Nursing Home Transtion Team
The Nursing Home Transition Team is made up of highly experienced licensed nurses from the Department of Human Services and is responsible for identifying and transitioning individuals who are eligible for I Choose Home-NJ. The nurses provide counseling about community based options, participates in the transition meetings coordinated by the individual and their MCO care manager as the subject matter expert. They advocate to ensure the MCO care manager and MLTSS transition team assess the person’s clinical transition needs and set up community services to ensure a successful transition. They refer to the MCO housing specialists for those individuals that do not have a qualified residence to move into and will assist with completing voucher opportunities as needed.
The Transition Team works hard to ensure that all individuals who meet the ICH-NJ criteria and want to go home will be enrolled in the program and safely transition to an appropriate home environment.
Ellen Klose, RN, ICH/MFP Nurse Liaison, worked for over 15 years as a regional staff nurse prior to joining the MFP team. Ellen's career in long term care started when she was a teenager. Ellen is a strong patient advocate and firmly believes in her clients' right to make choices. She has developed strong relationships with many local and statewide agencies and is a subject matter expert in building housing relationships.
Tricia Ayers, RN, ICH/MFP Nurse Liaison. Tricia worked for over 8 years as a regional staff nurse prior to joining the MFP team. She has worked most of her career in long term care and home care including nursing director, public health nurse and care management with the ADRC. Trisha strongly believes that consumers should choose where they want to live.
Thorbjorg Thorisdottir, RN, ICH/MFP Nurse Liaison. Thorbjorg has extensive experience working with individuals in long-term and acute care settings in the USA and Norway. She worked as a Community Choice Options Counselor before joining the MFP team in 2015. Prior to becoming a nurse she worked as a Direct Service Worker, primarily with geriatric patients. As a mother caring for a son with physical and mental challenges, Thorbjorg has a deeply personal commitment to physically and developmentally disabled people living in the community. It gives her great satisfaction to help her clients achieve a smooth and successful transition back home.
Emmanuel Cajulao, BSN, RN, has worked for the Department of Human Services as a Community Choice Counselor since 2001. Prior to this, he worked for several years in various units and departments in NJ hospitals. In his current role, he is committed to coordinating transitions with nursing homes and managed care organization to assist nursing home residents return to the community with adequate supports and services.
Amanda Colbert, RN, ICH/MFP Nurse Liaison, is the newest member of the MFP team. She comes to us with extensive sub-acute nursing experience and discharge planning. She has worked with the geriatric population for over 10 years. Amanda enjoys facilitating seamless transitions and helping individuals thrive with supports in the community.
Chaitali Patel, RN, ICH/MFP Nurse Liaison, has worked as a Community Choice Counselor for the Department of Human Services Office of Community Choice Options since 2019. Prior to this, she worked for several years in a Managed Care Organization, Adult Medical Day Care, Home Care, Health Management Company, and a Hospital, including nursing director, staff nurse, and corporate nurse. At the end of the day, Chaitali finds it rewarding to make a meaningful difference in the lives of her consumer as they transition to a community setting.
Community Transitions Unit
Miracle Drakeford is a Unit Director in the Community Transition and Special Projects Unit. She started her career at the Division of Developmental Disabilities in December 2001. As a Case Manager working with individuals and their families, Miracle facilitated connections to valuable resources in the community. She also worked as a Program Developer in the Office of Housing and Resource Development and Supervisor in the Day Habilitation & Employment Unit. In all her roles at DDD, Miracle has been a strong advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Gina Guadagnino is Unit Director in the Community Transition and Special Projects Unit. Throughout her 20 + years at the Division of Developmental Disabilities, she has remained committed to promoting community life and helping individuals with disabilities achieve lasting success and independence. She is a graduate of Ramapo College of NJ, and completed graduate work in the area of Special Education at Montclair State University.
Helen Azu is a Supervisor in the Community Transition and Special Projects Unit (CTU) at DDD. She has dedicated over 15 years to improving the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy and successful community transitions. Helen holds both a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's degree in Special Education. She previously served as a Transitional Case Manager (TCM), managing discharges from Hunterdon and Greenbrook Developmental Centers, and now oversees the TCMs assigned to those facilities. She is known for her unwavering dedication, leadership, compassion, and commitment to person-centered planning. Her work continues to support NJDDD’s mission of promoting dignity, independence, and inclusive community living.
Maria Payne-Harris is a Supervisor in the Community Transitions Unit. She is a graduate of Temple University. She started her career at Ancora State Hospital as a Social Worker. Maria moved over to the Division of Developmental Disabilities where she supervises the transition of individuals to the community. She strongly believes everyone has the right to a meaningful existence.
Tamia Davis is a Transitional Case Manager responsible for New Lisbon Developmental Center as well as Skilled Nursing Facilities for the past 3 years. Prior to coming to the Olmstead Unit she worked as a nurse at New Lisbon Developmental Center for 22 years. Tamia is a strong advocate for the intellectually disabled community and has a passion for ensuring all individuals are able to live life with as few restrictions as possible. Tamia received her associates level RN degree and is currently pursuing her Masters in Nursing at Capella University.
Frank DiMichele is a Transitional Case Manager with the Community Transitions Unit. He began his career with DDD at the New Lisbon Developmental Center in 2007. In 2015 he became a Behavior Support Technician at the Vineland Developmental Center, and later that year, he transferred to the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital as a Rehabilitation Counselor until 2018. Frank returned to New Lisbon to become a Habilitation Plan Coordinator before transferring to the Community Transitions Unit in 2021, where he transitions individuals out of institutional settings and into community based group homes.
Krista Ruff is a Transitional Case Manager at Woodbine Developmental Center. She has worked with the Developmental and Intellectually Disabled population for over 17 years. Before becoming a TCM, Krista was a Behavior Support Technician and Habilitation Plan Coordinator at Woodbine Developmental Center. Krista has worked in the Community Transitions Unit transitioning individuals into the community since August of 2023. She is passionate about improving people’s lives by helping them find new homes with their needed supports in place.
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