Work to Improve the NJCAT to Commence: Nine Years After Major System Change
DDD has announced the review of the NJCAT tool. Research and development will be conducted by the Developmental Disabilities Planning Institute (DDPI) of the Bloustein Center for Survey Research at Rutgers. Beginning in mid-September, two stakeholder focus groups will kick-off the process which will follow with stakeholder surveys, DDPI data review and a pilot study. ABCD is proud that it will be representing by our Board President, Bernadette Griswold of CAU and Judith Joliceour of Our House, both of whom have extensive knowledge of and experience with the current assessment tool. In addition, having been trained in AAIDD Support Intensity Scale, Bernadette brings to the focus group knowledge of what can be and is being done in other states and internationally. The focus groups will also include two support coordinators chosen from the SC/DDD Leadership group, which includes four ABCD SCA members.
ABCD agrees that nine years following NJ/s major system change from contract-based to a fee-for-service system, enough time has elapsed for the quality of the NJCAT to be measured for and improvement made to its validity, reliability, and absence of bias. For two years, ABCD has officially advocated for a comprehensive review of the NJCAT. ABCD’s Residential Committee is currently updating our white paper’s section on mental health, but you can read the original September 2021 version below.
ABCD is very pleased that DDD is taking on this lengthy and fundamental project.
