Serena Sturman-Pupons

The meeting included an overview of the draft strategic plan for the Justice Center and updates regarding the 2026 Code of Conduct and Healing Hero Awards. Staffing updates were provided, including the introduction of a new Director of Legislative Affairs and changes to the Advisory Council membership. Budgetary concerns were discussed, specifically regarding proposed changes to the Adult Home Advocacy program. The council received a presentation on outreach and training activities and reviewed reports from various sub-committees, including Abuse Prevention, Investigator and Law Enforcement Training, and Legislation and Regulations, all of which are focusing on defining charters and strengthening collaboration.

The meeting included updates on new organizational leadership and the Code of Conduct award process. Discussion topics covered the outreach efforts from the State of New Jersey, new guidance regarding malicious false reporting, and plans to implement electronic signatures for Code of Conduct training. The council reviewed the Governor's proposed budget, discussed advocacy efforts for funding, and received an overview of the Office of Incident Management. Furthermore, committee updates were provided regarding abuse prevention and legislative affairs, followed by an open forum addressing the state's Olmstead Plan and the implementation of HALT.

The meeting included updates on new Advisory Council members, agency executive positions, budget and prevention allocations, and the Justice Center and HALT annual reports. Discussions covered Justice Center work related to the HALT Act, practices during HALT reviews, accessibility issues, and the celebration of DSP Week. Communications updates included the monthly newsletter and podcasts. The launch of six new prevention toolkits, messaging pillars, Code of Conduct awards, ethics training, and a strategic plan overview were also discussed. Committee updates were provided for the Abuse Prevention Committee, Investigator and Law Enforcement Training, Legislation and Regulations Committee, and Workforce Issues Committee.

The Advisory Council meeting included updates from the Justice Center, such as the Partnering to Protect event held in Albany and staff changes within the agency. Submissions for this year's Code of Conduct Awards program were opened, with the Advisory Council responsible for the official selection. Proposed meeting dates for 2026 were discussed. Committee reports included discussions on legislation and regulations, workforce issues, abuse prevention, and investigator and law enforcement training. The meeting also touched on the agency's new systemic review to support the prevention of sexual abuse and violations of professional boundaries at OPWDD Programs. Trainings offered by the Justice Center can be found on its website.

The meeting included updates on the Justice Center Summit, Code of Conduct Awards, and the Partnering to Protect Panel. There were discussions regarding Justice Center staff changes, efforts to reduce investigative cycle time, and an overview of the Justice Center website. The council is seeking new members for its Medical Review Board. Committee reports included updates from the Legislation and Regulations Committee, Workforce Issues Committee, Abuse Prevention Committee, and Investigator and Law Enforcement Training. The meeting also covered upcoming trainings and in-service training for staff.