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March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month This month, we celebrate not only the welcome arrival of spring, but also Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). This is a special time of year, as it gives us space to reflect on

Looking for a Well-Paying Entry-Level Job Here in Sussex County? Learn more about working for SCARC! Millions of Americans have made career changes over the last 18 months. And, today, there are millions more looking for their next job. If

A Look at SCARC’s Day-Hab Re-Opening Plan For well over a year, SCARC has been operating on a largely virtual basis, providing high-quality online programming via our Digital Day-Hab. But as the state slowly begins a return to normalcy (albeit

Exceptional Training Creates Extraordinary Employees   Here at SCARC, we take staff training very seriously. After all, we are entrusted with the lives of our fellow human beings. Indeed, few roles are more essential to our community than

Everything We Know About the COVID Vaccine for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities While residents (and staff) in long-term care facilities, such as our group homes here at SCARC, were prioritized in the first phase of the COVID vaccine

How the SCARC Foundation Forged a Virtual Path: Achievements Amid a Pandemic The last several months have seen tremendous changes across SCARC’s family of organizations: our services and programs have morphed to protect both residents and

Lift Up Their Voices: Helping Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Vote in 2020 Election Day is fast approaching (Tuesday, November 3!) and it’s going to be different in many ways due to COVID. And while some may feel that COVID is

The Effects of COVID-19 on Special Education (And What You Can Do About It) As COVID-19 continues to dominate our daily lives in countless ways, we have all been affected in one way or another. But families that include children with special needs

As the COVID-19 epidemic continues to create a great deal of uncertainty and unpredictability across the country, we remain cautious in developing and expanding upon our visitation and safety protocols here at SCARC. This is because the health and

Thriving at Home: How Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Can Keep Busy and Stay Engaged All Summer Long Even as New Jersey is slowly reopening, many individuals and families are still practicing social distancing to a great degree. This

Inside a SCARC Group Home: Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic As states begin to open up, SCARC continues its conservative approach to keeping residents safe throughout the pandemic. While the safety of our residents remains of paramount

Families Vote: The Best Healthcare Professionals in North Jersey for Children with Special Needs   Plus, tips on finding your own preferred pros   Finding the best possible healthcare professionals for your child is a daunting

Self-Care for Caregivers During the COVID-19 Crisis Individuals with developmental disabilities tend to benefit from the structure and support typically provided by day programs, hired caregivers, and/or family members and friends. These

6 Ways to Recognize Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month While the spotlight seems firmly on the coronavirus pandemic these days, we wanted to take the time to raise awareness of another important issue: developmental disabilities and how

Volunteerism at SCARC: How You Can Get Involved! Volunteers play an integral role in nearly every facet of our organization. Along with our dedicated staff and generous donors, our volunteers are indispensable, and their energy and dedication

While most people are aware that group homes for adults with developmental disabilities exist, not everyone has a clear understanding of what daily life looks like for those who live in these residences. It’s essential that families who are

Bullying and Children with Developmental Disabilities Now that school is back in full swing, the topic of bullying is at the forefront of many parents’ minds. While any child can be the target of bullies, children with developmental

Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of Autism Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned veteran, it’s critical that you learn the signs and symptoms of autism-spectrum disorder (ASD). There are two main reasons for this. The first is

Nutrition Planning Since our founding more than 60 years ago, SCARC has provided an increasingly comprehensive range of services to individuals living with developmental disabilities and their families. Each one has been thoughtfully designed to

If you’re the parent or caregiver of a loved one with developmental disabilities who is 18 or older, you may be wondering how your child (or other loved one) will access special state-provided services as an adult. This is because when an

For many families whose loved ones have conditions like autism, dementia, or other types of developmental or cognitive disabilities, there exists the constant fear that these individuals might wander away and become lost. This is because individuals

Working With Adults With Developmental Disabilities Though SCARC is primarily involved in working with adults with developmental disabilities as well as with children with developmental disabilities, we believe wholeheartedly in supporting other

CSOC & Other Options At SCARC, we offer an array of valuable family-support options for the families of children and teens with developmental disabilities. There are several types of the services, from agency-provided support options to

If you’re reading this, you probably have an idea of what we do here at SCARC. That is, you know we provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities, such as our day-habilitation program and our supported employment program. But

DSP Work Opportunities With locations all over Sussex County, SCARC is a community-based organization that serves than more than 650 adults and children with developmental disabilities each year, offering a wealth of opportunities for them to live

New Jersey Special Olympics Under the guidance of their dedicated coaches, 24 of our amazing athletes will compete in the powerlifting, swimming, and track-and-field categories at Special Olympics New Jersey’s (SONJ) 2019 Summer Games! SCARC’s

Special considerations for individuals with special needs and their families It’s the time of year when we must start preparing for the snow, ice, and assorted threats that winter will soon be bringing our way.  For individuals with

Services assist individuals with developmental disabilities achieve employment Individuals who are on the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Supports Program or Community Care Program are eligible to receive Supported Employment

SCARC offers a wide range of choices for individuals with developmental disabilities When your child or loved one ages out of school, or their current day program is no longer meeting their needs, you will need to ask the question, What comes

A resource for families of children with developmental disabilities Meeting the needs of a child with developmental disabilities can get expensive…..really expensive.  Parents, of course, will do everything that they can to make sure that their

Should I use provider-based services or self-direct my individual budget? Utilizing self-directed services in lieu of provider-based programs is a relatively new option designed to offer more choice and control to individuals and their families.

Tips for helping a child with special needs transition to a new school year It’s August and a new school year is mere weeks away.  Are you looking forward to it or dreading it?  What about your child?  Both of your answers probably depend on

Transitioning To the Adult Service System in NJ Individuals in New Jersey who have a developmental disability and are turning 21 will transition to a vastly different system than the ones that served them as children. Individuals under twenty-one

Assessing the support needs of individuals with developmental disabilities eligible for DDD services As part of the Division of Developmental Disabilities’ move to a Medicaid Fee-for-Service system, they have introduced a new assessment tool for

Part Two: The Community Care Program As a part of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) provides the public funding for services and supports that address the needs of New Jersey adults with

Part One: The Supports Program In New Jersey, services and support for adults with developmental disabilities are primarily funded through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).  DDD is in the process of rolling all of the services that

Summer recreation program offered for individuals with developmental disabilities We all look forward to summer and the possibilities that sun-drenched days offer.  But for individuals with developmental disabilities, the chance to spend time

New center in Augusta will serve adults and children with developmental disabilities Last year, SCARC celebrated sixty years of providing services and supports to adults and children with developmental disabilities in Sussex County.  This year,

Insights gained while raising a child with developmental disabilities It’s the group that no one seeks to join – mothers of children with developmental disabilities. Like being picked for a team you don’t want to play on, for a game you

DVRS provides service for students transitioning from high school to employment or post secondary education Students with developmental disabilities between the ages of 14 and 21 are eligible for Pre-Employment Transition Services from the NJ

A Dynamic Alternative for Seniors with Developmental Disabilities Active, engaged, enthusiastic - appropriate adjectives to describe the seniors of today.  The days of spending one’s later years in a rocking chair on the porch are gone. 

Certified Guardians provide valuable service to families of individuals with developmental disabilities If you are the parent of an individual with developmental disabilities, there are many worries, many concerns, that haunt your days.  But, the

Understanding the language of the developmental disability service system The use of the primary letters, in the often lengthy terms and titles that comprise the vocabulary of the developmental disability service system, has almost become a

Understanding the Guardianship Process and Your Options When Your Child Turns Eighteen Many parents of individuals with developmental disabilities are surprised to learn, that when their child reaches the age of eighteen, they no longer have the

Self-Hired Respite Available for Individuals Under 21 Families facing the challenges of providing care for their children with developmental disabilities can access a new support through SCARC’s Self-Hired Respite service.  Respite is a support

DDD replaces Case Managers with agency-based Support Coordinators As individuals receiving services through DDD transition into the new Fee-for-Service system, they will also experience another transition.  DDD-employed Case Managers will now be

Fee-for-Service System Replacing Contract-Based System If you care about someone with a developmental disability, it’s a term that you may have been hearing lately – Fee-for-Service.  Besides adding another acronym – FFS – to the alphabet

Harvest Home Foods is one of the diverse day habilitation options offered by SCARC.  Since 1999, Harvest Home Foods has been providing participants with the opportunity to serve their community by addressing the food insecurity experienced by some

When an individual and their family are exploring the residential option of a group home, there are many questions and concerns: For the individual, there may be questions such as - What will it be like living there? Will my life completely

The SCARC Foundation’s Annual Appeal As temperatures fall into the crisp and chilly category and the leaves of autumn become prey for the blasts of leaf blowers, we find ourselves at the time of year when we are called on to count our

Caregiver - it’s a word we use for people who provide care for our children, our elderly, and until recently people with developmental disabilities.  It’s a term that seems fitting to the world because individuals with developmental

As SCARC celebrates its sixtieth anniversary this year, Richard C. Lecher, Ph.D. is also being recognized for his forty-five years as President and CEO of the organization.  When asked of what accomplishment he is most proud, Dr. Lecher waves the

An overview of recent changes in the New Jersey service systems for individuals with developmental disabilities   The systems that serve individuals with developmental disabilities in New Jersey have been undergoing many changes in recent