April 16, 2026

The NJ Department of Human Services is working to establish the Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee (Committee). In alignment with our ongoing commitment to enhance safety, transparency, and quality of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Human Services will be convening this Committee to advance critical work in this area.

The Committee will carry out the responsibilities outlined in S3754, enacted in January 2026, and will bring together a broad group of stakeholders to support its charge.

Criteria to be Considered for the Committee

To ensure robust community engagement and diverse expertise, Human Services is inviting members of the public interested in a potential appointment to this committee and who meet one of the criteria below to submit a letter of interest and resume for consideration: 

• A licensed physician with experience providing services to individuals with IDD. 
• An individual with IDD who is age 18 or older. 
• A family member of an individual with IDD. (Applicants should indicate the age of their family member and whether they receive services from the Department of Children and Families or Division of Developmental Disabilities in their letter of interest.)
• A professional with experience in child abuse investigations in New Jersey. 
• A representative from a Department of Children and Families contracted or funded residential provider agency serving individuals with IDD who are age 18 or older. 
• A representative from a Division of Developmental Disabilities-licensed residential provider agency serving individuals with IDD who are age 21 or older. 

What the Committee Will Do

The Committee's charge is to: 

• Critically review select cases of adults over the age of 18 with IDD, who were survivors of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and adults with IDD who have passed away. 
• Evaluate government systems’ responses to cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving individuals with IDD who resided in a variety of settings including private homes, congregate settings, and State-funded placement. 
• Identify areas for improvement in preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation against adults with IDD. 
• Explore methods to enhance accountability concerning cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation among State-funded disability services providers. 
• Suggest measures to fortify the reporting and investigatory process concerning cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving adults with IDD and to improve the experience for disability services clients and their families. 

Given that the Committee will review confidential and sensitive information, Human Services is seeking individuals who can demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, and emotional resilience. We are also looking for candidates who value collaboration and are prepared to engage in nuanced, complex discussions with state representatives, individuals with IDD, families, providers, and other partners. The Committee may convene for up to two years and is expected to meet monthly in-person (meeting location has not yet been determined), with additional virtual sessions early in the process for required training and orientation. 

What To Do if You Want to Be Considered for the Committee

To be considered for an appointment, resumes and a brief letter of interest must be emailed to DDD.RFP@dhs.nj.gov and received no later than 4 p.m. on April 23, 2026. Human Services is not responsible for lost or misdirected submissions. Human Services will make every effort to notify individuals who are not selected.