In 1983, the Executive Director of The Arc of New Jersey demonstrated to Governor Thomas Kean that some types of intellectual/developmental disabilities could be prevented. However, the degree to which the state was engaging in prevention activities was not known.
In response, Governor Kean established the Governor's Council on Prevention of Mental Retardation (language no longer used) by Executive Order. In 1985, the Governor's Council on Prevention of Mental Retardation (language no longer used) completed its investigation and published its findings in the report, Programs for Preventing the Causes of Mental Retardation (language no longer used).
Community prevention efforts begin...
Following the publication of the report, The Arc of New Jersey was awarded a special purpose grant by the Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities to begin mobilizing community prevention efforts.
In the Spring of 1986, three regional conferences were held to present the report findings to the public and to organize networks to assist in the implementation of some of the recommendations included in the report. A network of individuals and agencies interested in prevention of mental retardation and other developmental disabilities resulted from the conferences and formed what is now the New Jersey Coalition for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities.
OPMRDD established by legislation...
In 1987, the Office for Prevention of of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OPMRDD) was established by legislation (P.L. 1987, c. 5, as amended by P.L. 2000, c. 82). In 2010, legislation was signed eliminating the words mental retardation from the office name.
Its mission is to reduce the frequency of occurrence of severe chronic mental or physical disabilities that originate during pregnancy or early childhood.
