Physical activity, General accessibility improvements; and Tobacco use prevention or cessation.
Reaching People with Disabilities through Healthy Communities | CDC
Reaching People with Disabilities through Healthy Communities | CDC
IHC Blueprint for Building an Inclusive & Healthier Nutley Township
Year One
Purpose
The NFSB-IHC project is a capacity-building initiative designed to conduct an inclusive community assessment to provide a solid foundation to improve, enhance and effectively increase community services for people living with disabilities in Nutley Township.
Methods
Survey
We conducted a modified environmental scan in the form of an electronic survey to determine availability of the services that were most often mentioned by the Community Action Coalition (CAC) members.
Community Observational Assessments
Community observational assessments were conducted by CAC members accompanied by NFSB staff and community volunteers to shed light on things that persons with disabilities and/or persons with lived experience with disabilities felt could be improved.
Findings
CAC members identified a lack of the following accessible services in Nutley Township and the surrounding communities:
- Affordable Housing
- Mental Health Services
- Peer Support Services
Specific accessibility improvements to public spaces and buildings in Nutley Township would greatly improve the ability of persons with disabilities to participate in community life, including:
- Parking
- Building entry and exit doors
- Improved and increased seating in public spaces
- Improvements to Sidewalk
Years Two and Three
The Community Advisory Council and Partners group will participate in the Community Advisory Group on Inclusion (CAGI).
- The CAGI will provide ongoing advisory services, support, and engagement around the critical components of NFSB’s proposed program.
- Improved inclusivity in affordable housing and public spaces
- New Community-Based Inclusive Mental Health & Peer Support Training Center (the Center).
Community-Based Inclusive Mental Health & Peer Support Training Center
Training Tier 1: STAKEHOLDERS / COMMUNITY
- To assist persons with disabilities to fully participate in, and contribute to, their community.
- Local school systems
- People with lived experience
- Municipalities
- Any point of entry for people with disabilities.
Training Tier 2: CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH AND PEER SUPPORT SERVICES
- Training will be designed to deepen clinicians’ understanding how different disabilities may impact a person’s life and ability to treat individuals with a variety of disabilities, while reducing stigma amongst providers so they work effectively to deliver care that will empower people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.
Project Partners
Nutley Family Service Bureau represented by Katherine Carmichael, Executive Director as well as other staff and interns from the Blaustein School at Rutgers University
Nutley Township Health Department represented by Meredith Blank, Administrative Clerk, Registrar of Vital Statistics
Nutley School District represented by Jacquelyn L. Devore Vice Principal NHS, Maura Byrne, Lead Teacher for our RIISE program and Michelle Yasso, Transition Coordinator, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant
Nutley Senior Manor represented by Patricia Stewart, Site Manager
Nutley Township Health Department represented by Meredith Blank, Administrative Clerk, Registrar of Vital Statistics
Nutley School District represented by Jacquelyn L. Devore Vice Principal NHS, Maura Byrne, Lead Teacher for our RIISE program and Michelle Yasso, Transition Coordinator, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant
Nutley Senior Manor represented by Patricia Stewart, Site Manager
Training and Events
Trainings
Available to the public
- Sensitivity Training
- Flyer – Sensitivity Training _ENG_ – 3-2024.pdf(Review) – Adobe cloud storage
- Peer Support Training
- Consumer Connections (mhanj.org)
Available to communities and organizations
- Join the Community Advisory Group on Inclusion (CAGI)
- IHC Blueprint for Building an Inclusive & Healthier Nutley Township
- Disability Awareness Training 101
Available to NFSB staff volunteers, and partners
- Will likely be open to the larger provider community starting in July 2024
- IHC Blueprint for Building an Inclusive & Healthier Nutley Township Disability Awareness Training-102-Engagement
Subject Matter Expert Training for mental health clinicians.
- Will likely be open to the larger provider community starting in July 2024
- Supporting Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities in Trauma Recovery
- Understanding Depression, Mood Disorders, and Disability
- The Basics of Blindness and Low Vision
Events
Improving Inclusivity
NFSB IHC Blog Posts
- Community Listening Sessions Highlight the Progress of the Inclusive Communities Initiative | Nutley Family Service Bureau
- Inclusive Healthy Communities Initiative Moves to Implementation Phase | Nutley Family Service Bureau
- NJ Human Services Awards $3.25 Million in Additional Grants to Create Inclusive Healthy Communities | Nutley Family Service Bureau
- NFSB receives Inclusive Healthy Communities grant to Support Nutley Residents with Disabilities | Nutley Family Service Bureau
- Vice Principal Devore Brings Inclusivity Training by Nutley Family Service Bureau to Nutley Public Schools | Nutley Family Service Bureau
Quick Facts
- Up to 1 in 4 (27 percent) adults in the United States have some type of disability.
- 1,633,748 adults in New Jersey have a disability; that is equal to 23% or 1 in 4 adults in New Jersey.
- What are the disability types?
- Mobility: Serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs
- Cognition: Serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Independent living: Serious difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office.
- Hearing: Deafness or serious difficulty hearing
- Vision: Blind or serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses
- Self-care: Difficulty dressing or bathing
Resources
- NJ Division of Disability Services: resource information: https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dds/resources/index.shtml
- Disability Rights NJ: New Jersey’s designated Protection and Advocacy agency disabilityrightsnj.org under federal law. It includes the Assistive Technology Center: at4nj.org
- DIAL, Inc.: Center for Independent Living Serving individuals with disabilities in Passaic and Essex Counties. Information and Referral, Advocacy, Peer Support, Independent Living Skills Training, and Facilitating Youth in Transition and Community Transition for people with disabilities on services and relevant issues; Community Education and Outreach; Therapeutic Recreation Program. dial-cil.org/dial
- NJ Council for Developmental Disabilities: The NJCDD is committed to advancing public policy and systems change that helps people with developmental disabilities gain more control over their lives njcdd.org
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NJ): NAMI New Jersey (NAMI NJ) is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness naminj.org
- Mental Health Association of NJ : mission is to strive for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services. mhanj.org
- Brain Injury Alliance NJ: bianj.org
- Autism New Jersey: is a nonprofit agency committed to ensuring safe and fulfilling lives for individuals with autism, their families, and the professionals who support them. autismnj.org
- NJ Self Help Group Clearing House: help people find and form all types of self-help support groups to provide hope, strength and experience to those in need to not feel alone. www.njgroups.org
- CDC Disability ALLY: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/humandevelopment/become-a-disability-ALLY.html
- CDC Disability Data: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html
- US Dept of Labor Disability Labor Force Information https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/disabl.pdf
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