New Jersey Librarians Help Residents Through Tough Economic Times

Unemployment

• New Jersey's Unemployment Insurance can help.

Job Searches

• The New Jersey State Library's Virtual Career Center provides a helpful list of resources for finding employment in New Jersey.
• Find employment opportunities and other services to assist your job search at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Job Seekers site.
• One-Stop Career Centers can help you address specific concerns to ensure your job search is successful. Check out the Support Services section to help lead you in the right direction!
• One-Stop Career Centers can also help you develop your career, perform a skills assessment, choose a college or technical institute, or search for Financial Aid.
• Veterans in need of job placement services; check here.
• Services for individuals with disabilities.

Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network (WNJPIN)

• New Jersey's virtual One-Stop offers online services to workers and employers.

Bill Paying

• Check out NJHelps - a self screen for 28+ programs.

Family Assistance

• Check out New Jersey Family Care - affordable health coverage and quality care.

Utility Bills

• See NJ SHARES for help in paying PSE&G bills.
• Check out New Jersey Board of Utilities assistance programs.
• See the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help with winter heating bills.

Grocery Bills

• See if you qualify for food stamps.

Food Assistance

• Locate food pantries and soup kitchens.

Military Benefits

• You may be eligible for Veteran Services.

Banking Issues

• See the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance to request assistance on filing consumer inquiries and complaints.

Investors and Investments

• See the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance personal finance topics.

Tax Assistance

• Free tax preparation services are available through VITA/TCE.

Tax Credits

• Check out the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families.

Auto Insurance

• The Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP) program, also known as Dollar a Day helps make limited auto insurance coverage available to drivers who are eligible for Federal Medicaid with hospitalization. Such drivers can obtain a medical coverage-only policy at a cost of $365 a year.

• Mayor's Combat Kit - Materials and sources of information on buying a home, mortgage assistance and foreclosure guidance.

Foreclosure Issues?

• New Jersey Homeownership Preservation Effort (NJ HOPE)
• Mortgage Assistance Pilot (MAP) - Provides temporary financial assistance to income-eligible homeowners.
• New Jersey Judiciary Foreclosure Mediation Program
• Financial Counseling Organizations - Governmental and non-profit organizations that provide financial assistance or counseling to borrowers in foreclosure.

Homelessness Prevention

• The New Jersey Homelessness Prevention Program provides limited financial assistance to low and moderate income tenants and homeowners in imminent danger of eviction or foreclosure.
  Call toll-free: 866-889-6270

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency

• The NJ HMFA provides programs for home buyers, home owners, renters, seniors and those with special needs.

Reverse mortgage loans for seniors

Utility Bills

• The New Jersey Board of Utilities provides information about the following assistance programs: Comfort Partners, LIHEAP, Universal Service Fund - Energy, Winter Termination Program, Lifeline Program, NJSHARES and Telephone Assistance.

Doctor Bills

• The New Jersey Medicaid program provides medical assistance to people who qualify.
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to New Jersey's Medicare beneficiaries who have problems or questions about their health insurance.

Health Insurance for Children

• The State of New Jersey program for uninsured children and certain low income parents and guardians provides affordable insurance coverage for those who are eligible.

Uninsured Medical Insurance

• The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund provides assistance.

Medication Costs

• New Jersey state funded prescription assistance - Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD).
• The Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program (Senior Gold) is a state funded prescription program with different eligibility guidelines than PAAD.

Assistive Technology

• The Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing  distributes assistive technology to qualified New Jersey residents wtih hearing loss to ensure access to the telecommunications and visual alerting home safety equipment needed to live independently.
• The New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center operates an Assistive Listening Device Loan Program and provides resources and services for the visually and hearing impaired.

Brain Injuries

• Traumatic Brain Injury Fund

Family Stress

• New Jersey's mental health information and referral service.
• The New Jersey Department of Human Services lists Crisis Centers by county.
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline

Domestic Violence

• The New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women provides a service guide by county.
• New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline
  Call toll-free: 800-572-SAFE (7233) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Transportation to Doctor's Appointments

• Check for local transportation programs by county in New Jersey.

Caregivers

• Find resources for many aspects of caregiving from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

Cancer

• Find cancer resources in your New Jersey county from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

Doctor Profiles

• The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs provides the New Jersey Health Care Profile database. Search medical doctors, podiatrists and optometrists by name to find information such as education and board certification.

New Jersey General Health Information Resources

• HealthyNJ is a comprehensive medical resource site created, maintained and updated by the University Libraries at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Health Insurance For Children

• Check out NJ Family Care.

Uninsured Medical Costs

• The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund provides assistance.

Child Care

• Licensed Child Care Centers arranged by county and then by municipality.
• Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies by county.
• Learn about State Subsidized Child Care and view Child Care Eligibility Forms and Instructions.

College Costs

• Read about student financial aid at the New Jersey Higher Education Assistance Authority.

Nutrition For Mothers and Children

• WIC, the special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides supplemental nutritious foods.

New or Expectant Parents

• Learn about the Home Visitation program.
• Download parenting information from the Department of Children and Families.

Child Support

• New Jersey Child Support helps children receive financial support from both parents.

Children With Special Needs

• Learn about Special Child Health Services.

College Preparation

• Find out how New Jersey Gear Up helps students in Trenton, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Camden get ready for college.

New Jersey Info Secure

• Given that cyber security breaches are becoming increasingly common and not just affecting NJ citizens but the nation as a whole, New Jersey Info Secure is a one stop shop for information security updates, alerts and advisories. There you will find security newsletters, educational resources for children/teens/parents, computer emergency links, federal and local government resources, glossaries, RSS news feeds, and other security resource links. Also the website offers bookmarks, posters and cyber security guides for parents to download.
  
  The US Cyber Challenge is for any high school student who has an interest in the Information/Cyber Security field. The students will have study materials to test their knowledge and the winning high school with the highest score within their district will go onto compete at a national level. The enrollment fee is $100 per school/organization and $25 for home schooled students. The fee for the home schooled student is waived if they enroll with a school that is participating in their district for the competition. The payment for the enrollment may come from sponsors in lieu of traditional payments. Registration ends on September 30, 2011! Please contact: Renée McLaughlin at (518) 526-3947 for additional information.

NJ EASE

• New Jersey Easy Access, Single Entry (NJ EASE) is an easy way for seniors and their families to get information about, and access to senior services by calling a toll free phone number which will be answered by a person from an agency in your county.
  Call toll-free: 1-877-222-3737.

Senior Services

Statewide Benefits for Older Persons

Special Automobile Insurance Company (SAIP)

• A new initiative, also known as Dollar a Day, that helps make limited auto insurance coverage available to drivers who are eligible for Federal Medicaid with hospitalization. Such drivers can obtain a medical coverage-only policy at a cost of $365 a year.

Utility Bills

• The New Jersey Board of Utilities provides information about the following assistance programs: Comfort Partners, LIHEAP, Universal Service Fund - Energy, Winter Termination Program, Lifeline Program, NJSHARES and Telephone Assistance.

Reverse mortgage loans for seniors

Tax Assistance

• Free tax preparation services are available through VITA/TCE.

Doctor Bills

• The New Jersey Medicaid program provides medical assistance to people who qualify.
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to New Jersey's Medicare beneficiaries who have problems or questions about their health insurance.

Medication Costs

• New Jersey state funded prescription assistance - Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD).

Transportation to Doctor's Appointments

• Check for local transportation programs by county in New Jersey.

Assistive Technology

• The Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearingdistributes assistive technology to qualified New Jersey residents wtih hearing loss to ensure access to the telecommunications and visual alerting home safety equipment needed to live independently.
• The New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center operates an Assistive Listening Device Loan Program and provides resources and services for the visually and hearing impaired.