April 2025 News
Oh What A Night!
Eiros Group
Celebrated 5 Years!
by Mary Bryan, Chief Marketing Officer
To be able to celebrate a milestone such as 5 years in business, is a true achievement. To say this as a business that was founded in the midst of 2020, 5 years is more than just a milestone, it is something truly significant. It a testament to the perseverance, vision, optimism, determination, experience, kindness, resourcefulness and genuine altruism of Jenn Brown.
What began as raising a son with disabilities, and navigating through the myriad of successes and setbacks, happiness and heartaches, and so much more... manifested itself in to a career of advocacy, learning, sharing her experiences, and solving problems. Jenn Brown is a leader who has become a guidepost, a facilitator and an inspiration for so many others along the way.
Jenn Brown has created a welcoming universe for those who catch her spark, who see her visions, and who also know that there has to be a better way. Eiros Group was formed to find that better way. To help bring together that which has been broken, divided or separated, Eiros Group is so much more than just a business. It is love, empowerment, persistence and dedication.
Jenn Brown and Eiros Group have touched, changed and significantly improved the lives of so many. Eiros Group has grown into a company that serves people all over New Jersey. Eiros Group has also helped to inspire many others who are using Eiros Group as their model to create better outcomes for families and persons living with disabilities.
Last month, it was a pure joy to gather with co-workers, employees, mentors, customers, families and friends. During the Anniversary celebration held at the Somerville Elks Lodge, everyone enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner and dessert, (Thank you Cat!), along with dancing and live music from Big Bang Baby. There were also awards given during the evening. Learn more about the awards and the recipients below. It was a delightful evening of friendship, successes, and happiness. I am grateful to be a part of Eiros Group and Jenn Brown's Universe, as are many of us! Cheers Jenn to many more Anniversaries in the years ahead!
In case you missed last month's article from Jenn reviewing the past 5 years and where we go from here, read more in the March 2025 Newsletter.
A Night of Comraderie, Celebration, Great Company, and Yes, Awards!
During the 5th Anniversary Celebration, CEO and Founder of Eiros Group Jenn Brown recognized and celebrated a number of important people in the Eiros Group Community.
The first award was in honor of Jenn's husband, Mike Brown, who passed away in 2023. As Jenn says, "Mike was my rock. He was my better half in many ways. He was a great father, an excellent father, and a terrific partner. One day I came home, I was working in Trenton at the council, and I was just done. I was so like, it's just not moving fast enough for me. And I want change. I want change now, and I want quality and I want this and I want that. And he's like, well, do it yourself. I was like, you know what? That's not really helpful. He's like, no, really do it for yourself. And so I left the council and I took some time to sort of figure out what I wanted to do and what that would look like, and went through some different ideas. And he was there every step of the way saying, okay, what does that look like? Let's think about that. We had very little capital to start with, so we had to go with a model that we could sort of just get behind and push and mold. And he was there every step of the way. Anyway, he just was always there. And so we came up with an award in honor of him."
To present the Mike Brown Award, Jenn introduced Kristen Mathews. "First, Kristen Mathews, has been promoted to the Chief Operations Officer this year. I've had the privilege and honor of having her on this journey with me from pretty much the beginning. She has been a rock, has really been very supportive, and has helped me carry out the vision that we have in our company. And I'm most appreciative".
"So today I have the pleasure of recognizing someone who embodies dedication, patience, and an unwavering support. Their passion for this work is evident in everything that they do, whether they're guiding a person through a challenging situation or supporting a colleague who needs advice. They always approach it with care, understanding, and a willingness to help. What truly sets them apart is how approachable they are. No matter how busy they might be, they always make time to listen and problem solve. They create a welcoming space for everyone, ensuring that they feel safe and loved. Their dedication and kindness do not go unnoticed. It is an honor to present this award as a small token of our appreciation for all that they do. And let's be honest, if keeping a poker face was part of the job, they might be in trouble. You always know exactly what they're thinking, and honestly, that's part of what makes them so great to work with. Congratulations, Sherry Cameron."
"Next, I'd like to introduce you to Cat Capasso, who will be introducing our next award recipient. Cat and I started working together in Easter Seals, in Chester back a couple years ago. Cat is a tremendous addition to our team, and our company. She's our Compliance Officer and she's amazing. She has helped weather us through some storms."
"Without our Direct Support Professionals embodying that spirit of what we do, we wouldn't do what we do. Direct Support Professionals are the eyes, the ears, their advocacy. They're leaders, they're mentors. They have to act in a crisis situation. They have to have some level of common sense and then have QA and the rest of the team back them up. But at the end of the day, we're relying on our Direct Support Professionals to take care of our most precious asset, which is your children."
"It is my honor to present Direct Support Professional of the year to Mr. Ryan Betrix. He has worked for Eiros for approximately two years, and he embodies that essence of what we strive to be as a Direct Support Professional. So please help me congratulate Ryan Betrix".
"I've been incredibly blessed in this journey with my son, Kyle, to meet some people along the way that have helped shape his life, and helped me think differently about disability, about ability and person-centered planning and thinking. I really focused on helping my son and other people live the life that they want to lead."
"This next award, is the Mark Davis Award. Mark Davis worked for the Arc of Hunterdon. He was one of my best friends, who passed away a couple years ago. He taught me a lot about just the way things should be, and he was an incredibly gifted musician. He loved music. He used music in his work."
"To introduce the Mark Davis award is Mary Bryan, who's just come on as our Marketing Officer. Mary and I went to high school together and she's an incredibly talented graphic artist and has done my website, my logo, and has finally joined our team. She is here to help us launch into the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years. She's a lot of fun to be with and a lot of fun to work with."
"Thank you, Jenn. So in the nature of Mark Davis and all the things that he represented to Jenn, we tried to figure out whom, among our staff, Support Brokers, admin, and DSPs, that embodies community involvement, being a part of a team, loving all kinds of things, being there for other people, and always growing. And I think we were unanimous in choosing Eiros Group Supports Broker, Jean Marie Hanna as our Mark Davis recipient for this year."
"This next person I met about 2010, and I felt like I met a kind of a better version of myself. Somebody that had a better understanding of life and the way to kind of work things so that the people that they're involved with got the lives that they wanted to lead. We met, we talked, I helped them with a project and I was able to really make a difference. It was exciting, and it was a cool project, and it's still alive and kicking today."
"So as a team, we tried to think of somebody who has sort of lived a life of service their entire life. Somebody that has created a vision and a model of something that was visionary, and it was unique, and different, and special. So we came up with this award, and I'm hoping she doesn't kill me."
"When I tell you the name of the award, you'll know who it is. We're not going to give this award every year because it's not an award that can be replicated easily. It's something that is earned over a lifetime, and it is something that means the world to me."
"I've learned a tremendous amount in being in company with this person. They gave me the gumption to sort of go ahead and start Eiros Group. They have always been with me in spirit, and push me along, and is somebody that I can rely on to give it to me straight. The name of the award is the Evelyn Dudziek Lifetime Award."
Birthday Kindness
by Jean Marie Hanna
Birthdays are a special occasion to celebrate you! It can also be a time of reflection and connecting with others. This year, for her birthday, Alina wanted to share her special day with her friends.
Each year, Alina is excited to celebrate her birthday with presents, lunch and cards; however, Alina decided to bake cupcakes to share with her friends. Adding a dose of kindness (and chocolate) to her special day put a smile on her and her friend’s faces.
Sharing her birthday and a special treat is nothing short of Alina’s kind heart and her connecting with friends to show love and appreciation.
Alina, Happy Birthday. Continue to shine!
Each month, we receive stories and photos from Eiros Group Employees, the people we support and their families, about a variety of topics including services insights, vacation or holiday experiences, family memories or traditions, favorite recipes and of course, stories about life with Disability. If you would like to submit an article or photos or both, for consideration in an upcoming edition, please send to: maryb@eiros-group.com We are grateful for all of the submissions to our newsletter!
April Eiros Group
Anniversaries & Birthdays!
Happy Birthday to Katie B., Callie B., Henry C., Jason K., Lisa L., Olivia M., Shannon M., Jacob S., Debra S., Chi-Chih T.!
We also want to wish Happy Eiros Group Anniversaries to Sherry C., Jennifer J., and Sonia R.!
Thank you to all of you for being a part of our amazing group!!
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Are you, or someone you know looking for either a way to bring more meaning to their career, or a to join a growing and dynamic group of caring professionals? Then you will want to visit our Work With Us page on our website! It is updated regularly, and because we are growing, we have a number of open open positions throughout New Jersey!. Want to learn more? Click here and apply today!
Building a Home, Creating a Life: How Gentle Teaching Supports Person-Centered Housing Plans
by Kristen Mathews, Chief Operations Officer
At Eiros Group we believe a home is more than just a place to live, it is the foundation for a meaningful life. Through Gentle Teaching, we help people develop a person-centered plan to find housing that meets their needs and preferences.
Person-Centered Planning, The First Step
The journey to finding a home starts with understanding a person's vision for their life. Our Supports Brokers work closely with each person to explore their goals, preferences, and support needs. We discuss location, living arrangements, accessibility, financial considerations, and personal interests to ensure housing choices align with their lifestyle.
Navigating the Housing Process
Finding housing can be complex, but we are here to help every step of the way to help. We assist people in identifying available housing options, understanding rental agreements, and accessing
financial resources such as housing vouchers and rental assistance programs. Our team also coordinates with landlords and property managers to ensure each person feels secure and supported in their new home.
Creating a Home with Gentle Teaching
Housing is not just about securing a place to live, it is about fostering belonging, safety, and community. Through Gentle Teaching, we build relationships based on respect, trust, and
companionship. Our approach ensures people feel valued, heard, and empowered to make choices about their home and daily lives.
Ongoing Support for Long-Term Success
Our commitment does not end when a person moves into their home. We continue to provide guidance and support to ensure housing remains stable and their lives fulfilled. Whether assisting
with household management logistics, connecting to community resources, or advocating when challenges arise, we remain a trusted partner in their journey.
At Eiros Group, we are dedicated to helping people build lives that reflect their dreams. By combining Gentle Teaching with person-centered planning, we help turn the vision of a home into reality. A life where each person feels safe, supported, and truly at home.
If you or someone you know needs help creating a housing plan, we are here to assist. Together, we can support people to find a home that provides stability, comfort, and a sense of belonging.
Missed Our Housing Workshop Last Month? More Are On The Way!
Interested in being a part of an upcoming housing workshop? Send an email to MaryB@Eiros-Group.com to be added to the invitation and announcements list!
Developmental Disabilities
Lecture Series
Presented by the Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development, registration is now open for the Spring 2025 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series. All sessions will be held online using the Zoom Webinar platform, and the webinars are FREE of charge. They are open to all people who live or work in New Jersey, but please note, space is limited for each of these sessions. You will need to log in or create an account in order to complete your registration request, and once completed you will be able to register. For additional information about DDLS Webinars, please view DDLS Webinar Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, please contact Debbie Mahovetz at deborah.mahovetz@rutgers.edu or 732-235-9543.
View Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series Spring 2025 brochure
Social Security to Withhold Benefits to Recoup Overpayments
SSA restores policy of cutting off payments to correct past errors
The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t make payment errors often — less than 1 percent of the time, according to agency data. But when it does pay a beneficiary more than they’re entitled to receive, the SSA is legally required to get the money back.
For some beneficiaries, that could soon mean temporarily losing their entire Social Security income.
The SSA announced on March 7 that it is resuming a past practice of withholding 100 percent of benefits from people it determines were previously overpaid until the debt is repaid. That reverses a policy put in place last year to cap the repayment rate at 10 percent of the affected person’s monthly payment.
The new policy takes effect March 27. From that date, beneficiaries determined to have been overpaid “will automatically be placed in full recovery at a rate of 100 percent of the Social Security payment” until the overage is recouped, the SSA says. The 10 percent rate will still hold for recipients whose overpayments predate March 27.
The change in the withholding rate applies to retirement benefits, survivor benefits, family benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). People collecting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will remain subject to the 10 percent cap.
The SSA estimates the policy change will increase overpayment recoveries by $7 billion over the next decade.
“We have the significant responsibility to be good stewards of the [Social Security] trust funds for the American people,” SSA Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek said in a statement. “It is our duty to revise the overpayment repayment policy back to full withholding.”
Overpayments rare
Beneficiaries who receive an overpayment notice can appeal or seek a waiver of the debt if they do not believe the error was their fault or do not have the means to repay it. Withholding will not begin until at least 30 days after the notice date and will not occur while an appeal or waiver is being considered. The SSA has an overpayments fact sheet with more information.
According to a July 2024 report from the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the SSA made approximately $71.8 billion in “improper” payments, most of them overpayments, in federal fiscal years 2015 through 2022. That’s out of nearly $8.6 trillion in benefit payments during that period, for a 0.84 percent error rate.
Errors are more prevalent in SSDI and SSI, the two Social Security-administered programs that serve people with disabilities. Eligibility for disability benefits and payment amounts can change month-to-month due to strict limits on how much beneficiaries can earn from work (and, in the case of SSI, complicated rules on other income, assets and living arrangements).
Important: Tax Filing Day is Tues. April 15, 2025! New Jersey Launches Innovative IRS Direct File Program
At the beginning of 2025, Governor Phil Murphy announced that New Jerseyans can now start using IRS Direct File for the 2025 tax filing season. The online tax filing tool, which is available to New Jerseyans for the first time, offers live chat support and provides taxpayers with a FREE, easy, accessible, and secure way to file their federal and state individual tax returns – it is estimated that more than one million New Jerseyans will be eligible to use Direct File. New Jerseyans may qualify to use IRS Direct File this tax season if they have lived in New Jersey for all of 2024, earned all of their 2024 income in New Jersey, and plan to use the same filing status for both their federal and state income tax returns. Residents can find out if they are eligible at DirectFile.IRS.gov.
All throughout March, Eiros Group attended numerous Resource and Transition Fairs including events in Hamilton Township (pictured above with Support Brokers Lisa and Jean-Marie), Northern Burlington County, Bridgewater, Lawrenceville, and several others.
Over the coming weeks, look for Eiros Group at more Resource Fairs, ready to answer any questions you have about planning and lining up resources for your future. Through the end of the school year, school districts throughout New Jersey will continue conducting Transition Planning Meetings and Transition Fairs to assist graduating students in developing person-centered plans.
If there is a student you know who will be graduating this coming Spring, and they will need assistance with DDD Services, or if your school district is hosting a Transition Fair, please let us know!
We invite you to find us, and learn more about all of the opportunities that are available for young adults! Eiros Group is also a fully trained resource in "Charting the Life Course" and we would love to help your student plan their Life Course too!
For questions, or more information, please contact Kristen Mathews at kristenm@eiros-group.com
Upcoming Transition Fairs:
April 3 - Resource Health Showcase, Rowan College, Vineland
April 3 - Willingboro Special Education Resource Fair, Willingboro High School
April 4 - Holmdel Board of Education Transition Fair, Bell Works, Holmdel
April 6 - Essex Couty College Autism Awareness Conference, Essex CC West Campus, West Caldwell
April 7 - SPWA Gloucester County Transition Fair, Bankbridge Rd., Sewell
April 12 - Burlington County Spring Resource Fair, Burlington County Special Services School, Westampton
April 16 - SPWA Williamstown High School Resource Fair, Williamstown High School, Williamstown
April 27 - Hillsborough Parks & Rec Transition Fair, Hillsborough
If your district is hosting a Transition or Resource Fair, please send us the information so that we can not only attend, but also share the news! Email us here!
Upcoming events throughout NJ
Below are upcoming activities or events throughout New Jersey! If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like it included in our newsletter, please send to maryb@Eiros-Group.com
*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks!
NORTH:
Holi Festival
April 12: 1pm-3pm
Annual Autism Awareness Family Fun and Resource Day
April 12: 11am-2pm
Rock and Roll Steampunk Fair
April 26: 10am-7pm
Wallisch Homestead Vintage and Antique Fair
April 27: 10am-5pm
Brick Fest Live
April 26-27: 9am-5pm
New Jersey Folk Festival
April 26: 10am-4pm
Make a Wish Walk and Roll for Wishes
April 26: 8am
Stirling’s Annual Street Fair
April 27: 10am-5pm
NJ Abilities Expo
NJ Convention Center
May 2-4: 11am-5pm
CENTRAL:
Easter Parade
April 20: 1pm-2pm
Lambertville’s Shad Festival
April 26-27: 11am-5pm
Red Bank Pizza Festival
April 26: 1pm-5pm
Lawrenceville Spring for the Arts
April 26: 12pm-4pm
HabibiFest NJ
April 27
India Fair
April 27:11am-7pm
Red Bank Street Fair
April 27: 11am-5pm
Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities Free Arts and Crafts Program:
5pm to 6pm
May 5
SOUTH:
Renaissance Faire
April 12-13: 11am-5pm
Faces for Autism Walk/Run
April 15: 9am
Earth Day Celebration
April 26: 10am-3pm
Roebling Museum Car Show
April 26: 9am-3pm
10th Annual Autism Awareness Walk
April 26: 10am
Haddonfield Music Festival
April 27: 12pm-7:30pm
Medford Country Day
May 4: 12pm-4pm
If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like it included in our newsletter, please send to
maryb@Eiros-Group.com
*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks! Please note, we are relaying information found on other websites or through other organizations, and doing so as a service. Please confirm event details and information directly.
