Hudson Milestones Inc

HUDSON MILESTONES SEEKS TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN A HUDSON COUNTY BASED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE CARE, SUPPORT AND ADVANCEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES TOWARDS ACHIEVING TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE THE INDIVIDUAL'S LIFE GOALS AND ESTABLISHING SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN THE COMMUNITY.

ADULT RESIDENTIAL SERVICES - THE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF HUDSON MILESTONES CONSISTED OF ELEVEN PROGRAMS WHICH SERVED THE NEEDS OF ABOUT 50 ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 CONTINUED TO IMPACT SERVICE DELIVERY THIS YEAR, AS WELL. RESIDENTIAL SERVICES REFERS TO LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR 21-YEAR-OLD OR OLDER ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (I/DD) WHICH ALLOW INTEGRATION INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF COMMUNITY LIFE. SOME OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED WERE BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL AND HOUSEHOLD SKILLS, DAILY HYGIENE, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. HUDSON MILESTONES ACCEPTED RESIDENTS FROM STATE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS AND COMMUNITY FAMILIES. SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO ABOUT 50 RESIDENTS IN NINE GROUP HOMES ACROSS HUDSON COUNTY.THE GROUP HOME AND SUPERVISED APARTMENT PROGRAMS OPERATED BY HUDSON MILESTONES PROVIDED A COMMUNITY INTEGRATION LIVING OPTION FOR THOSE WHO COULD NO LONGER LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR ON THEIR OWN. THIS PROGRAM AVOIDS PLACEMENTS IN STATE INSTITUTIONS AND WERE FUNDED AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION.THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED AROUND THE CLOCK STAFF SUPERVISION FOR THE CLIENTS IN A HOME ATMOSPHERE. ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED AS NEEDED FOR THE CLIENTS TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL THEIR DAILY NEEDS AND PREFERENCES. MEDICAL CARE COORDINATION, MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT WERE ADDITIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED.THE PROGRAMS WERE GEARED TOWARDS TEACHING THE CLIENTS HOW TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT IN A NUMBER OF AREAS. THE MOST COMMON AREAS INCLUDED SOCIAL SKILLS, HOUSEHOLD SKILLS AND DAILY HYGIENE. EACH CLIENT HAD A PERSONAL "PLAN" TAILORED TO THEIR ABILITIES. ALONG WITH THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION AND RECREATION PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN THE TOTAL SERVICE OF THE PROGRAM. RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SPECIAL OLYMPICS, TRIPS TO MUSEUMS, LOCAL THEATERS, OVERNIGHT TRIPS, DANCES AND DINING OUT AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS, ET AL.DAY HABILITATION SERVICES - THE PURPOSE OF HUDSON MILESTONES' DAY HABILITATION PROGRAMS WAS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES MORE MEANINGFUL AND PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.HUDSON MILESTONES OPERATED TWO DAY HABILITATION PROGRAMS - IN BAYONNE AND JERSEY CITY. THEY PROVIDED DAY PROGRAMMING FOR UNDER 100 RESIDENTS OF THE HUDSON COUNTY COMMUNITY. THIS WAS BELOW CAPACITY DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH DRASTICALLY REDUCED ATTENDANCE AND INDUCED TEMPORARY PROGRAM CLOSURES AND CLIENT ABSENCES.THESE CENTERS WERE PLACES OF INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION, LEARNING AND CREATION. CLIENTS FOUND WAYS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS WHILE ALSO INCREASING SKILLS AND INTERESTS WHICH OUR INNOVATIVE STAFF INCORPORATED INTO THEIR DAILY SCHEDULES. PROGRAMMING WAS DEVELOPED BASED ON EACH PERSON'S INTERESTS, GOALS AND NEEDS. OUR DAY HABILITATION CURRICULUM EMPHASIZED LEARNING SOCIAL, SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.WE ALSO OFFERED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS LEARNING INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES, FILLING OUT JOB APPLICATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BUILDING JOB SKILLS. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED COLLATING, LABELING AND SMALL-SCALE ASSEMBLING AND SHREDDING. AS ALWAYS, OUR FOCUS WAS ON PROVIDING THE FULL RANGE OF ASSISTANCE A PERSON NEEDED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THEIR COMMUNITY, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THEIR CAPABILITIES.

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES (EIS)HUDSON MILESTONES' EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM (EIS) PROVIDED THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT HUDSON COUNTY. THE PROGRAM STRIVED TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR DIAGNOSED WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. STAFF PROVIDED FAMILIES WITH INFORMATION AND SUPPORT WHILE MODELING INTERVENTION STRATEGIES. SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN THE CHILDREN'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT (HOME, CHILD CARE CENTER OR OTHER) BY A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS. DUE TO THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF COVID-19, WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 16 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THIS YEAR, GIVING THEM HOURS OF DEVELOPMENTAL EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. THE GOAL OF EARLY INTERVENTION WAS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES THAT WOULD HELP THEM TO LEARN AND BE COMFORTABLE USING THE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES DEVELOPED FOR THE CHILDREN, THUS ENHANCING THEIR CAPACITY TO MEET THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN. CHILDREN MEETING THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS (BIRTH -3 YEARS OLD) AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING IN HUDSON COUNTY RECEIVED FAMILY TRAINING SERVICES. HUDSON MILESTONES' SERVICES INCLUDED DEVELOPMENTAL INTERVENTION, PHYSICAL, SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIES AS WELL AS NURSE SUPPORT AND FAMILY SUPPORT FROM OUR STAFF WHO ARE HIGHLY SKILLED SPECIALISTS IN THIS FIELD.IN THE NEW JERSEY EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM (NJEIS), THE PRACTITIONER WORKS AS PART OF A TRANSDISCIPLINARY TEAM, INCLUDING THE FAMILY, SPECIAL CHILD HEALTH SERVICES (SCHS) SERVICE COORDINATOR, INTERPRETERS, AND OTHER PRACTITIONERS. AS THE CENTER OF EI SERVICES. THE FAMILIES CHOSE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE MEANINGFUL FOR THEIR KIDS. EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE NEVER 1:1, SO EACH HOME SESSION INCLUDED BOTH THE FAMILY AND CHILD, OCCURRING AS PART OF THE NATURAL ROUTINE IN THE CHILD'S DAY AND ENVIRONMENT. SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED UNDER A FEE FOR SERVICE BILLING MODEL WITH PUBLIC CONSULTING SERVICES; UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; AS WELL AS A GRANT FROM THE HUDSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES.

WEEKEND RESPITE PROGRAM (WRP) - COVID-19 CONTINUED TO IMPACT SERVICE DELIVERY THIS YEAR ALSO. THIS PROGRAM SERVED JUST A FEW ADULT CLIENTS FOR SATURDAY RECREATIONAL SERVICES. THE PROGRAM DID NOT OPERATE DURING WEEKS IN WHICH THERE WERE AGENCY CLOSINGS AND/OR SATURDAYS DURING AN EXTENDED HOLIDAY WEEKENDS AND WAS CLOSED FOR MOST OF THE YEAR DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS. THE WRP OPERATED OUT OF THE JERSEY CITY DAY HABILITATION (JCDH) CENTER. ALTHOUGH THE ADULT CLIENTS WERE DRAWN MOSTLY, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, FROM THOSE WE KNOW THROUGH SERVING THEM IN OUR DAY PROGRAM, IT WAS ALSO OPEN TO PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIVE IN A GROUP HOME, SPONSOR HOME, OR A RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT FUNDED BY THE NEW JERSEY DHHS' DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DRASTICALLY REDUCED ATTENDANCE AND INDUCED TEMPORARY PROGRAM CLOSURES.THE WRP'S GOALS WERE TO GIVE THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS A CHANCE FOR INCREASED COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES AND INTEGRATION ALONG WITH GIVING FAMILY MEMBERS TEMPORARY RELIEF FROM THEIR DIRECT CARE RESPONSIBILITIES, THROUGH A RANGE OF COMMUNITY AND CENTER-BASED ACTIVITIES. THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DRASTICALLY REDUCED ATTENDANCE AND INDUCED TEMPORARY PROGRAM CLOSURES.IN-HOME YOUTH RESPITE PROGRAM PROVIDED OVER 6 FAMILIES WITH OVER 900 HOURS OF RESPITE SERVICES. YOUTH & ADULT IN HOME RESPITE PROVIDED FAMILY CAREGIVERS WITH A SHORT PERIOD OF REST OR RELIEF BY ARRANGING ALTERNATE CAREGIVING FOR THE FAMILY MEMBER WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY. THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DRASTICALLY REDUCED ATTENDANCE AND INDUCED TEMPORARY PROGRAM CLOSURES.SPECIALLY TRAINED PROVIDERS CARED FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THROUGH ACTIVITIES WHICH BEST SUITED THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND PREFERENCES. RESPITE PROVIDERS GIVE SUPPORT IN THE AREAS OF SELF-HELP, PRACTICAL SKILLS AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. SOCIAL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WERE A TOP PRIORITY. ADULTS ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM WERE REFERRED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. YOUTHS (UP TO AGE 21 YEARS) WERE REFERRED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES' DIVISION OF CHILDREN SYSTEM OF CARE. MUSICAL MILESTONES - IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL PERFORMANCE ARTISTS, OUR PROGRAM INCORPORATED DANCE, MOVEMENT AND SINGING INTO CREATIVE PRODUCTIONS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, CLIENTS LEARNED THAT IMAGINATION IS FUN AND THAT EACH OF US IS WORTHY OF ESTEEM, BOTH FROM SELF AND OTHERS. THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DRASTICALLY REDUCED ATTENDANCE AND CAUSED TEMPORARY PROGRAM CLOSURES. FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS OBTAINED IN PART FROM THE HUDSON COUNTY OFFICE OF CRFEATIVE ARTS' LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM.