Transformations at UCP
In addition to new leadership, there are other positive changes on the horizon at UCPNCSNJ. These changes are intended to ultimately improve the services we provide to our consumers and families, and address unmet needs.
- UCP has begun planning for transition services for 18 – 21 year olds, as well as employment training, mentoring, and work opportunities for transitioning and adult consumers;
- Reorganization of UCP’s programs to create divisions based on similarity of services, with the intended purpose being more efficient and effective use of administrative staff and ultimately improved service delivery and accessibility for consumers and their families;
- Implementation of a system for routine feedback from consumers and their families/caregivers on UCP’s services through Satisfaction Surveys as well as input and advice about programming and services needed;
- Development of a UCP business that will provide both an additional income source for the organization, and incorporate employment opportunities for our consumers;
- Offer age-specific out-of home (Hotel) Respite sessions with dates scheduled to better meet the needs of families/caregivers, and activities that better match the interests of the participants.
Watch for updates and features right here on our website regarding our progress with these changes!
Fireworks Ignite Audience
On Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 UCP’s training room was transformed into an art gallery and performance stage. The evening was the culmination of a four-week Summer Arts program, where six participants were engaged in learning and expressing themselves through visual art and music. Instructor Rita Richetti did an impressive job of planning and carrying out the program’s music and art curriculum.
Guests were met at the door and throughout the room with beautiful works of art by the students, including their wonderful interpretations of flowers, trees, self-portraits and masks. During the Summer Arts program each student created an ‘art journal’ containing works using the numerous art mediums they learned including paint, chalk, crayon and fabric. Basic art techniques were displayed amongst the pages along with expressions of color and self-creativity. These journals were a beautiful reflection of how each of the students views and experiences the world.
Throughout the four weeks the students selected and learned their favorite songs. Guests were treated to a musical performance that included Katy Perry’s “Firework”, “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas, and “Baby” by Justin Bieber, “Hey There Deliah” by the Plain White T’s, and “Walk the Dinosaur” by Was Not Was. The students expressed vocals, rhythm, and movement as a form of personal and group expression. During the performance, each student played an instrument and there were solo parts (including rap!) keyboard, drum, and maracas accompaniment, and rhythmic movement.
Incorporating the art and music portions of the arts program, the students performed the song “Firework”, while waving firework “sparklers” they created. At the end of the performance, each student gave their firework sparkler to someone in the audience.
As a show of appreciation, family members in the audience joined their student on stage and sang to them “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars, letting them know they “...are amazing, just the way you are!”
The evening was an ‘amazing’ culmination to this pilot program, with a dessert reception that topped it off with the right amount of sweetness!
"Save Green by Going Green" Fundraiser
To continue with UCP's "go green" campaign, beginning with the use of solar energy when we built our 18 unit apartment complex, the Meadows at Oldwick, to our electronic newsletter, we are now using green energy through Viridian for our service locations at a savings to UCP.
UCP is now offering our families and friends the opportunity to “Save Green by Going Green” at no cost to you and with no contracts to sign. For each household or business that signs up through UCP we will receive a monthly donation from Viridian.
Did you know you have a choice about your electricity supplier? Enrolling with Viridian is safe and easy. The local utility will continue to send the bills and deliver the electricity to your home or office. The only difference you will see is Viridian’s name and low rate listed on the bill.
There are no contracts or fees and signing up takes less than 5 minutes!
· Affordable, greener energy
· Reliable delivery and service provided by your local utility
· No contracts, no setup or cancellation fees
· Enroll online or by phone in less than 5 minutes
Save money. Save the Earth. Why wouldn’t you? To sign up or learn more about Viridian check our websitewww.viridian.com/ucpncsnjenergy or call Viridian at 1-866-663-2508 for current rates on Pure Green and Everyday Green products.
Do You Know About the "Register Ready" Program?
Do you have a disability, or other circumstance, that would make it difficult for you to evacuate your home in an emergency situation? If you would require special help during an emergency evacuation, such as a flood or a major public health threat, you should know about the “Register Ready” program.
If you have any physical or cognitive limitations, language difficulty or transportation problems, you may need help getting yourself to a safe place with family, friends or a public shelter. Phones may not be working in a crisis so registering with “Register Ready” as soon as possible, before an evacuation, will notify emergency evacuation officials that you (and your pets) will need special help in the case of an evacuation.
Below are three ways to register for the “Register Ready” program:
- Call Hunterdon Helpline at 1-800-272-4630 and the staff will answer your questions and help you register over the phone;
- Call 211 and the staff will help you register by phone. TTY/TDD translation services are also available; or
- Use the internet and go to www.co.hunterdon.nj.us. Then click the quick link for “Register Ready” and complete the registry online.
Please tell your friends and neighbors about the “Register Ready” program.
Agencies and other programs that serve people who would need special help in the case of an evacuation are also encouraged to register.
Project Lifesaver
The Project Lifesaver program has been implemented by most County Sheriff's Offices in an effort to provide enhanced support and assistance to residents who are primary caregivers for an individual suffering from Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia disorder as well as families of children afflicted with Down syndrome, autism, traumatic brain injuries or cognitive impairments.
These individuals might be prone to wander away from home and become confused or lost. Project Lifesaver allows for a proactive response by law enforcement if this happens.
This not only saves time and manpower but also gives caregivers and families peace of mind and reassurance that all possible resources will be utilized in the effort to locate and return their loved one home safely.
Participants in the Project Lifesaver program wear a special wrist or ankle bracelet equipped with a small transmitter which emits a signal that law enforcement can track when someone goes missing.
Search times have been reduced from days and hours to minutes. Average recovery times are well under 30 minutes.
The Sheriff's officer installs the bracelet, trains the authorized representative on how the program works and develops a schedule for performing routine maintenance which will be done by a sheriff's officer or designated agency. To find out more about this lifesaving program, call your local sheriff's office or visit the Project Lifesaver website at www.projectlifesaver.org.
Bellows Fund
The Elsie S. Bellows Fund was established in 1995 to provide assistive technology equipment to financially needy individuals with disabilities. Such equipment can range from computer access devices to wheelchairs and augmentative communication aids. The Elsie S. Bellows Fund provides funds to UCP affiliates to purchase equipment which then becomes the property of the disabled person. For more information on the Bellows Fund or to request an application, please email .
UCP Ski Team Experiences Success at
2011 Special Olympics Winter Games
This was the first year United Cerebral Palsy of Northern, Central and Southern New Jersey participated in the Special Olympics with our newly formed ski team consisting of 3 alpine skiers; Robert Delaney, Wayne George and William Fischer. The group was part of Area 3 - Winter Games which included Morris, Warren and Sussex Counties and competed in ice skating, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing at Mountain Creek Ski Resort in Vernon and Skylands Ice World in Stockholm.
The Winter Games began Monday, February 7th with an outdoor opening ceremony at Mountain Creek that included a parade of athletes, the carrying of the torch, and an awesome fireworks display. This was a spectacular three day event.
On Tuesday evening, there was a dinner dance at the Crystal Springs Resort. It was a beautiful setting with good food, music and great dancing. The team stayed at the fabulous Black Creek Condos. Each morning we enjoyed breakfast in our condo before heading for the slopes which, conveniently, were only two miles away. The surroundings set the stage for a fun-filled event for all.
Here are the results of the 2011 Special Olympics Winter Games United Cerebral Palsy Ski Team:
Robert Delaney: Slalom: 2nd Giant Slalom: 1st
Wayne George: Slalom: 1st Giant Slalom: 3rd
William Fischer: Slalom: 1st Giant Slalom: 1st
With more than 400 athletes competing in a variety of events this was an exciting three days. What a fabulous Winter Games experience for all! Congratulation to the UCP Ski Team and coach Kim Tackett, for a job well done!
VOLUNTEER VENTURES
MetLife Foundation recently awarded a VOLUNTEER VENTURES grant of $1,000 to United Cerebral Palsy of Northern, Central and Southern New Jersey, Inc., in support of a project proposed by Kelly Piacenti, a MetLife employee who volunteers with the organization. The project is an innovative service that provides people with disabilities individualized social and life skill development in an integrated community setting that serves as a foundation for independence and sustainable employment. Individuals with disabilities often have limited opportunities to learn social and life skills in a community setting often creating a long and barrier filled path to employment.
This project identifies individualized, long-term employment goals, as well as the social and life skills needed to achieve these goals. Participants are allowed to develop skills at their own pace, in their own community increasing the practicality and transferability of skills. Participants use the skills they gained through Community Mentors as a stepping stone to achieve employment.
The VOLUNTEER VENTURES Program encourages and supports employee involvement at the local level in nonprofit organizations that work to improve the quality of life for all. Grants are made for specific projects in which MetLife employees have continuing involvement as volunteers.
Through the past 23 years UCP had been driven by an unvarying dedication to making a difference in the community for families and creating a "life without limits for people with disabilities." The mission of UCP is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities. This mission is realized through a variety of innovative services and programs that meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. Within the past few years the agency has implemented several new services and initiatives to meet the needs of the disability community.
Community Mentors is one such initiative that has been embraced and supported by our dedicated Board of Trustees. One of these Trustees, MetLife employee, Kelly Piacenti, has provided invaluable support and guidance to the agency in general and to the development of the Community Mentors service model specifically. Kelly has been a valued and motivating Trustee with UCP since 2007.
Kessler Foundation Awards Grant for Community Mentors
UCP is excited to announce that we have been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Kessler Foundation to support our Community Mentors program!
Community Mentors is an innovative service that provides young adults with disabilities individualized life skill development in a community setting, laying the foundation for independence. This program was developed in 2006 in response to a perceived need in our community for life skill training for youth transitioning out of school. Over the ensuing years, Community Mentors has experienced tremendous successes and milestones in skill-development and goal achievement for its participants in helping them increase independence and secure employment. This is attributable to our individualized approach to the service: using trained Mentors whose skills and experiences are compatible with the goals set by our participants. Some of the skills enhanced via Community Mentors include: money management, social interaction, accessing public transportation, navigating the higher education system, and self-advocacy.
Despite such successes, the current economic climate prevented UCP from continuing to deliver the Community Mentors service. This grant from the Kessler Foundation will allow us to expand and enhance Community Mentors over the next year by opening it up to a wider geographical area and taking on additional mentors and participants. If you are interested in receiving this service or becoming a volunteer Mentor, please contact Dan Smith at 908-879-2243 x16 or
United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County’s Rehab Solutions has partnered with us in offering our families, friends and other non-profits discounted health and wellness products, medical supplies and equipment delivered right to your door. Visit their website at www.RehabSolutionsOnline.com and start shopping. We ask that you call in your order to 888.363.3678 and mention our name, UCP of Northern, Central and Southern NJ for prompt courteous service until the promotion codes are available to order on-line. Should you have questions please call Dennis McGrath on 516.867.0089 or email him at .
