www.bergen.org/cape

Special Services Resource Center
Collaboration. Access. Planning. Education.

Mission

The mission of the CAPE Special Services Resource Center is to promote Collaboration, Access, Planning and Education among the special needs community. The CAPE Center serves individuals from infancy through adulthood as a central point of contact for guidance and connection to accessible and appropriate services, information, education and resources for people with disabilities. The Center is committed to helping individuals and families access the system of services to enrich all aspects of life.

The Bergen County Special Services School District was created by the New Jersey Legislature in 1971, the first of eight such districts in New Jersey. The District offers a broad spectrum of special education programs and services for students and adults with disabilities. BCSS educates students with disabilities from preschool through age 21 in both self-contained schools and collaborative programs with local school districts and includes supportive services for students transitioning from high school to independent living and employment. Adult services include vocational training and employment in supervised environments.

Over thirty years of experience has shown us that one of the greatest challenges facing families and individuals is learning to navigate the system of services for people with disabilities. We wanted to create a one-stop-shop resource center that is open to anyone who is involved in the special needs community. The resource center would promote awareness of services and provide educational and networking opportunities to enhance service coordination, information sharing and skills building. Ultimately, individuals and families would have a place to go where they are assisted with connecting to the appropriate resources specific to their individual circumstances.

Scope of Services (Features of the CAPE Center)

Planning/Resource Coordination
Resource coordination includes intake, education and linkage. The Resource Coordinator is available to answer questions and to provide consultation and support regarding special services, community resource options and future planning. Together with the Resource Coordinator, individuals and families develop a service and support plan to help coordinate access to services, information, education and resources. Linkages are streamlined and specific to meet the unique needs of each individual. Depending on individual circumstances, follow up may be conducted to ensure quality of services.

Co-located Service Providers
• Service providers that serve people with disabilities have access to a private office at the CAPE Center on specific days of the week to provide their programs directly at the CAPE Center.
• Partners co-locating at the CAPE Center include agencies from early intervention, statewide services, employment, vocational rehabilitation, county offices, mental health services, transportation, DD services, and recreation resources.

Resource Room
• Educational materials on many topics, such as DVDs, fact sheets, journal articles, etc.;
• Internet access for information on the web;
• Magazines, books and other publications;
• Brochures and fact sheets on service providers that serve the special needs community;
• Access to the latest research conducted on various diagnoses;
• Resource directories;
• Basic information on various disabilities and medications;
• Samples of therapeutic games and toys geared towards teaching and enhancing social, emotional and cognitive skills.

Collaboration/Service Coordination/Networking includes but is not limited to:
• Lunch Hour presentations with Q&A-highlights two service providers; learn about specific service providers and components of their programs.
• Northern New Jersey Disability Network-Quarterly meetings-brings together service providers who serve people with disabilities to share information and resources;
• Access to programs that provide parent to parent mentoring services.

Educational Workshops include but are not limited to:
• Medications
• Health Services
• Parenting Skills
• Various disabilities
• Transitions/ Transition Planning
• Guardianship/Estate Planning/Special Needs Trusts