You Are Not Alone
"The year 2009 is likely to go down on record as the worst year for employment loss ever recorded" says Jim Hughes, Rutgers University economist.
The American economy has shed an average of 344,714 jobs each month since the recession began in December 2007. Hughes refers to the economic condition as "the first white collar recession" because while 2.6 million jobs were lost in the 1981-82 recession, 98% were in manufacturing and construction. Data from September 2009 shows that this recession has eliminated 7.2 million jobs, about half of which are from, white collar, professional service industries. 2010 may be a difficult year for NJ as severance packages will be ending for numbers of laid-off workers.
"When you are unemployed, it is easy to feel hopeless, but it is important to stay positive," says Christine Incontro, Director of Job Development for Bergen County's United Way. "The positive side of these devastating statistics is that, if you are without a job, you are not alone and there are services available to help you get through these hard times."
Incontro points out that it is important to stay active while you are out of work so that when you do get an interview or identify a job opportunity you can show a potential employer that your skills are still sharp. Participating in volunteer opportunities is one way to stay active.
 If you are facing a financial crisis because of unemployment, you are not alone. According to Laura Marx, Executive Director of NJ 2-1-1, 46% of respondents to a recent survey done by NJ 2-1-1 are facing financial hardship as a result of unemployment.
"They want to know if their unemployment benefits will be continued or how they can apply for health benefits or to pay utility bills. Our role is to listen and provide information about how to take the next steps," says Marx.
At the same time, NJ 2-1-1 is compiling data on the emerging needs of callers and providing that information to the New Jersey Departments of Human Services and Labor so that resources can be targeted to where they will do the most good.
"We provide information on the needs expressed by callers so that the State can tailor their programs and services to meet those needs, and unemployed workers and their families can get the help they need in the fastest way possible. It is a vital advocacy role that 2-1-1 plays statewide and we have gotten results.
To identify services available to you, visit www.nj211org or dial 2-1-1. The free and confidential state wide service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide help when needed most.
FYI Spotlight: NJ After 3
 In New Jersey, 3 out of 10 children drop out of school and never graduate so NJ After 3, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding and improving afterschool opportunities for kids, is working to reverse that trend.
NJ After 3 has formed an extensive network of over 100 non-profit, school-based, after-school programs statewide focused on building trusting relationships among teachers, families, and community members. In 2008, the organization reached approximately 14,000 children through its extensive network that includes the Boys and Girls Clubs, the YM/YWCAs, faith based groups, and other youth serving agencies.
NJ After 3 programs are designed to inspire kids to explore, learn and grow. They provide the kind of safe and nurturing after-school environment that can counter the negative influences of drugs, alcohol and gang violence and also give working families piece of mind. Programs extend learning time by providing homework help, basic skills development, and fun, educational activities that prepare children to succeed in school.
Grants awarded by NJ After 3 to its community partners support programs that are tailored to the particular needs of that community and focus on five core areas:
- Academic and Homework Assistance: Activities that expand a child's knowledge in academic fields.
- Arts and Culture: Activities that encourage creativity and allow children to explore and understand different cultures and religions.
- Civic Engagement and Leadership: Encouraging children to be involved in activities that better their community so they may understand the meaning of service and leadership.
- Life and Career Skills: Activities that allow students to explore options for the future and acquire the skills they need as they enter adulthood.
- Sports Health and Fitness: Programs that promote physical activities and give children knowledge to live a healthy life style.
The program has demonstrated positive results. A three year, independent study done by Policy Studies Associates showed that students who participated in the program for two or more years had improved achievements in reading and writing, math, homework completion and computer skill.
"We are an evidence based program that works," said Mark Valli, President and CEO of NJ After 3. "We have documented a reduction in the high school drop out rate, our kids have made significant gains in their test scores and we have seen a decrease in juvenile at risk behavior.'
Earlier this year, NJ After 3 was selected by Youth Service America to serve as a lead agency in New Jersey for the 2010 Semester of Service and Global Youth Service Day. Semester of Service encourages youth to develop service-learning projects that solve problems in their communities.
New Jersey After 3 will engage more than 4,500 students and 2,000 family and community members from within their network to participate in the "Speak Out & Listen Up." Themed service projects will promote literacy, peace and positive change through communication in their schools, afterschool programs and surrounding communities.
"New Jersey After 3 has placed a priority on engaging youth in service and service learning activities, as we recognize the transformative power that service can have on youth, stated Cari Tarica, Director of Content and Special Initiatives. "New Jersey After 3 is thrilled that Youth Service America has recognized our work. We look forward to the months ahead when thousands of afterschool students will be engaged in these meaningful service learning projects."
To learn more about NJ After 3, visit their website at www.njafter3.org.
NJ211.org for Professionals
Upgrades to www.nj211.org have made the website an increasingly valuable tool for those in the helping professions. The site offers a number of new services including mapping and directions, community-based resource search, and census data.
The community search tool is available to professionals who need to find services for their clients that they themselves do not offer.
The mapping functionality makes it possible for clients to get directions from their home to an agency by car, foot or public transit.
The site also offers census data as a tool for writing grants, preparing a need assessment or making funding decisions. The census data offered is available by county, state or nation wide and shows household income, the number of families facing poverty, education levels, and more. All data sets can be filtered to reflect specific geographical areas and information is continually updated. (Just click on the county link within any agency or program listing to find census data).
"In the future, we hope to add new demographic information, needs assessments as well as our own 2-1-1 caller statistics," says Laura Marx, Executive Director of NJ 2-1-1.
To visit the "For Agency Professionals" section of NJ 2-1-1 visit http://www.nj211.org/agency.cfm or go to www.nj211.org and click the "for agency professionals" link in the lower right hand corner of the home page.
Agencies are encouraged to regularly update their program information and add new services as they come on line. However, anyone using the catalog can suggest a revision to a current listing or may create an entirely new entry. All revisions are reviewed by NJ 2-1-1 editing staff and then posted within the database. To update program information all agencies have to do is sign in using their email address. For more information on how to sign up, contact info@nj211.org.
www.NJFindARide.org and 2-1-1 Perfect Together
At www.njfindaride.org there is help available for individuals with disabilities who have encountered transportation barriers getting to and from work or appointments each day. Adding to the confusion is the wide variety of transportation options. They range from fixed routes, to "Dial-A-Ride" which provides on demand services - door to door. The www.njfindaride.org website provides a complete list of the transportation services available in your area and is in the process of being updated with many new transportation resources.
The NJ Division of Disability Services asked NJ 2-1-1 to manage the database to keep resources up-to-date and to do so NJ 2-1-1 will work with an advisory committee made up of transportation specialists and service providers.
"Our role is to populate the current Find a Ride database and expand the number of transportation resources listed" said Ronda Urkowitz, Program Director of The Cross Country Connection. "When we first gained access to the database there were only 170 transportation providers statewide. Since then, we have solicited 100 new providers in South Jersey and plan to look for additional resources in Northern New Jersey after the first of the year."
Any agency that provides rides is encouraged to visit www.njfindaride.org and click on "I Give Rides" to get listed. Interested organizations will be asked to submit a survey for review before posting.
The new and improved database is expected to be live by the beginning of 2010. Once live, information about transportation resources can be accessed both on www.nj211.org and www.njfindaride.org.
Lending a Hand this Holiday Season
Are you all by yourself on Thanksgiving and Christmas? Does your family want to do something worthwhile during their time off from work and school? Do the people at work want to get together and do something nice for others?
As the holidays approach, individuals and families who can lend a hand often reach out to community based organizations looking for volunteer opportunities to help others in need.
Volunteer opportunities abound in New Jersey and there are many organizations that look to volunteers to help provide needed services during the holiday season and throughout the year
Volunteer centers are the perfect place to start if you are interested in sharing your personal talents to help those around you. Opportunities vary from short-term projects that call for a few hours of your time to an ongoing commitment that has the potential to bring you the joy and satisfaction that comes from sharing your gifts with others who are less fortunate. Contact your local volunteer center, visit the Association of New Jersey Volunteer Web site or click onto www.nj211.org to learn how you can lend a hand to help someone in need today.
Funded by The Governor's Office on Volunteerism, the Association of New Jersey Volunteer Centers' Web site was established as New Jersey's virtual volunteer center. The site offers access to information about volunteer opportunities throughout the state and provides those in need of volunteers with a place to post the information about their organization's or community's needs.
The Bergen Volunteer Center, located in Hackensack, NJ is conducting its annual "All Wrapped Up Holiday Giving Program." The program matches individuals and families in need with donors from the community. To qualify for the program, one must be referred by a non profit organization or through NJ 2-1-1. In 2008, over 950 donors contributed gift certificates, toys, clothing and household items worth over $450,000 and over 4,000 people were helped. To become a donor, visit www.bergenvolunteers.org/inforfordonors.htm.
In Mercer County, the local United Way is conducting a Thanksgiving Food Drive by linking companies and individuals with recipient agencies within the community. With the donations, United Way of Greater Mercer County is creating food baskets filled with everything from canned fruit, canned corn, and canned green beans to pre packaged stuffing, to corn muffin mix. Donors can also contribute a gift cards to purchase a turkey or support a family. To contribute, visit www.liveunitedgreatermercer.org.
Jersey Cares, a volunteer center located in Newark, New Jersey is having its 14th annual coat drive. Last year the organization collected almost 35,000 coats and has set a goal this year of 40,000 coats. Coats are collected by companies, churches, police stations, schools and other organizations and then sent to a central location where volunteers sort and bag the coats for pick up by those in need. To learn how you can help, visit www.jerseycares.org.
And, in Somerset County, the local United Way is running its annual "Gifts of the Season" and "Wrapped in Love" programs. "For the past 20 years, Somerset County United Way has worked in partnership with the Somerset County Board of Social Services and the Food bank Network of Somerset County to make the Gifts of the Season Program a success," says Lisa Galonardo, Assistant Vice President of Community and Volunteer Services for Somerset County United Way. "We work to ensure that children, teens, disabled adults and seniors in need receive a gift for the holidays."
 Last year, the program reached over 5,000 individuals and families. More then 300 volunteers are needed to help sort, organize and package the donated gifts for distribution during the week of December 14th. To volunteer, contact Galonardo at lisa.galonardo@scuw.org.
Done in conjunction with the Gifts of the Season program, the Wrapped in Love program provides new and lightly used coats along with new gloves, mittens, hats and scarves to individuals and families facing hard times. Those interested in making a donation should contact Irene Natale at Irene.natale@scuw.org.
There are many ways in which you can help. If you are fortunate enough to be able to provide monetary assistance, you can always adopt a needy family, provide toys for children who otherwise might not receive any, or organize a food drive and donate non-perishable items or turkeys. Any of the organizations listed above can point you in the right direction for those activities. |
