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North Jersey Friendship House Announces Retirement of CEO Leonard Nicolosi and Names their New Chief Executive Officer

North Jersey Friendship House Announces Retirement of CEO Leonard Nicolosi and Names their New Chief Executive Officer

The Board of Trustees of North Jersey Friendship House (NJFH) announced that the leadership transition planned over the last several months is complete. Leonard J. Nicolosi, MBA recently retired from his position as CEO which he held the last 5 years and was his second term leading the agency. Dinorah D’Auria, Psy.D. (Emerson, NJ) has been named Chief Executive Officer of the agency.

Project Search Continues to Grow

Project Search Continues to Grow

Project Search is a ten month internship-based program for adults with varying abilities that takes place entirely at a business host site; offering the interns to cycle through three internship rotations with a goal of competitive employment upon graduation.

Recite Me Accessibility and Translation Toolbar added to our website

Recite Me Accessibility and Translation Toolbar added to our website

We have added the Recite Me Accessibility and Translation toolbar to our website to make it accessible and inclusive for as many people as possible. It will help the one in four adults in the US who have a disability (according to the CDC), including those with common conditions like sight loss and dyslexia, to access this website in the way that suits them best. It also meets the needs of the over 20% of people in the US who don’t speak English as their first language, by being able to translate our web content into over 100 different languages.

Honoring the Passing of Two Friendship House Trustees

Honoring the Passing of Two Friendship House Trustees

We are very fortunate that we a have multi-faceted slate of trustees, giving much of their time and talent to Friendship House. At the end of 2020, we unfortunately lost two long-standing trustees and would like to take this opportunity to share a bit about them through the reflection of staff who worked very closely with them.

CARF Three Year Re-accreditation

CARF Three Year Re-accreditation

2020 was an unprecedented year and a time for many firsts. North Jersey Friendship House had its first ever Digitally Enabled Site Survey by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, (CARF). On November 18, 19, and 20th, 2020 CARF surveyors conducted a three day remote, virtual program review with staff, members, stakeholders, and Trustees, through Microsoft Teams. As a result of staff’s hard work and commitment, Friendship House received a Three-Year CARF Re-Accreditation.

Expanding Our Services Into Passaic County!

Expanding Our Services Into Passaic County!

We secured a wonderful location in Wayne, New Jersey and were approved by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in August of 2020. The location will be home to two sections of our program. A staff to member ratio of 1:4 for an autism specific section and a 1:6 which serves autism and other developmental disabilities.