Charting the LifeCource

New Jersey

Grounded in the belief that every person has the right to live, love, learn, work, and thrive in their community.

For people with disabilities and families to be empowered to communicate their vision for a good life and for professionals and systems to ask questions, listen, and act on strategies to help us reach this vision.

What We Are Working On

The New Jersey State Team is working to build a system where every person with a disability and their family can share what a good life looks like for them. We want professionals to listen, work together, and take real action to help make that vision happen.

In 2023, we created the State Action Team to help move this work forward. The team includes self‑advocates, family members, professionals, and state leaders who all care about improving person‑centered practices in New Jersey. The team is organized into five life‑stage groups:
 
  • Children and Youth
  • Transition
  • Adult Group 1
  • Adult Group 2
  • Aging
 
Right now, the State Action Team is focusing on reaching communities that we have not been able to connect with in the past. Our goal is to build trust, learn about their experiences, and understand the challenges they face when trying to access disability services and supports.
 
Over the past few months, each life‑stage group has:
  • Chosen a community they want to begin connecting with
  • Created a simple one‑page flyer explaining who we are and how we can help
  • Planned the first steps for outreach and relationship building
 
Below, you will find the one‑page flyers we will be using. These will continue to grow and change as we learn more and build stronger relationships with each community.

Patricia Brennan

Lead Facilitator

Division of Developmental Disabilities
patricia.brennan@dhs.nj.gov

Jonathan Seifried

Assistant Commissioner

Division of Developmental Disabilities
jonathan.seifried@dhs.nj.gov

Mercedes Witowsky

Executive Director

New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities

mercedes.witowsky@njcdd.org

Colleen McLaughlin

Co-Director
Director, UCEDD

Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development

colleen.mclaughlin@rutgers.edu

Image New Jersey State Team's One Page PDF titled "Your Voice. Your Choice."

Your Voice, Your Choice

Exploring Options for Getting the Most from Your Services
An overview designed to help adults with disabilities and their families understand person-centered options so they can work with providers to shape services that reflect what matters most to them.

Click Here to Download the Your Voice, Your Choice One-Page Resource (PDF)

Image New Jersey State Team's One Page PDF titled "Person centered Thinking and Planning."

Person-Centered Thinking and Planning

It Starts with You
A resource for families that introduces person-centered planning and explains how focusing on strengths, goals, and choices can reduce stress and support confident planning for the future.

Click Here to Download the Person centered Thinking and Planning One-Page Resource (PDF)

Image New Jersey State Team's One Page PDF titled "Helping Families Pan for the Future."

Helping Families Plan for the Future

Health Care and Aging
A guide that supports families as they navigate health care and aging by offering tools to organize medical information, prepare for appointments, and connect with trusted providers.

Click Here to Download the Helping Families Plan for the Future One-Page Resource (PDF)

Image New Jersey State Team's One Page PDF titled "Building Student Success with Person-Centered Supports."

Building Student Success with Person-Centered Supports

An introduction to person-centered planning in education that helps families share their child’s strengths and goals so IEPs better support success at every stage of schooling.

Click Here to Download the Building Student Success with Person-Centered Supports One-Page Resource (PDF)

Image New Jersey State Team's One Page PDF titled "Transition Planning."

Transition Planning

Building the Path from Middle School to Adulthood
A transition-focused overview that encourages families to start early planning in middle school using person-centered tools to prepare students for life after high school.

Click Here to Download the Transition Planning One-Page Resource (PDF)

Innovation/Focus Areas

  • Built the foundation for strong agency partnerships in commitment to utilization of the tools and shifting the mindset in how supports are utilized.
  • Created a Community of Practice Family Action Group under the Regional Family Support Planning Councils statewide.
  • Integrate Charting the LifeCourse principles across the system and focus on cross-system communication.
  • Established a Stakeholders Workgroup and an Action Group for CoP activities
  • Infused the CoP philosophy into DDD’s practice, especially in the areas of transition, intake, waiting list and support coordination units.
  • Currently working on grounding the Charting the LifeCourse principles into Front Door practices.
  • Empower families to come to the system with their hopes and dreams for the future so they can be put into action.

State Team Success Stories

  • Families have begun to utilize some of the tools such as the integrated supports star and the trajectory in order to bring to the table when they are having initial meetings with professionals.
  • Creation of a statewide team that breaks down silos and includes systems partners across the state.  Envisioning the Good Life through all the life Stages workgroup.
  • Various publications include CoP philosophy and CtLC tools (see below)

Resouces and Highlights

Boggs Center’s publications that incorporate CoP philosophy and CtLC tools include:

CoP Family Action Group Advocacy Series

Supporting Links

New Jersey State Team Lead Partners/Agencies

The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development Logo
New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities Logo