Brings Facts And Fun To Phillipsburg 

A wide-ranging family-focused event designed for families with special needs children and young adults, the Warren County Autism Awareness And Special Needs Resource Fair will take over The Early Childhood Learning Center in Phillipsburg on April 3. The Resource Fair, which runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m., will present an extensive array of community-based programs for families seeking support. The center is conveniently located at 459 Center Street.

Open to all, this free annual event is hosted by the Warren County Children’s Inter-Agency Coordinating Council (CIACC), Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities subcommittee, and the Phillipsburg School District’s Special Education Parent Advisory Group. 

Tri County Care Management Organization (TCCMO) is very excited to participate in the Resource Fair. Other collaborators include Branching Out and Page One Resource Center; Dawn Center for Independent Living; Family Support Organization of Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties; and Greenwich Autism Alliance.

Deja Amos, Chief Development Officer, Tri County Care Management Organization (TCCMO), noted, “Last year’s Resource Fair featured over 20 vendors providing valuable information on special needs resources, spanning childhood through adulthood. We are thrilled to co-host this event again and continue supporting our community.” 

An advocate for family voice and choice, TCCMO strives to ensure that special needs children, ages five to 21, have access to all the comprehensive services they need. They create pathways that enable children to succeed at home, in school, and in their community.

The three-hour Resource Fair includes keynote speakers, breakout rooms, over 20 resource tables, free on-site childcare, face painting/selfie station, and refreshments, along with exciting giveaways and prizes.

One of this year’s keynote speakers will be Vickie Mendes-Branch, founder of Branching-Out Foundation and Page One Resource Center; Vice President of the Phillipsburg Board of Education; and a parent of a child with autism. Mendes-Branch explained, “As a parent of a child with autism, I know first-hand the challenges and uncertainties that come with navigating special needs. Events like this Resource Fair are invaluable to our community.”

Breakout rooms will cover topics pertaining to the Children’s System of Care and the DDID eligibility process, timeframes and key components of an Individualized Educational Plan (I.E.P.), and steps towards transitioning to the Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities.

Organizers welcome the public to attend and participate in what will be an extremely informative Autism Awareness And Special Needs Resource Fair. 

There is no charge to attend the Resource Fair, but pre-registration is highly suggested. Free on-site childcare is offered for attendees. Walk-ins are welcome. There is plenty of onsite parking. Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/nQeread17fjrmMYB6 or by scanning the QR code on the flyer.

For additional information about the Resource Fair, contact nrusso@tricountycmo.org.

To learn more about Tri County Care Management Organization and their programs, or to make a donation, visit www.tricountycmo.org.