Partnerships for People, Inc.
www.partnershipsforpeople.org

Overall Purpose of Organization

Partnerships for People works hand-in-hand with people that have developmental disabilities and other challenges to build relationships and develop skills that prepare them to live and work as valued members of their communities. We accomplish this through a variety of community based programs including:

• group homes and supportive living,
• case management,
• supported employment,
• student transitional services,
• housing development,
• essential life services.

Our aim is to be a leader in the development of systems, tools, networks and services that enable individuals with disabilities and people with other challenges to overcome barriers.

This work will benefit

Our work at Partnerships for People benefits people with developmental disabilities, their families, and all those who care about them. New Jersey taxpayer dollars support most of the services we deliver, thus all taxpaying New Jerseyeans have a stake in what we do.

Comprehensive Description of Organization

Partnerships for People is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian charitable organization founded in 1983. Our primary focus has been to provide high-quality services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. A true leader and innovator, Partnerships for People provides person-centered services that are designed to meet each individual’s unique needs and to advocate for their rights. In addition to our long-time work supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, Partnerships for People is expanding our outreach to include services to other underserved populations including children and families at risk, elder services, mental health and other disabilities and barriers.

As a community service provider agency, Partnerships for People, Inc. is largely funded under contract with the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services – Division of Developmental Disabilities. Right now, we are in the midst of demanding and crucial juncture in the history of services to people with developmental disabilities in New Jersey. We are undergoing a statewide systems transformation that will change the way services are delivered to people with developmental disabilities in ways that will directly impact these individuals and their families as well as the extensive network that serves them.

Over the past 12 years, State contract funding increases to agencies like ours averaged 1.5%, falling sorely behind the average 3% increase in the Consumer Price Index for the same period. The shrinking State budget, along with the systems transformation, calls for agencies like Partnerships for People to expand our community profiles, to establish new connections, to explore exciting collaborations and to engage our communities in new partnerships to sustain the quality and variety of services to one of New Jersey’s most vulnerable populations.

Donations

Donations can be sent to:

Partnerships for People, Inc.
748 Morris-Essex Turnpike
Short Hills, New Jersey 07078
973-467-9808 ext. 111

Our online donation form can be downloaded from:

http://www.partnershipsforpeople.org/Get_Involved.htm#Donate

We also accept donations of home and office furniture, appliances, office equipment including PCs and peripherals, as long as they are in very good working condition.

Volunteers

Description of Volunteer Work:

Board Member (highly motivated individuals seeking to contribute to the mission with leadership guidance and professional expertise)

Webmaster (assist with periodic updates to the agency’s website)

Administrative Help (phones, fax, Word, direct mail, filing, etc)

Direct Care Helper (assisting individuals with developmental disabilities in recreational activities, such as planting, crafts, storytelling, etc

(see http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ndeam06.pdf)

Grantwriting and/or Fundraising

Public Relations/Community Development

Type: Varies according to volunteer position.

Time Commitment: To be determined according to project and volunteer schedules

Address: One or more of the following locations, depending on volunteer position -
Short Hills, Linden, Kenilworth, South Orange, East Orange, Bloomfield

Contact: Brenda Pitts, Human Resources Coordinator

Phone/Fax: 973-467-9808 ext. 118

Success Stories

A Provider Success Story: A “Family of Friends”

Some time ago, NJACP member agency Partnerships for People, Inc. was contacted by a gentleman named Anthony. His sister Joan was a resident of one of Partnerships’ community group homes. Anthony called to express his passionate appreciation for each and every member of Partnerships’ staff for their important work. His sister Joan came to Partnerships in the late 1980’s. Anthony indicated that at that time, his family had been prepared for the eventuality that Joan’s developmental disability would prevent her from a life expectancy that would exceed age 40. At the time of her brother’s call to the agency, Joan had turned 68. She has had her share of serious health challenges, but to the continuing amazement of her doctors and hospital staff, each time, she has recovered. Anthony expressed that he and many of the medical professionals who have known Joan believe that she has outlived her life expectancy by nearly thirty years, in large part, because of the care she receives from Partnerships for People. He indicated that he and the many professionals he has spoken with agree that Joan’s vitality and longevity are truly a noteworthy, compelling phenomenon. Anthony emphatically asserted that he sees this expressly as the result of every aspect of the unique talent, care and service represented by the personal and collective efforts of every member of Partnerships’ staff, particularly those who helped his sister Joan develop such a strong, positive will and spirit.
Like many providers, Partnerships for People does not just provide a dwellingplace and skilled supports – we provide real homes in our New Jersey communities, and a very real, extended “family of friends.” Each of the individuals living in our residential group homes or supportive living programs as well as those served through our supported employment, case management and other programs are all part of a truly connected “family” comprised of our individuals, staff, families, friends and supporters.

Joan’s story was not the first time Partnerships or other NJACP providers have received feedback from family members, medical professionals and other supporters asserting that the quality of life provided through our care and programs has made a profoundly positive difference in the lives of the people we serve. With your support, we can continue a legacy of success stories in our service to New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens.

A Success Story: A “Community Star”

Margie was born on October 8, 1946. She lived with her grandmother from age 17. In 1976, after Margie’s mother passed, the pair moved northward to New Jersey. Though born profoundly hearing impaired and with developmental disability, living with her grandmother, Margie learned to manage independently in the community. Margie exhibited strong survival skills, and was a natural helper. The pair literally cared for one another, helping each other with their medications, daily life activities, and more.

In 1996, Margie came to the Partnerships family, receiving daily living support at home while living with her grandmother. As her grandmother’s own health began to fail, Partnerships helped establish legal guardianship for Margie, and arranged to transition her to a more secure home environment. In July of 2000, Margie took residence in Partnerships’ Kenilworth Group Home.
Margie, always the helper, enjoys cooking for her roomies, mastering culinary favorites such as baked chicken, macaroni and cheese, and mixed vegetables. She also enjoys gardening on the grounds of her home, and waiver time spent taking independent walks in her community among neighbors. Margie has been a wage-earning employee through the Springfield Supportive Employment program for the past four years. She loves to travel, has cruised the Cayman Islands and has vacationed in Florida and California, to name a few favorite vacations.
On the outside, Margie is very style-minded, experimenting with hairstyles, the latest clothing fashions and jewelry. Inside, Margie quietly embraces her faith and exhibits a strong spirit. Even in the face of a recent personal health crisis involving radical surgery, and exhausting, difficult treatments, she kept a positive attitude and handled herself in ways that would inspire women anywhere.

Partnerships for People, Inc., is pleased to honor Margie and her accomplishments by nominating Margie for the Community STAR award.

A Success Story: Leadership and Dedication Make a Difference

On November 19, 2004, Geraldine Dillahunt, residential program Team Coordinator for Partnerships for People, Inc., was honored by the New Jersey Association of Community Providers (NJACP) for her dedication and outstanding achievements as a leader among professionals serving people with developmental disabilities. Ms. Dillahunt manages two residential group homes in the East Orange and South Orange communities, respectively, as well as the staff supporting them. In May 2004, Ms. Dillahunt distinguished herself as the voice of over 80,000 direct care workers serving over 500,000 individuals in New Jersey at an historical rally. There she advocated passionately for increased state funding support for the state’s private nonprofit human and social service agencies. The rally helped providers secure a 3.5% immediate budget increase, plus instructions for another .5% increase to follow.

“Geraldine is not only a dedicated, skilled and caring member of our team, but also a unique individual whose heart and talents are exceptionally suited to our mission and the individuals we serve,” says Partnerships’ Executive Director, Carol Dougherty. “We are so thrilled that her exceptional talents and her devotion were recognized through her NJACP Leadership Award.”