In this Week's Edition
News
SHA Member Meeting Recap
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Celebration of Life for Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver
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HUD Funding Opportunities
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):
Exploring Office-to-Residential Conversions
PRO Housing Notice of Funding Opportunity
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Opioid Expansion 2024
Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA)
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Biden-Harris Administration
Announces Actions to Protect Renters,
Lower Housing Costs and Boost Supply
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Human Services Announces Plan
to Replace Stolen Food & Cash
Assistance Benefits to Fraud Victims
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Stay Online With the
Affordable Connectivity Program
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Updated Dates and Times for
VAWA 2022 CoC and ESG Webinar Series
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NJ DHS DMHAS Seeks
Public Comment on New Jersey’s
1115 Comprehensive Demonstration
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The Network Now Accepting
Pre-Applications for Jumpstart Program
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NJHMFA 2023 Fall Tax Credit
Certification Course and Exam
Plus available housing and waitlists below
Resources & Events
Foothold Technology Webinar
Integrations - Single Source of Truth
August 9, 2023
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The Peer Support Experience:
In Our Own Words
August 10, 2023
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Regional Plan Association
Webinar on Age-Friendly Housing
August 15, 2023
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Using an Equity Framework to
Evaluate & Improve Medicaid Home
and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
August 16, 2023
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DCM Institute for Nonprofit Board
Executive Leadership
Fall 2023 Certificate Program
September - December 2023
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Next SHA
Members Meeting
August 2, 2023
Virtual
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Next SHA
Developers Meeting
September 11, 2023
Virtual
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Save the Date
NJ Governors Conference
September 28-29 2023
Registration Now Open
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Monarch Housing Associates Conference
Housing as a
Human Right:
An Asset-Based Approach to
Housing Justice
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Somerset, NJ
Registration Open
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Under One Roof 2023
The Network's
Annual Conference
Friday, October 20, 2023
Hyatt Regency
New Brunswick
Registration Open
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Community Health
Law Project’s
35th Annual Ann Klein Advocate Awards
October 26, 2023
West Orange, NJ
Save the Date!
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Horizon NJ Health is seeking a Housing Specialist in Southern NJ.
This position is responsible for helping to identify, secure, and maintain community-based housing for MLTSS/SNP/Medicaid Members and for developing, articulating, and implementing a broader housing strategy within the Contractor to expand housing availability/options. The Housing Specialist(s) shall act as the Contractors central housing expert(s)/resource(s), providing education and assistance to all Contractors relevant staff (care managers and others) regarding supportive housing services and related issues for MLTSS Members.
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Save the Date!
25th Annual Supportive
Housing Conference
Friday, November 3, 2023
The Palace at Somerset Park
333 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ
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Boost Your Organization As A Sponsor / Exhibitor | |
Make the most of your support and sharing your organization with attendees through various levels of sponsorship. Review our form and choose a sponsor level to start sharing your logo, information, and content with our attendees. | |
Do you have a product or service to share with our attendees? Get a space in our exhibit hall while they last and meet attendees who want to learn more about your story. Connect and network with a diverse community across the state who join us for this annual event. | |
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Remember: Premier Level Sponsors (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) will also receive a year of membership with the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey | |
Nominate Excellence in Supportive Housing | |
Nominations due Friday, August 25, 2023. | |
SHA Members Meeting Recap
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for our August Member Meeting. It was a full session covering a variety of topics including:
- Harry Reyes, Assistant Division Director, DMHAS gave updates from the state level including the latest fair market rate (FMR) information.
- Kate Kelly, Associate Executive Director, SHA shared developments on SHA's Integrated Community Project and was publicly welcomed by the community in her new role as our Associate Executive Director
- Sharon Barker, Vice President and COO, HCDNNJ spoke about The Network's new Jumpstart Program, a multiyear program that will be available to organizations, including those that have faced financial hardship and wish to grow or reestablish their development programs.
- Pete Rosky, Senior VP, NJ Market Leader, Risk Strategies discussed the benefits of Professional Employer Organizations (PEO) providing integrated services to effectively manage critical human resource responsibilities and employer risks for small and medium sized businesses
- Dr. Kathe Newman and Dr. Eric Seymour from Rutgers revealed insights in work with The New Jersey State of Affordable Rental Housing (NJSOARH) project. NJSOARH seeks to better understand the state of rental housing in New Jersey, the processes that shape housing security, and community and resident experiences.
Our next member meeting will be in person and if you want to access great meetings link this, reach out to Joseph Christensen to make the most of SHA Membership.
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Congratulations to our own Kate Kelly who has taken on additional responsibilities and now is working with our community as SHA's Associate Executive Director. We are grateful for her talents and experience managing the Integrated Community Project as well as the new areas she adds with our annual conference.
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Ribbon cutting at Hamilton Woods. Photo Credit: Michael Sabo, Project Freedom | |
SHA Welcomes New & Returning
Members In 2023
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Celebration of Life for Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver | |
Lt. Governor Oliver speaking at the 2019 ground breaking site of the recently completed (2023) Barclay Place. | |
As we all pause to mark the passing of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and the caring legacy of service she dedicated to our communities, Governor Murphy and the Oliver Family have announced details on the celebration of life that will follow next week.
The public are invited to attend the following events to celebrate her life and pay their respects:
Thursday, Aug. 10: Members of the public are invited to pay their respects to Oliver in the Statehouse Rotunda, where she will lie in state. Oliver will be escorted and accompanied by a rotating honor guard from the New Jersey State Police.
Friday, Aug. 11: In the morning, Oliver will be escorted to the Essex courthouse by the State Police honor guard, where the public is again invited to pay respected as she lies in state. There she will be accompanied by a rotating honor guard from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office.
Saturday, Aug. 12: A State Police honor guard will accompany Oliver to the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, where she grew up, for a memorial service open to members of the public.
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HUD Funding Opportunities
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):
Exploring Office-to-Residential Conversions
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HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research is excited to announce a new funding opportunity to study recent efforts to convert downtown office buildings to properties with residential units since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vacant office buildings coupled with a crisis of affordable housing have recently spurred efforts among city leaders to jointly address these issues through incentives and flexibilities that allow for the conversion of vacant office buildings for residential use. Research supported by this NOFO will compile case studies of conversion projects that have taken place since the start of the pandemic, improve understanding of the financing limitations associated with conversions and the policy reforms and subsidies that can make projects more economically viable, propose metrics to evaluate conversions on housing affordability and other outcomes, and develop a guide for local leaders and practitioners.
HUD will award up to $860,000 under this NOFO. Submitted research proposals must describe how the knowledge generated under the proposed project will contribute to understanding the federal, state, or local policies and programs designed to address office-to-residential conversions.
Proposals are due by October 12, 2023.
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PRO Housing Notice of Funding Opportunity
HUD recently issued a preview of an upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity — Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing). Through competitive grants, HUD will provide $85 million in funding for communities across the country to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. PRO Housing supports communities that are actively taking steps to remove barriers to affordable housing, such as barriers caused by outdated zoning, land use policies, or regulations; inefficient procedures; gaps in available resources for development; deteriorating or inadequate infrastructure; lack of neighborhood amenities; or challenges to preserving existing housing stock such as increasing threats from natural hazards, redevelopment pressures, or expiration of affordability requirements. This first-of-its-kind funding highlights the efforts of communities who have committed to housing-forward policies and practices.
To learn more about the specifics of the PRO Housing NOFO and application requirements, HUD will host a series of webinars. For more information, visit the PRO Housing website.
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Opioid Expansion 2024 Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) | |
The Division of HIV, STD, & TB Services is pleased to announce the release of the Opioid Expansion 2024 Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) and corresponding Request for Applications (RFA). Both can be accessed by visiting the Department of Health Directory of Grant Programs https://healthapps.state.nj.us/noticeofgrant/noticegrants.aspx#.
Technical Assistance (TA) Session dates are listed in the RFA, and are the only opportunities for potential applicants to ask questions about the RFA or application process. DHSTS staff are not permitted to address any questions related to the RFA outside of these sessions. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Please feel free to share this message with colleagues and community members, and we look forward to your continued collaboration in the provision of harm reduction services for the people of New Jersey.
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Biden-Harris Administration
Announces Actions to Protect Renters,
Lower Housing Costs and Boost Supply
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The Biden-Harris Administration is building on this framework and announcing a series of new, concrete actions to protect renters, which include:
- Ensuring all renters have an opportunity to address incorrect tenant screening reports;
- Providing new funding to support tenant organizing efforts; and
- Ensuring that renters are given fair notice in advance of eviction.
This announcement builds on a record of action and progress on behalf of renters.
The Biden-Harris Administration has taken bold action to address issues of housing supply and lower costs through its Housing Supply Action Plan, including actions also announced, and is announcing new actions on renters protections here.
These actions include:
Ensuring fair tenant screening practices. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and three independent agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA) are each releasing guidance or best practices to landlords, operators, and stakeholders who rely on tenant screening reports when evaluating applications from renters. This guidance communicates the Administration’s expectations on informing renters of what information in their screening report is responsible for their application being denied. This information will help renters by giving them an opportunity to correct errors in their reports and address issues that impact their applications.
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Human Services Announces Plan to Replace
Stolen Food & Cash Assistance Benefits to Fraud Victims
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Human Services has received federal approval to replace food and cash assistance benefits stolen through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card skimming schemes, which are on the rise nationwide. Households that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and the General Assistance (GA) program can now request reimbursement for benefits that have been stolen on or after October 1, 2022.
The U.S. Congress passed a law in late December 2022 to replace SNAP benefits stolen via card skimming, card cloning, and other similar methods, in response to increased reports of benefit theft. The law allows states to use federal funds to replace benefits stolen electronically between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024. Prior to this law, states had no authority to replace benefits that had been stolen from a SNAP household.
New Jersey then received approval in late May from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to replace stolen benefits. In addition, the recently signed FY2024 state budget extended the same protection to the public assistance programs TANF and GA, which utilize the same EBT system.
“We realize how devastating it can be to learn that the benefits you depend on for food and other basic necessities are suddenly gone," Deputy Commissioner of Social Services Elisa Neira said. "We encourage anyone who has had their benefits stolen to report the theft and submit a claim as soon as they notice their benefits are missing. Reports can be completed online, by phone, or in-person at the local County Board of Social Services."
“We urge individuals and families to continue to be proactive and take the necessary steps to protect their benefits when they are out shopping," said Assistant Commissioner Natasha Johnson, who oversees the Department’s Division of Family Development. "If you are unsure about the authenticity of any communication you receive concerning your food or cash assistance benefits, you can contact your local County Board of Social Services to verify."
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Stay Online With the Affordable Connectivity Program | |
Some New Jerseyans can receive up to $30 off their monthly internet service and up to $100 off qualifying smartphones, tablets, and other devices through the Affordable Connectivity Program. New Jerseyans enrolled in NJ FamilyCare, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (NJ WIC), and some other programs qualify automatically. Others can qualify based on their income level. | |
Updated Dates and Times for
VAWA 2022 CoC and ESG Webinar Series
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HUD is sponsoring a three-part webinar series about the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (“VAWA 2022”) to increase the capacity and knowledge of Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and Continuum of Care (CoC) housing and homeless services providers about housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in homeless services systems. This series features technical assistance providers, policy experts, and community leaders to showcase both requirements and best practices around VAWA implementation.
Note: The dates and times for the webinars have been updated. Please see the new dates and times featured below.
Training Objectives
Participants will:
- Learn about VAWA housing provisions that apply to CoC and ESG grantees
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Learn about VAWA 2022 updated definitions and provisions as outlined in the VAWA letter to CoC/ESG program recipients
- Explore requirements and best practices for developing and implementing emergency transfer plans (ETPs)
- Engage in a panel discussion between VAWA experts and community leaders regarding all aspects of VAWA implementation for CoCs and CoC/ESG recipients
Schedule
Understanding VAWA - August 10, 2023 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM
This session will provide CoCs and ESG recipients an overview of VAWA and VAWA 2022 Reauthorization.
VAWA ETPs: CoC and ESG Reqs & Best Practices August 17, 2023 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM
This session will provide in-depth knowledge for CoCs and ESG recipients about developing an ETP as required by VAWA. Presenters will provide information about both requirements and best practices for ensuring ETPs are tailored to local strengths and needs.
Community Conversations: VAWA in Practice - August 31, 2023 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM
This session will feature a panel of VAWA experts and community leaders discussing all aspects of VAWA implementation for CoCs and CoC/ESG recipients.
Joining Instructions
The first webinar in the series, Understanding VAWA, will take place on August 10, 2023 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM EDT.
Participants do not need to register in advance. It is strongly recommended that participants join the webinar 15 minutes prior to the start time. To join the webinar, simply access the login page at the link here.
Training Point of Contact
If you have any questions or encounter difficulties joining VAWA 2022 CoC and ESG Webinar Series, please contact Gordon Levine at gordon.levine@icf.com.
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NJ DHS DMHAS Seeks Public Comment on
New Jersey’s 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration
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The Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) will hold a virtual post-award forum whereby the state will seek public input on the progress of New Jersey’s 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration. Members of the public must pre-register to provide comments virtually during the meeting.
Background: On March 30th, 2023, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a renewal of the New Jersey FamilyCare 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration. This demonstration, authorized under section 1115 of the Social Security Act, governs the operations of significant components of New Jersey’s Medicaid program and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This demonstration is currently in its third five-year performance period, which is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2028. This notice is being provided pursuant to the federal requirements in 42 C.F.R. § 431.420(c).
The Post-Award Forum details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Meeting Link: Pre-register here
Comments or questions can be emailed to DMAHS.CMWcomments@dhs.nj.gov.
Written comments must be received by September 12, 2023. Additional information regarding the New Jersey 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration renewal may be found here.
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The Network Now Accepting
Pre-Applications for Jumpstart Program
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The Housing and Community Development Network of NJ (the Network), with the support of NJ’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA), announced the launch of a new program providing comprehensive training and certification for quality affordable housing production. Available to nonprofit community developers with a focus on Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) developers, the Jumpstart Program focuses on homeownership development to help close NJ’s racial wealth gap.
Supported by the NJ Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Jumpstart Program is a multiyear program that will be available to organizations, including those that have faced financial hardship and wish to grow or reestablish their development programs. Utilizing experts in the field to serve as trainers and consultants, program participants will receive comprehensive training, stepping through all phases of the development process including planning, acquisition, financing, project management and more. Participants will also learn about developing a business plan, marketing tools, community outreach, and preparation of potential homeowners through housing counseling. Rhonda Coe, of R.B. Coe Consulting LLC, will lead the initiative.
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NJHMFA 2023 Fall Tax Credit Certification Course and Exam | |
Save the Date! | October 24-27, 2023
New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency is pleased to sponsor a four-day Tax Credit Certification Course and Exam to be held October 24-27, 2023 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hamilton, NJ.
Attendance is strongly suggested for those who are new to the Tax Credit Program and need to meet the Tax Credit Certification requirement per the QAP.
Event Details
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Course Dates: October 24th, 25th & 26th (9am to 4pm each day)
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HCCP Exam/Retake Date: October 27th (9am to 2pm)
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Location: Hilton Garden Inn - Hamilton, 800 US Highway 130, Hamilton, NJ 08691
Event Fees
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Tax Credit Certification Course Only: $545
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Tax Credit Certification Course & HCCP Exam: $725
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Tax Credit Certification Course & HCCP Exam Retake: $645
Online registration and more
information to follow soon.
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Resources & Virtual Forums | |
Foothold Technology Webinar
Integrations - Single Source of Truth
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Wednesday, August 9, 2023 | 12:00 pm ET
Data is critical to the success of any human services organization. Many organizations have disparate systems to handle the different functions within the agency. Pulling different data sources has become increasingly complex and more necessary than ever.
In this webinar data team experts, Alex Attinson and Meghan Branca, will discuss the need to have a single source of truth with your data, how to use data integration strategies to achieve that goal, and guidance to move your organization towards that goal.
Click here to register for this wevbinar
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The Peer Support Experience: In Our Own Words | |
August 10, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Time
This webinar, led by panelists currently providing peer services, will introduce a new toolkit developed to provide guidance and strategies to integrate and sustain peer workers within homeless service organizations. Speakers will explore the impact of peer-led services on outcomes, identify opportunities for support, and reflect on their experiences with onboarding and daily operations in these roles.
Speakers:
- Daisy Hernandez, MSW (Moderator), Trainer, Director of Recovery Education Collaborative, C4 Innovations
- Emil Caron, CTP, CRPS-Veteran, Director of Recovery Support Services, Recovery Connections of Central Florida
- Laura Corley, CPSS, Certified Peer Support Specialist, Council on Substance Abuse NCADD, Montgomery, AL
- Dez Martinez, Founder, We Are Not Invisible, Fresco, CA
This webinar will be recorded, and ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided. Certificates of participation will be provided to those who complete a post-event evaluation, but no CEUs are included in this event.
Click here to register for this webinar
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Regional Plan Association
Webinar on Age-Friendly Housing
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August 15, 2023 | 12:00 PM ET
Join RPA and SHA's own Diane Riley for a webinar, sponsored by the Henry & Marilyn Taub Foundation, about age-friendly housing in New Jersey.
Featuring
- Diane Riley, Executive Director of Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey
- Council President Mia Sacks of Princeton
- Harold Simon, former Executive Director of Shelterforce
- Zoe Baldwin, RPA’s New Jersey Director
- Sophia Pereira, RPA’s Governor James J. Florio Intern
Click here to register for the webinar
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Using an Equity Framework to Evaluate & Improve Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) | |
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. ET
This webinar, Using an Equity Framework to Evaluate & Improve Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services, will use Justice in Aging’s HCBS Equity Framework to help advocates and other stakeholders think about the ways in which equity is embedded in HCBS and to advance policies to ensure all eligible individuals have access to adequate and quality services. Presenters will walk through the Framework and provide examples of inequities in policies, program rules, and decision points. The webinar will help attendees use the Framework to identify similar issues and equity-centered solutions in the HCBS programs they work on.
Who Should Participate:
Aging, disability and legal advocates, HCBS program administrators, providers, community-based organizations working with older adults and people with disabilities, and policymakers.
Presenters:
Amber Christ, Managing Director of Health Advocacy, Justice in Aging
Natalie Kean, Director of Federal Health Advocacy, Justice in Aging
Gelila Selassie, Senior Attorney, Justice in Aging
Click here to register for this webinar
Capacity for this session is limited to 1,000 participants, and all participants will have the option of accessing audio through the computer or by phone. Closed captioning will be available. Please be sure to log onto the webinar a few minutes early in order to secure your place for the live presentation on Zoom. The presentation will be recorded and available for later viewing. If you would like to request ASL interpretation or have other accessibility related questions, please email info@justiceinaging.org.
Zoom Registration Update: For security reasons, when you register for a webinar, the join link will no longer be displayed on the confirmation page of your web browser. Instead, you will find the join link in the email confirmation, which will be sent to you as usual. If you don’t receive an email from Zoom, check your junk folder. And add Zoom to your list of approved senders.
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DCM Institute for Nonprofit Board Executive Leadership
Fall 2023 Certificate Program
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The DCM Institute for Nonprofit Board Executive Leadership certificate program is intended for current CEOs/executive directors, executive leadership team members, and those emerging leaders who hope to become executive leaders in the future. This program includes seven courses over three months taught virtually by nationally recognized nonprofit leadership executives, coaches, authors, and search consultants.
Session Topics:
September 7th
Think Before You Speak/Act
Instructor: Dr. Terrence F. Cahill
September 21st
Transformational Leadership Competencies
Needed by Today's & Tomorrow's Leaders
Instructor: Dr. Yvonne Styles
October 5th
Finding Your North Star:
Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Teams
Instructor: Gregory Nielsen
October 19th
Ambassador Excellence:
Fresh Perspectives on Friendraising for Nonprofit Leaders
Instructor: Jay Weisman
November 2nd
Touchstones of Leadership: Examine How Being Mission-Based, Client-Oriented, Talent Driven, Inclusive, and Strategic Provides Effective Leadership
Instructor: Joe Costa
November 16th
Building a Healthy Culture and Organization: How Culture Impacts Every Aspect of an Organization
Instructor: Michael Shriver
December 7th
Learning From Adversity
Instructor: Dr. Jim McGuirk
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There are many great ways of supporting SHA: Join as a member or send donations.
Thank you for your support!
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Want all the member benefits with SHA? Visit our website or contact Joseph Christensen to apply or manage your membership.
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Members can post jobs to find applicants within the wider supportive housing community. Click on the button to visit our job page.
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Advocate ● Educate ● Support
The Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey unites its diverse coalition of members engaging development, resources, and information to sustain supportive housing systems within New Jersey. Since 1998, our statewide mission seeks to enhance lives and accessibility to enable independent living within our communities.
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Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey
185 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ 07079
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