FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Press Release .pdf

(Princeton, New Jersey – April 4, 2014)- On May 7, 2014 at the Nassau Inn in Princeton, Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez will be delivering a keynote to celebrate Community Options and their 25 Years of Innovation of supporting people with developmental disabilities.

The year of 2014 marks twenty-five years of Community Options developing innovative housing and employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities throughout New Jersey and the United States.

Jennifer Velez was confirmed as the Commissioner of the NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) in 2007 and re-confirmed in 2010. Prior to that, she served as one of the department’s Deputy Commissioners. DHS has the largest budget in the state government, with over 15,000 employees, approximately 75 percent of them serving as direct care workers in state-run developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals.

Velez works in partnership with the Administration on initiatives including Medicaid reform; advancing placement of individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness in the community creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities; sustaining the safety-net of serves made available for the state’s older population, and individuals and families with low income.

“Commissioner Velez is a true ambassador and advocate for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities,” says, Robert Stack, President, Founder and CEO of Community Options, Inc. “Commissioner Velez has worked diligently since her appointment to ensure the highest quality of services and supports for people with disabilities to live meaningful lives within the community,” he added.

To register for Community Options’ annual conference, please visit www.comop.org.

About Community Options: Currently the 5th largest non-profit in New Jersey, Community Options operates with a budget over $96 million and serves thousands of people with disabilities through 38 offices across 8 states. Providing advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities, Community Options believes that all people – regardless of disability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice, and self-determination. A registered PVO with USAID, Community Options is also the pioneer of innovative programs for people with disabilities in the Middle East, Russia, and South America. Please visit our website at www.comop.org.