“With Faith in the Future (Still)”

“We in human services are at a crossroads, it seems.  Now, more than ever, the mission of improving the lot of our fellow citizens – Somerset County residents in this case – is a critical one.  Irrespective of one’s political party of choice there should be a level of empathy and concern for those less fortunate among us that is at the very foundation of evolved civilization. My role as County Human Services Director is to do my very best to work hard to carry forward the mission of SCDHS: …’to improve the quality of life of all county residents by promoting the economic, social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being and safety of residents and communities.’  It is a mission that I believe is at the very core of us bothering to show up and do what we do each day.  I am truly thankful for the ability to fight for the mission and am concerned that achieving it may become less ‘doable’ as a practical matter.” –Michael Frost, December of 2016

The pensive picture above was taken at our Thanksgiving Day table in late November of 2016, a few days before I wrote my “crossroads” comments.  I’m grayer now, but no less pensive. If 2016 was a fork in the road, 2020 is, perhaps, the road itself.

The provision of human services in Somerset County covers a great deal of ground.  Our department provides programs, resources, and an array of concrete deliverables to seniors, veterans, youth, folks in need of mental health treatment, families, renters, job seekers, people struggling with substance use, and much more.  Providing these services at a county level, in the face of what we’ve all experienced over the four years since I wrote the opening comments, has been challenging, to say the least.  It is safe to say that the populations we serve have been through a great deal since I wrote my initial comments, particularly during the COVID pandemic.  Seniors, those with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, families of school aged children, those who work in the “gig” economy – these populations, in particular, have just been hammered with a whole series of “survival” challenges.  It is really hard, for all sorts of reasons these days, to maintain a full and sustaining “faith in the future” (which, as some of you know, has been my sign off for many, many years).

The Human Services team here in Somerset (comprised both of our 10 County service divisions as well as our extensive affiliated non-profit network) has done a good job, I think, of keeping the ship afloat and our target populations breathing through these dark times.  It is more important, of course, what our target populations think about the job we’ve done, and, to that end, survey and anecdotal data suggests we’ve done pretty well.  I can say only good things about the commitment and genuine conviction to the public good that continue to flow from our staff, administration and (a rarity in this bitterly partisan world) from our elected officials.  It is in such a context that I continue to find the faith necessary to face a future which is at best uncertain and at worst truly frightening.  If we’re going to come out the other side of our crucible-and we must- it will be with the support and connectedness of hundreds of dedicated county and community believers in “doing the right thing,” (even when it isn’t necessarily the expedient thing to do).

Yes, it’s true - I sound like the old hippie/activist that I suppose I still am.  I still believe in the power of love, in the common threads that tie humanity together (as opposed to the ones that push us apart) and in the ability of people everywhere to rise from the ashes of our darkest hours and to once again celebrate all that is special about living and life itself.  I am not naïve enough to think that this will happen by magic.  It will take every bit of our will and decency as a people. 

I close with this quote, which I think encapsulates what my fumbling prose has tried to capture:

“There is little faith involved in setting out on a journey where the destination is certain and every step in between has been mapped in detail. Bravery, trust, is about leaving camp in the dark, when we do not know the route ahead and cannot be certain we will ever return.”- Author: Bear Grylls

Have a Happy Halloween!

October Human Services Public Meetings

1st @ 5pm Mental Health Board Meeting

1st @ 7pm Youth Council Meeting

5th @ 9:30am PAC/PACADA Meeting

13th @ 5pm Freeholder Work Session

13th@ 7pm Freeholders Meeting

21st @ 9:30am LACADA/CASS Meeting

27th @ 12pm Youth Services Commission

27th @ 1:30pm CIACC Meeting

27th @ 5pm Freeholder Work Session

27th @ 7pm Freeholders Meeting

28th @ 1:30pm HSAC Meeting

 Please Note

Somerset County Offices will be closed on October 12th

For more information regarding these meetings or how to get involved with a committee email Evelyn at evelez@co.somerset.nj.us

Submitted by: Brianna Bacchetta, Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. When we think of what domestic violence looks like, do we picture an individual inflicting physical abuse onto their partner? Do we assume those living in this abuse always display bruises, cuts or some form of physical signs of injury? While physical abuse is a form of domestic violence, there are many forms which are not as visible to the eye, such as: emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, neglect, and technological abuse.

In any case, there are consequences to the physical and/or mental health of persons living in an abusive environment. There are various health conditions which may show up over time. If you think about it…when in a heightened state of stress does your heart rate increase? Does your body feel tired? Are you tense? Are you sleeping? How is your appetite? All of these problems can impact an individual in the long-term leading to physical health issues including high blood pressure as well as chronic pain.

In addition to physical health complications, the effects of domestic violence can also have a significant impact on one’s mental health. Such impact can appear as lower self-esteem, increased anxiousness, and feelings of being trapped, hopelessness or helplessness. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), there’s a link between domestic victimization and a higher rate of both depression and suicidal behaviors; along with an increased risk for development of some form of substance or alcohol related disorder.

From an outsider’s point of view, one may ask themselves why would anyone remain in any of these circumstances. But the abuse does not encompass the relationship as a whole, there are the good parts. The moments in the relationship of feeling loved, laughter, their partner helping out around the house to show they care; but then the cycle of abuse continues and differentiating between the person who makes you feel loved and that same person who instills a sense of fear becomes difficult to manage.

There is hope for those who utilize abusive behaviors and for those living in an abusive environment. Located in Somerset County, Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center has the OPTIONS program. This program is a 26-week evidence-based program, which assist men and women who use these abusive behaviors and work towards changing their patterns and towards developing strong interpersonal relationship skills to help stop and prevent domestic violence. Outside of this program, both individual and family therapy is also available. If you are interested in learning more about treatment options, please feel free to contact the Access Center at 908-725-2800.

Safe+Sound Somerset’s 24/7 call and text hotline at 866-685-1122 is also available.  Safe+Sound Somerset’s advocates, staff and volunteers with extensive training in domestic violence, answer hotline calls and respond to text messages 24 hours a day, seven days a week including weekends and holidays. Their services are free of charge, confidential, and provided in the caller’s preferred language.

You may also call the New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 (800) 572-SAFE (7233)
24 hours a day/7 days a week The New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential access to domestic violence information and services, including crisis intervention, referral, and advocacy.  Bilingual and accessible to the deaf and hearing impaired.

Submitted by Kimberly Cowart

To celebrate that October is Global Diversity Awareness Month, Somerset County will sponsor its second annual Diversity Festival.  Because of the pandemic, this year’s festival will occur virtually beginning October 1 and run throughout the month.  This year’s theme “Somerset County – Everyone Belongs Here," is the message that will be woven throughout the 2020 Diversity Festival.  Somerset County welcomes - and is home to - a diverse population of promising individuals from around the world.  This month, we use the Diversity Festival as an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate residents from all backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities.  Our diversity is one of the county’s greatest assets and has helped form unique and vibrant communities that make us proud. 

For more detail about the festival, visit:

https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/about/diversity-statement/2020-virtual-diversity-festival;

This year’s virtual festival offers something for everyone. There will be a StoryMap that allows the user to view stories and other multimedia content that is associated with neighborhoods and locations across Somerset County.  This is a perfect opportunity to learn about the diverse groups that are vibrantly connected here in Somerset County.  There will also be a Virtual Resource Library that contains videos, suggested reading material and other information that the viewer can access at their own pace.  The public is invited to submit content by using the submission form at the following link:  https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/about/diversity-statement/virtual-festival/submission-form;

Young people can get in on the fun too by participating in a poster contest that offers a $100 and $50 prize for each age category, courtesy of the Downton Somerville Alliance.  For details visit: https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/about/diversity-statement/virtual-festival/poster-contest; 

Somerset County- Everyone Belongs Here!

 Somerset County Family and Community Health Sciences

Submitted by: Evelyn Velez, Operations and Planning

Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS), part of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension family, promotes health and wellness through education, research, and collaboration. FCHS provides workshops, training and resources for the public and organizations. FCHS also partners with other agencies and groups to foster a culture of wellness for adults and youth. Follow them on Facebook for live recipe videos and on Youtube for all their videos. 

Check out their most recent recipe video!

Upcoming Events

1. October 01: Fuentes de la Vitamina A: Picadillo de Ayote
2. October 02: Real Recipes: Apple Cider Chicken
3. October 06: FCHS Wellness Tuesdays

 Find More Events on the NJAES Calendar

For anyone interested in joining our once-a-month email newsletter, please email embleton@co.somerset.nj.us to be subscribed.

The Somerset Veteran Subcommittee

Submitted By: Jillian Lombardozzi

The Somerset Veteran Subcommittee is comprised of various service providers who work with and for veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homelessness.  Specifically, this includes employees of the Veterans Administration (VA) such as case managers from HUD-VASH and Community Hope’s Hope for Veterans grant per diem (GPD) program, representatives from veteran-specific nonprofit organizations such as Soldier On and Community Hope, as well as many community providers such as the Veteran Service Office, Somerset County Mental Health Services, and Somerset County Department of Human Services—among others! 

The subcommittee was created to with the intention of always continuing to improve our services for homeless veterans and their families, particularly those who are historically underserved in the community or have had difficulty navigating the intricacies of both VA and community-based services.  We have created what is commonly known as a “by-name list,” in which we as providers have a central list of names and important information regarding homeless veterans in the county.  By managing and contributing to one central list, we ensure that no veteran “slips through the cracks,” recognize patterns of housing barriers and retention that we can address as a group, provide each other with specific housing leads, and collaborate on solutions to housing-related issues that ours veterans and their families are facing.  We are also able to ensure that veterans are being referred to both VA and community-based agencies that can best serve their needs.

By coming together as a subcommittee, we are also able to address the specific needs of veterans in Somerset County as well as any changes, upcoming events, and new programming or services that are being offered.  We are also able to share information regarding new housing leads and project developments.  As we all continue to adjust during the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been to consistently keep open communication among service providers of veterans and their families and update each other on our new safety policies, procedures, and referral processes.  In response to COVID-19, several organizations, including Soldier On and Community Hope, have received additional funding through the CARES Act to address the growing safety and housing concerns that veterans are facing, including emergency hotel placement and assistance, rental and utility assistance, and other housing-related needs.

Although we used to meet in person at the Lyons VA Medical Center campus, we now meet via phone conference on the third Wednesday of even months.  We begin our phone conference with a closed case conferencing session for any service provider who is actively working with homeless veterans in Somerset County.  While we seek to collaborate, we also want to be mindful of the sensitive nature of sharing client names and information, whether in person, virtually, or over the phone.  The second part of our conference calls is open to anyone who is interested in participating—whether you currently serve homeless veterans, hope to serve them at your agency, or are simply interested in how others are working with veterans in Somerset County.  The purpose of this part of our conference call is to share important information, announces organization updates and events, and discuss any new or ongoing issues that the subcommittee can address collaboratively.

If you are interested in joining the Somerset County Veterans Subcommittee, please email Jill Lombardozzi at jlombardozzi@wesoldieron.org to be added to the email list.  Anyone who currently works with veterans and their families or has an interest in learning more about how working with veterans is encouraged to join us!

Visions & Pathways Community Mural

Submitted By: Psian Aviles-Quinones, Operations and Planning

-A space that brought together youth from different backgrounds & led them to create an art piece that embodies empowerment, resilience & unity amongst their communities. I think the kids are onto something. 

It took them a month of planning before a single paint brush glided across the wall.  They sat down together a few September days and thought about a theme that could encompass all of their feelings, serve as daily motivational fuel and could wholesomely capture what they wanted to express through the medium of mural painting. They thought about what they needed most in their lives at the moment, since we have been practicing being mindful and intune with their present selves. “EMPOWERMENT!” one of the students shouted, and in unison everyone agreed that this collective project should focus on empowering one another and our communities, especially amidst current times. 

The youth from Visions & Pathways & the Somerset County Youth Council worked together to create a safe space and mural that is welcoming and inclusive to everyone, regardless of race, skin color, gender, age or any other such factor. A special thanks to the staff at Visions & Pathways & Somerset County who were receptive to this community mural idea & provided a space for the youth to express themselves. To the youth that were key to creating this piece and vulnerable enough to put their thoughts and feelings into this work of art, we see you & we hear you.  This is the first of many community healing murals to come, we seek to bring community members together & create a space where we can heal through the medium of art and expression.  For privacy & confidentiality reasons the youth of Visions & Pathways are not pictured but were present.

Home Delivered Meals – It’s More Than Just a Meal

(No Response Procedure)

Submitted by: Andrew Rees, Office on Aging & Disability Services

The Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services (OOA&DS) connects seniors, their caregivers and adults with disabilities to the programs and services they need to remain independent and active in their community. One service provided by the OOA&DS is the Home Delivered Meal (HDM) Program or more commonly known as Meals on Wheels.

The HDM program is intended for a person age 60 or older who is confined to his/her home, is unable to prepare a full meal and has no one to assist with meal preparation. Meals are available as long as the Office on Aging & Disability Services Care Manager finds you eligible or until the meals are no longer needed. Continued eligibility for meals is determined every six months by a required in-home reassessment.

Home Delivered Meal recipients receive a full-course meal which includes juice, an entrée, salad, bread, dessert and milk. Participants may choose a regular meal plan, vegetarian meal plan (contains dairy products) or a pureed meal plan (vegetarian pureed meals are not available at this time). A Registered Dietitian plans the menus, which meet one-third of the daily nutritional requirements for an older adult and are reduced in sodium, fat and cholesterol. Menus are diverse and include a variety of ethnic foods. The OOA&DS suggests a donation of $2.50 or more for each meal you receive. Your donation is based on your ability to pay and helps reduce the need to place people on waiting lists. 

Another valuable piece of the HDM program is that upon meal delivery the meal must be given to the client directly and not left on a porch, doorstep or cooler. Furthermore, the meal cannot be given to someone else on the client’s behalf.  This is necessary to assure the client’s safety and well- being.  Should a client not respond directly to the delivery a precise and detailed no response procedure is implemented to assure the client’s safety and well-being.

Home Delivered Meals are delivered by Somerset County Transportation drivers who adhere to established policies and procedures. Upon delivery the driver knocks on the consumer’s door or rings the door bell and waits a few minutes for the client to answer. If there is no answer after a few minutes the driver returns to the truck and reports the client’s no response to the Transportation Office. The Transportation Office is then responsible to report the no show to the OOA&DS for follow up. Once the OOA&DS receives a no-show they follow up with the senior center in which the meal came from, try to contact the HDM client themselves and if still no resolve the emergency contact and/or local police are informed to conduct a welfare check. In the event the client missed the meal due to hospitalization or admittance to a facility, the OOA&DS staff as well as Senior Center providing the HDM will place the client’s meal on hold.

One example that truly shows the effectiveness of this procedure occurred when a HDM client did not respond to the Transportation driver. The client was not able to be reached so the emergency contacts were notified. The first emergency contact was the client’s son and a voicemail message was left informing him of a no response to the HDM delivery. After a few moments with no response, the second emergency contact was notified, the client’s daughter.

An OOA&DS Eldercare Team member then informed the client’s daughter that her father did not respond to the delivery today and verification on his status was needed. The client’s daughter responded, “I’m sure my dad is fine and I am on my way to work, he is probably okay.” The Eldercare Team member then explained that the OOA&DS cannot take that chance and in some cases something occurs in the home (unbeknownst to the family) and the client is not able to answer the phone or the door. The client’s daughter replied, “Oh I never thought of that, I will call my son to check on his grandfather.” Shortly after, a return call was received by the OOA&DS informing them the grandson walked to HDM client’s home and found him on the floor. He had fallen near the telephone and he could not move. At that point the emergency squad was notified and he was transported to the hospital. The daughter expressed appreciation for the diligence of the follow-up procedure indicating her father would have been on the floor until she visited him that evening. She further complimented the Somerset County Home Delivered Meals program and the no response procedure for taking care of seniors in the community.

If you or a loved one is interested in hearing more about the Home Delivered Meals program, call the Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services at (908) 704-6346 or toll free at (888) 747-1122.

Connecting the Dots: the November 2020 election and Juvenile Justice in New Jersey

Submitted by: By Gayle Kaufman, Juvenile Institutional Services

NJ S 53
2020

Program to Assist Schools in Identifying At-Risk Youths

Status: Pending - Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
Date of Last Action:*  1/14/2020
Author: Singer (R) Additional Authors: Vitale (D);Greenstein (D)
Topics: Juvenile Delinquency Prevention
Summary: Requires Attorney General to develop program to assist schools in identifying at-risk youths. 

NJ S 315
2020

Youth Justice Transformation

Status: Pending - Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
Date of Last Action:*  1/14/2020
Author: Rice (D) Additional Authors: Pou (D);Cunningham (D)
Topics: Administrative and Organization
Summary: Relates to the New Jersey Youth Justice Transformation Act, annually appropriates $100 million to Juvenile Justice Commission.

NJ A 710
2020

Youth Justice Transformation Act

Status: Pending - Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee
Date of Last Action:*  1/14/2020
Author: Sumter (D) Additional Authors: Giblin (D);Vainieri Huttle (D);Holley (D);Chaparro (D);Karabinchak (D);Reynolds-Jackso (D);Timberlake (D);Carter (D)
Topics: Administrative and Organization
Summary: Concerns the State Youth Justice Transformation Act, annually appropriates $100 million to Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC).

NJ A 1414
2020

Juvenile Offender Community Conservation Program

Status: Pending - Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee
Date of Last Action:*  1/14/2020
Author: Lopez (D) Additional Authors: McKnight (D);DiMaso (R)
Topics: Administrative and Organization
Associated Bills: NJ S 2249 - Identical
Summary: Establishes the Juvenile Offender Community Conservation and Improvement Services Program.

NJ A 1618
2020

At Risk Youths Assistance Pilot Program

Status: Pending - Assembly Education Committee
Date of Last Action:*  1/14/2020
Author: Lampitt (D) Additional Authors: Mosquera (D);Schepisi (R);Mukherji (D);Karabinchak (D);DiMaso (R);Reynolds-Jackso (D);Timberlake (D)
Topics: Juvenile Delinquency Prevention, Truancy and Schools
Associated Bills: NJ S 1810 - Identical
Summary: Establishes a pilot program requiring certain law enforcement agencies to coordinate with local school districts to identify and assist at-risk youths.

NJ A 1915
2020

Juvenile Incarceration and Parole

Status: Pending - Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee
Date of Last Action:*  1/14/2020
Author: Wimberly (D) Additional Authors: Johnson (D);Vainieri Huttle (D);Tucker (D);Quijano (D);McKnight (D);Reynolds-Jackso (D)
Topics: Corrections /Detention and Conditions of Confinement, Disposition Options/Sentencing/Length of Stay, Reentry and Aftercare
Summary: Concerns juvenile incarceration and parole.

Central Jersey Housing Resource Center (CJHRC) is the only HUD certified Housing Counseling Agency in Somerset County providing FREE programs and services to individuals and households for rental, pre-purchase, financial literacy, post purchase and foreclosure counseling. 

• Do you know that the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination with regard to the sale or rental of a property based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability? It is illegal for someone to discriminate against you for these protected classes if you are seeking to rent or purchase.
• Do you know the difference between a comfort animal and pet if you are renting or purchasing? A property cannot refuse to allow you to rent or purchase if you have a comfort animal.HUD defines a comfort animal as “an animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person’s disability. An assistance animal is not a pet.”
• Did you know a potential landlord cannot ask whether you have kids or are married?A potential landlord can only ask you how many occupants will be living in the rental unit, not the age breakdown of those occupants.
• Do you know how to submit a Fair Housing complaint? CJHRC is the Fair Housing Agency for Somerset County.If you feel you have been discriminated against while renting or purchasing in Somerset County, you can contact our Agency to assist in submitting a complaint.
• What do the Moratoriums for eviction and foreclosure mean? The Moratoriums for Eviction and Foreclosure were enacted by Governor Murphy on March 19, 2020 and are currently extended until early October 2020. Eviction or foreclosure claims can still be filed, however, tenants and homeowners CANNOT be removed from their property until the moratoriums have been lifted.Also, for tenants, the CDC recently announced a temporary halt on evictions nationwide until December 31, 2020. The protections under the CDC Moratorium are not automatic.Tenants struggling to keep up with the rent must fill out a form certifying that they meet certain eligibility requirements and give it to their landlord.
• What happens if you can’t pay the rent or mortgage due to COVID19?At this time, tenants/homeowners are still responsible for their rent or mortgage payments; the moratorium does not absolve them of that responsibility.Tenants and homeowners need to contact their landlord or mortgage servicer if they are struggling to pay their housing obligations.

CJHRC is a HUD Housing Counseling Agency and we offer FREE counseling.  If you have questions or need counseling, our counselors can be reached at 908-446-0036 Monday – Friday from approximately 9-5.  Please visit our website at www.cjhrc.org and click on the Housing Resource Center tab to view resources.  Please follow us on FaceBook (Central Jersey Housing Resource Center) where announcements about resources, services and tips are posted regularly.