(Courtesy of CSN) Community Supports Network (CSN), an authorized DDD and DVRS provider of services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, recently announced the date for its third Annual Youth Transition Fair to be hosted at Bergen Community College on Tuesday, June 18, from 4-7 p.m..
Ted Mayer, president and CEO of the New Jersey-based organization, is excited to once again partner with the local college to bring families and service providers together. “Our previous event was our biggest yet,” Mayer stated. “Last May we placed over 50 service providers in a position to engage with both families and their children in a meaningful and productive way. The way we see it, the largest problem parents are faced with as their children transition into adulthood is in finding qualified supports that mirror their children’s interests.”
For some who are ready and willing, finding employment may be a possibility. For others, services that will provide them with a higher level of independence may be a goal. Many individuals may also benefit from sharing in the company of a companion to take them to a movie or to a social engagement. “Many of our families tell us finding these services are akin to falling off a cliff without a parachute,” Mayer added. “I’m often asked: Who do we speak with? Where do we go? What’s available?”
Attending events like a provider fair places parents and providers in each other’s sights and takes the guesswork out of what comes next after school. The event, which last year drew over 300 families to Bergen Community College’s Technology Center, will prove to be even bigger than previous years. With over 28,000 adults receiving services in New Jersey alone, the need to seek out qualified support staff, daytime staff, and residential staffing can quickly become a full-time responsibility. Add in daily activities and employment services and one quickly realizes that choices need to be made. For many families, navigating a child’s DDD budget can be a daunting task. This is why Mayer embarked on a mission to educate families as to what services would be available.
His company, Community Supports Network, has been in business over eight years and has a staff of over 200 full-time direct support professionals providing support to over 600 families in northern New Jersey. Mayer added, “We find ourselves on a mission to educate as well as deliver on our promise to assist families to find the right supports for their family members. We not only provide gender-specific staff but we have a full complement of technicians ready to provide support to both behavioral and complex medical cases. The event offers service seekers the opportunity to learn about available opportunities, and in doing so, individuals and their families benefit through shared experiences.”
To find out about services or to attend this or any other upcoming event, reach out to event staff by emailing [email protected] or calling (201) 919-3211.
