Person-centered planning will be the focus of a free conference for New Jersey families and caregivers of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, at the Hekemian Conference Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Ave., Hackensack, N.J.

"Person-Centered Planning: What It Means to Me," will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., and is sponsored by the National Institute for People with Disabilities of New Jersey (NIPD/NJ), a member of the YAI Network.

Featured presentations are:

• An update from the N.J. Division of Developmental Disabilities with Elizabeth Shea, Assistant Commissioner.
• The impact of person-centered planning with Shellyann Dacres, a Training and Consultation Specialist at the Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities.
• Development and implementation of a person-centered plan with Cheryl Karran, a Senior Coordinator of residential and service coordination with NIPD/NJ.

Special thanks to Hackensack University Medical Center for donating the conference space.

Founded in 1998, the National Institute for People with Disabilities of New Jersey serves individuals in residential group homes throughout Bergen County, as well as in a cluster of apartments located in Westwood. By providing in-home respite, information and referral, recreation, socialization programs and service coordination, NIPD/NJ also supports children and adults who reside at home with their families.