For families new to New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) system, one title comes up constantly: Support Coordinator. It’s a role that carries a lot of weight in how services actually get delivered, yet many families aren’t given a clear explanation of what a Support Coordinator does — or doesn’t — do. Here’s a straightforward look at the role.
Support Coordinator, Defined
A Support Coordinator is a professional — employed by an independent Support Coordination agency, not by DDD itself — who helps an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability plan, arrange, and monitor the services funded through their DDD budget. Think of the Support Coordinator as the person who turns an approved budget into an actual working plan of services and providers.
This role replaced what used to be called “case management” in New Jersey’s system, and the name change reflects a shift in philosophy: Support Coordinators are meant to help individuals direct their own supports, not simply manage a case on their behalf.
Core Responsibilities
A Support Coordinator’s day-to-day work typically includes:
- Developing the Individualized Service Plan (ISP) — working with the individual and their family to document goals, needed services, and how the DDD budget will be used
- Connecting individuals with providers — helping identify and coordinate with agencies like Direct Support Professional providers, respite services, and supported employment programs
- Monitoring service delivery — checking in on whether services in the ISP are actually happening as planned
- Facilitating annual and as-needed plan reviews — reassessing needs and updating the ISP when circumstances change
- Troubleshooting — stepping in when a provider isn’t working out, a budget needs adjusting, or a service gap appears
What a Support Coordinator Does Not Do
It’s just as important to understand the boundaries of the role. A Support Coordinator generally does not:
- Provide hands-on direct care or supervision themselves
- Make DDD eligibility determinations
- Guarantee a specific budget amount or service outcome
- Replace the family’s role in decision-making — the ISP is meant to reflect the individual’s own choices and goals
How Often Should You Hear From Your Support Coordinator?
There’s no single universal schedule, but most families should expect regular check-ins beyond the mandatory annual ISP review — particularly in the early months of a new plan, when a new provider starts, or any time a concern comes up. If contact has gone quiet for months at a time, that’s often a sign it’s worth raising directly with the coordination agency.
Support Coordinator vs. Direct Support Professional — What’s the Difference?
This is one of the most common points of confusion. The Support Coordinator plans and oversees the big picture. The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is the person who shows up and delivers day-to-day, hands-on support — helping with daily living tasks, community access, and skill-building. Families typically work with both: a Support Coordinator to manage the plan, and one or more DSPs (often through an agency like Priority Groups NJ) to carry it out.
When the Relationship With Your Support Coordinator Isn’t Working
Support Coordination is a service you’re entitled to choose — and change. If communication has broken down, your ISP hasn’t been updated to reflect real needs, or you simply feel unheard, you have the right to request a different Support Coordinator or switch agencies entirely. It’s a more common and more manageable process than many families realize.
How Priority Groups NJ Works With Support Coordinators
As a Direct Support Professional provider across Essex, Hudson, and Bergen counties, Priority Groups NJ works directly with Support Coordinators to make sure services in the ISP are actually delivered — reliably, and in a way that reflects what the plan says on paper. We see our role as a partner to your Support Coordination team, not a separate silo.
Questions About Your Plan or Provider Options?
Whether you’re trying to understand your Support Coordinator’s role better, preparing for an ISP review, or looking for a Direct Support Professional provider who will follow through, Priority Groups NJ is here to help.
Call (718) 400-6166 or visit prioritygroupsnj.org/ddd-support-coordination/ to learn more about how Support Coordination and Direct Support Professional services work together in New Jersey.