Questions, answered.

Adults (18+) with intellectual and developmental disabilities across New Jersey — including individuals who also live with anxiety, depression, trauma, or behavioral challenges. We support the person and the family who loves them.

We're currently welcoming new clients in Middlesex Mercer Monmouth Ocean Somerset Union

We serve 11 New Jersey counties overall — if yours isn't listed, reach out and we'll tell you honestly what's possible.

Developmental services: in-home and community-based supports delivered by trained Direct Support Professionals — daily living, community participation, and respite. Learn more.

Behavioral health: through our licensed telehealth partner practice, we connect clients with behavioral health support that works alongside their daily care. Learn more.

No — contact us wherever you are in the process. If your loved one already has DDD eligibility and an approved budget, we can move quickly. If not, we'll walk you through what comes first: Medicaid eligibility, the DDD application, and the NJCAT assessment. You don't have to navigate it alone.

Our services are funded through NJ DDD's Medicaid waiver programs (the Supports Program and Community Care Program) using your loved one's approved budget. For eligible individuals, there is typically no out-of-pocket cost for budgeted services. We'll explain exactly how your budget applies before anything begins.

For individuals who already have DDD eligibility and an approved budget, services typically begin within 2–4 weeks of referral — often sooner when scheduling and authorizations move quickly. If eligibility or budget approval is still in process, we'll walk you through what comes first.

Yes. The match matters. We introduce your DSP before services begin, and we check in with your family during the first 60 days. If the fit isn't right, tell us — we'll work on a rematch. A good relationship between your loved one and their DSP is the whole point.

Use our referral form — it takes about three minutes — or call/text us at (848) 316-8540. We respond to every referral within one business day.

Yes. When you bring us an urgent situation — a caregiver hospitalization, a placement breakdown, a home that's no longer safe — we prioritize it. Urgent referrals go to the top of our queue, and we'll tell you within one business day whether we have the capacity to help, honestly and quickly.

If we can say yes, we move fast on an expedited intake. If we can't, we'll tell you immediately so you don't lose time — and for same-day mental health or behavioral crises, DDD's CARES team is the right first call.

We're a DDD-approved provider serving individuals on the Supports Program and Community Care Program. Send the ISP, NJCAT summary, and budget details with your referral and we'll confirm fit fast.

The essentials: current ISP, NJCAT summary, budget/authorization info, and your contact details. Don't have everything yet? Send what you have — we'd rather start the conversation than wait for a perfect packet.

One business day, every referral. You'll never wonder whether we received it. Calls and texts get returned the same day.

No. We train — no experience needed. If you bring reliability and genuine care for people, we'll teach you the rest: the required NJ DDD training modules, hands-on skills, and person-specific preparation before your first shift. Apply here.

Two ways to earn more in your first two months:

$500 sign-on bonus — paid at your 60-day mark.

Up to $250 excellence bonus — awarded at 60 days for outstanding work, based on family feedback, reliability, and documentation quality. That's up to $750 in your first two months.

Full-time, part-time, and weekend shifts across our service counties. Paid training. We'll work to match your availability with families near you.

All state-required DDD training through the College of Direct Support (CDS), agency orientation, safety and crisis-response preparation, and person-specific training for each individual you'll support. Nurses on our team help lead medication training. Your growth is part of the job.

Apply at thhs.care/career (or scan the QR on our card). We review quickly, interview, run required background checks, and start your paid training. Most candidates go from application to first training day in about two weeks.

Yes — Tender Hand Healthcare Services is family-owned, NJ DOH licensed, and an NJ DDD-approved provider agency, run by nurses and disability specialists.

Carefully, and in writing. Our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policy spell out exactly how information is protected — all gathered in our Legal & Compliance Hub.

They're documented, plainly, in our Participant Bill of Rights — what you can expect and what you're entitled to. You can request it in large print, another language, or read aloud, at no cost.

Directly and without fear. Our Grievance Procedure explains every step. You can also call our legal & compliance line at 908-220-8004 or email legal@thhs.care. Raising a concern will never affect the quality of care you receive.