Special Olympics New Jersey Inc

INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAM FUNDING - WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS REQUEST FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT HEALTH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENHANCING THE LIVES OF THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION BY PROMOTING THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING THROUGH HEALTH SCREENINGS, SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAMMING, YOUNG ATHLETES ACTIVITIES, AND TRAINING FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THE OBJECTIVES FOR THIS GRANT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. CONDUCT 3,000 HEALTHY ATHLETES SCREENINGS AND PROVIDE REFERRAL RESOURCES AND FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT TO ALL ATHLETES RECEIVING URGENT OR NON-URGENT REFERRAL RECOMMENDATIONS. SONJ WILL HOST HEALTHY ATHLETES SCREENINGS FOR MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES AT MULTIPLE EVENTS AND ALSO UTILIZE OUR MOBILE HEALTH VEHICLE TO CONDUCT THESE SCREENINGS. SONJ WILL EXPAND OUR LIST OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO LEND THEIR SUPPORT AT OUR SCREENINGS AND ARE A PART OF A REFERRAL NETWORK FOR OUR ATHLETES TO ACCESS. 2. PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND TRAINING AND ATHLETIC COMPETITION OPPORTUNITIES AT THE LOCAL, LEAGUE, REGIONAL AND STATE-WIDE LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION ACROSS 20 OLYMPIC-TYPE SPORTS SUPPORTING UP TO 20,000 WELL-TRAINED ATHLETES. SONJ WILL PROVIDE FITNESS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES UTILIZING OUR SONJ FITNESS CENTER, OUR VARIOUS FITNESS CLASSES AND OUR ANNUAL CAMP SHRIVER. WE WILL CONDUCT REGIONAL, LEAGUE AND STATE COMPETITIONS IN 20 OLYMPIC-TYPE SPORTS. 3. THROUGH OUR YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM, WE WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO A GROSS MOTOR AND SPORTS PLAY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 2-7 WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO HELP IMPROVE AND DEVELOP THEIR GROSS MOTOR, SOCIAL, AND BASIC SPORT SKILLS. SONJ WILL EXPAND THE YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM BY DEVELOPING NEW COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE ALONG WITH GROWING THE CURRENT CURRICULUM AT THESE PROGRAMS. WE WILL ALSO HOST YOUNG ATHLETE EVENTS AT STATE COMPETITIONS TO HELP INTRODUCE FAMILIES TO THE YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM AND INTRODUCE COMPETITION TO THE ATHLETES. WE WILL ALSO EXPAND THE AT-HOME PROGRAM FOR ATHLETES TO LEARN THESE SKILLS AT HOME SUPPORTED BY FAMILY. 4. TRAIN 3 NEW HEALTH MESSENGERS (HMS) AND TRAIN 4 NEW FITNESS CAPTAINS (FCS). SONJ WILL IDENTIFY ATHLETES TO BECOME EITHER AN HM OR FC WHO WILL WORK WITH SONJ FITNESS STAFF AND HELP TO LEAD FITNESS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER ATHLETES. 5. STRENGTHEN THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE PIPELINE BY TRAINING 300 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS THROUGH HEALTHY ATHLETES. ALSO TRAIN 100 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF HEALTHY ATHLETES AND ESTABLISH AT LEAST 1 NEW OR SUSTAINED PARTNERSHIP WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL. THROUGH VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, HANDS-ON CLINICAL TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS, SONJ WILL INCREASE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS' KNOWLEDGE AND IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.