Guest guest Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Hello Families Network! Unfortunately, with financial forecasts constantly changing we still don't have any specific budget news. I know that the uncertainty and lack of information is frustrating. However, we do know that Governor Corzine is still in the process of making some extremely difficult budget decisions for both this year and next year. Until we have some concrete information to operate from, we are continuing our advocacy on the waiting list and the 10% Solution (for those of you new to the Families Network you can learn more about this issue at: http://www.arcnj.org/html/waiting_lists_for_services.html). In response to the letters that the Department of Human Services sent families regarding where they are on the waiting list, we've done outreach to every legislator in the state as well as Commissioner Velez and Assistant Commissioner Ritchey. While we were happy to see the letters go out finally, we know they held devastating news for some families and we wanted to make sure to convey that to both the Administration and the Legislature. I have also been assisting anyone who thought they were on the priority category waiting list, but did not receive a letter. As you know, we also worked with the press to get two articles published in the Star Ledger in the past few weeks about the letters and the waiting list generally. If you have not already done so, you can view a copy of these articles at the above link. We are also working with the National office of The Arc and his producers to put together information for Geraldo , who has agreed to do a show in the coming weeks which will highlight the waiting list as a national crisis. We're also thinking about planning a small " Silent Protest " in front of the Department of Human Services in Trenton for January or February. We want to keep the pressure on the Administration to address the waiting list, regardless of how bad the budget situation is. I welcome any feedback from you about whether you would be willing to participate in this activity, or other similar activities, and any other ideas you may have. In addition to all of that, we're calling on you to help us in a Holiday Card Campaign to the Governor this holiday season. Please respond to this action alert and forward the below (or attached) information to your friends and family and ask them to join us in getting as many cards in to the Governor as we can! Action Needed: Please send Governor Corzine a holiday card personalized with a hand-written message about the waiting list. You can use the holiday cards, letters, or family photos that you are already sending to friends and family. If you are on the priority waiting list and received a letter with your number, you can include a copy of your letter. It is important that you include a personal hand-written note which could say something like: " I know our state is facing a financial crisis, but my family has been in crisis for years. We can't wait any longer for a residential placement for our son Joe. Please fund the 10% Solution. " " Joe is number 3,512 on the waiting list. We are exhausted and losing hope. Please fund the 10% Solution. " " Although Joe is only 5 years old, we know there will come a day when he will need supported housing in our community. When that day comes, we do not want to have to wait years for this essential service. Please fund the 10% Solution. " " Joe has been living independently in a group home for five years now and it has been a lifesaver for our family. Please give other families this same opportunity by funding the 10% Solution. " " This holiday season, please don't forget about people with developmental disabilities who are on the community residential waiting list. Please include funding for the 10% Solution in FY 2010. " Mail your holiday card to: The Honorable Jon Corzine Office of the Governor PO Box 001 State House Trenton, NJ 08625 As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Denbigh Dixon Director, Family Advocacy Program The Arc of New Jersey 985 Livingston Avenue North Brunswick, NJ 08902 (732) 246-2525 ext.49 ddixon@... www.arcfamilyadvocacy.org This e-mail, including any attachments, may be intended solely for the personal and confidential use of the sender and recipient(s) named above. This message may include advisory, consultative and/or deliberative material and, as such, would be privileged and confidential and not a public document. The information may be protected by state and federal laws, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which prohibit unauthorized disclosure. If you have received this e-mail in error, you must not review, transmit, convert to hard copy, copy, use or disseminate this e-mail or any attachments to it and you must delete this message. You are requested to notify the sender by return e-mail immediately. Thank you. ACTION ALERT! Send Governor Corzine a Holiday Card Ask Him to Provide Funding in FY2010 for People with Developmental Disabilities on the Residential Waiting List! Please send Governor Corzine a holiday card personalized with a hand-written message about the residential waiting list for individuals with developmental disabilities. You can use the holiday cards, letters, or family photos that you are already sending to friends and family. If you are on the priority waiting list and received a letter with your number, you can include a copy of your letter. It is important that you include a personal hand-written note which could say something like: " This holiday season, please don't forget about people with developmental disabilities who are on the community residential waiting list. Please include funding for the 10% Solution in FY 2010. " " Joe is number 3,512 on the waiting list. We are exhausted and losing hope. At the rate the waiting list is currently moving, Joe will not get services in his lifetime. Please fund the 10% Solution. " " Although Joe is only 5 years old, we know there will come a day when he will need supported housing in our community. When that day comes, we do not want to have to wait years for this essential service. Please fund the 10% Solution. " " Joe has been living independently in a group home for five years now and it has been a lifesaver for our family. Please give other families this same opportunity by providing funding for individuals with developmental disabilities urgently in need of housing. " " I know our state is facing a financial crisis, but my family has been in crisis for years. We can't wait any longer for a residential placement for our son Joe. Please help us by providing funding for him and other people with developmental disabilities who are on the residential waiting list. " Mail your holiday card to: The Honorable Jon Corzine Office of the Governor PO Box 001 State House Trenton, NJ 08625 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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