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The Arc of New Jersey and the Family Advocacy Program Release White Paper on the New Jersey Community Residential Waiting List

   On March 6, 2008 The Arc of New Jersey and the Family Advocacy Program held a day long series of events at the New Jersey Statehouse calling attention to the critical waiting list for community residential supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. Dozens of families came to the event which included:

• a news conference featuring speakers Senator Steve Sweeney, Parent Lynn Evans, The Arc of NJ President Bruce Bird and Executive Director Thomas Baffuto;
• a presentation of the white paper to policy staff in Governor Jon Corzine's office;
• families testifying at a Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee hearing;
• families testifying at an Assembly health and Human Services Committee hearing; and
• a meeting with Adam Zellner, Director of Policy for Governor Jon Corzine.

   The day was a tremendous success, thanks in great part to our wonderful members of the Family Advocacy Program. News coverage included stories on NJN and TV News 12, an interview on WCTC radio and print stories in the Star Ledger, Daily Record and on the Associated Press Wire. Click on the links below to see the coverage.

Star Ledger
The Record (Bergen)
The Courier News - no longer available online
AP Newswire
NJN - no longer available online
TV 12 News (you must have a subscription to cable to log on to this site)
The Press of Atlantic City editorial

Listen to the Senate Health, Human Services and senior Citizens Committee Hearing here
Listen to the Assembly Human Services Committee hearing here

Below are copies of the fact sheets and press releases handed out at the news conference.
The Arc of New Jersey White Paper on Community Residential Supports

Press Release for the March 6 Event

Chart showing waiting list figures - overall numbers

Chart showing waiting list figures - county by county

Chart showing growth of the waiting list over the past ten years

List of confirmed speakers at the news conference

Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney talks to families at the news conference

Good friends of The Arc, Senator Robert Singer and Senator Anthony Bucco, stopped in to speak to the families

Parent Lynn Evans spoke at the news conference about her daughter Stacy

Lisa Markey testifies at the Assembly Human Services Committee hearing. Looking on are her father, Peter Markey, Stephen Somich and Steve Somich

Stephen Somich presents The Arc of NJ's white paper on the waiting list to Nancy Belonzi, Policy Advisor to Governor Jon Corzine

The Arc of NJ President Bruce Bird speaks at the news conference

Frankie Legutko watches his Mom, Debbie, testify at the Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing. With them is Liz Shea, Assistant Executive Director, The Arc of NJ

The Arc Morris Executive Director Bill Testa speaking with Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce

Tom Baffuto, Linda Darge, Rachel Darge, Nancy Belonzi, Bruce Bird, Director of Policy for Governor Jon Corzine Adam Zellner and Ted Stieve

Senator Jim Whelan listens to Debbie Legutko at the hearing

Press covering the news conference included NJN, TV 12 News, the Star Ledger, and the Associated Press

At the Assembly Human Services Committee hearing, from l to r, Assemblyman Eric Munoz, Assemblyman Sam Thompson and Assemblymwoman Nilsa Cruz Perez

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