Inclusive Healthy Communities

Empowered Connections

Peer Support Program

About the Program

The new Empowered Connections Peer Support Program embedded within the NFSB Inclusive Healthy Communities Center provides non-clinical, person-centered services, including biweekly one-on-one peer coaching, weekly facilitated group peer support, and assistance navigating housing, employment, and treatment resources to promote stability, independence, and overall well-being among adult consumers (18 and older) dually diagnosed with mental health disorders and disabilities in Nutley Township and surrounding New Jersey communities.

A person with a disability is defined as the ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. This includes people who have a record of such an impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability.

The intended peer support program impact includes:

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

Could use a description line for this section.

Who We Serve

NFSB Inclusive Healthy Community Center, Empowered Connections: Peer Support Program serves Adults (21-and over) with:

Program Structure

Group Peer Support Sessions

(20 or more 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 weeks

*These check-ins will be continuous.

Facilitated by:

NFSB’s highly trained Peer Support Specialist is available to assist adults (18 and older) dually diagnosed with mental health disorders and disabilities.

How to Get Involved

To learn more about joining the
Empowered Connections Peer Support Program, contact:

Ayele Kessouagni, MPH
Inclusive Healthy Community Coordinator (IHC)
(973) 542-8276 Ext. 231 Direct
akessouagni@nutleyfamily.org

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.

The New Jersey Inclusive Healthy Communities Grant Program: A Community of Practice Advancing Disability Inclusion – IHC

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

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

Training and Events

Trainings

Available to the public

Flyer – Sensitivity Training _ENG_ – 3-2024.pdf(Review) – Adobe cloud storage

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

11th Annual Culture Of Health Conference – New Jersey YMCA State Alliance (njymca.org)

Improving Inclusivity

NFSB IHC Blog Posts

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

National stats: Disability and Health Overview | CDC

New Jersey stats: Disability & Health U.S. State Profile Data: New Jersey | CDC Disability and Health Data System Explore by Location | NCBDDD | CDC

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

Credit statement to funder New Jersey Division of Disability Services

Empowered Connections: Peer Support Program