New Jersey § 30:6d-34

§ 30:6d-34.

The Legislature finds and declares that: a. It is in the best interest of the State of New Jersey to preserve, strengthen and

maintain the family unit. All individuals, regardless of disability, have the right to belong to a family

unit where enduring relationships can be fostered. b. Families are the major providers of support, care, training and other services

for their family member with a developmental disability living at home. Consequently, families are continually searching for ways to support family members

with developmental disabilities in their homes instead of placing these individuals

in a State or private institution. c. Many families with a family member with a developmental disability experience exceptionally

high financial outlays and extraordinary physical and emotional challenges, isolation,

stigmatization and daily stress. Supporting families in their effort to care for their family member with a developmental

disability at home is efficient, cost effective and humane; failure to provide needed

supports can result in premature placement of the family member in a setting outside

the home. d. To be effective, family supports must support the entire family, must be easily

accessible, flexible, culturally sensitive and individualized. They must be designed to promote interdependence, independence, productivity and

integration of people with disabilities into the community. Family supports must also be built on existing social networks and naturally occurring

supports including extended families, neighbors and community associations. e. A Statewide family support policy must acknowledge that families themselves are

able to define their own needs and select their own services; family supports must

be chosen by families, controlled by families and monitored by families. f. Adults with disabilities should be afforded the opportunity to make decisions for

themselves, live in typical homes and communities and exercise their full rights as

citizens. Adults with disabilities should have options for living separately from their families,

but when this is not the case, families should be provided the supports they need.