Governor's Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities
OPDD works under the guidance and advice of the Governor’s Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities. The Council consists of twenty-five citizens who are appointed by the Governor.
Council Members...
Council members include self-advocates and family members of people with developmental disabilities; physicians, nurses and other allied health professionals; representatives from agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities; and the private sector.
In addition, the Commissioners or their designees of the Departments of Human Services, Health and Senior Services, Community Affairs, Education and Environmental Protection, as well as the Secretary of State, are active participants on the Council.
Together, the Governor’s Council on Prevention and the Office for Prevention track and monitor changes in the incidence of developmental disabilities. Their most recent findings can be found in the report, “Changes and Challenges: Securing Our Children’s Future.”
The Governor’s Council administers two standing committees:
Interagency Task Force on the Prevention of Lead Poisoning...
The Interagency Task Force on the Prevention of Lead Poisoning serves a mechanism to enhance communication and coordination of services and programs among state and local agencies.
Members of the Task Force include representatives from the State Departments of Human Services, Health and Senior Services, Community Affairs, and Environmental Protection, the Office of the Public Advocate and the Office of the Child Advocate as well as numerous community agencies.
More information about and resources for the prevention of lead poisoning can be found at our Get the Lead Out Resource page and by visiting www.leadsafenj.org. The Lead Task Force also serves as the advisory board to the New Jersey Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination Plan which can be viewed at: http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/newborn/lead.shtml#resource
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Other Perinatal Addictions Task Force...
The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Other Perinatal Addictions Task Force is committed to educating all New Jersey residents about the possible effects of alcohol, drugs and tobacco upon fetal development.
Members of the Task Force include representatives from the State Departments of Human Services, Health and Senior Services, the Office of the Public Advocate, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the Perinatal Addictions System, the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Diagnostic (FASD) Centers, community agencies and family members.
The FASD Task Force tracks and monitors its progress through the evaluation of its strategic plan. The current five year strategic plan, Be in the kNOw, can be reviewed under publications. More information about FASD and other perinatal addictions is available at www.beintheknownj.org
