Senen Cabalfin: Finding the Path to Special Care Community Services

By Myrna D. Santos, MSN, RN

The story behind Senen Cabalfin’s Special Care Community Services exemplifies how advance practice through education, clinical expertise and caring lead to effective healthcare delivery. Academic advancement prepared her to conceptualize her idea, master the process of business development, find the keywords and pass through state and healthcare guidelines, integrating research and grant proposals. Her clinical experience as a nurse gave her edge to the dynamics of the system and her caring came genuinely and naturally as a given.

Making a difference has motivated Senen to follow her passion for nursing and find her niche in the healthcare system, not only as a leader but as an entrepreneur. It was not an easy task. The process has numerous challenges and breaking through the legal, financial and political barriers, however, it did not discourage her to give up on her mission and vision to a healthier community and influence the practice of nursing.

There is no shortcut formula for your professional success, the challenges are always there. Let us accept these challenges and be a part of healthcare solutions. Find your niche, find your passion, strengthen yourself, commit yourself to make a difference, and you shall if not will. Nurses are the future of healthcare and you are the future of nursing. Let the passage lead you and take this challenge onward to a new century of nursing excellence.

Special Needs Housing Holds Groundbreaking in Marlboro

Mobility Special Care Housing, Inc. is first to purchase a home in Marlboro under the Affordable Housing Trust Funds Special Needs Housing Partnership

MARLBORO TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY (December 11, 2012) – Mobility Special Care Housing, Inc. will hold a groundbreaking ceremony commemorating its first Special Needs Housing project in Marlboro. The ceremony will be held on December 13, 2012 from 2:00 to 3:00pm at 8 Center St, Morganville, NJ 07751.

In the spring of 2012, Governor Chris Christie, DHS-DDD and NJHFMA announced a Special Needs Housing Partnership which was designed to support the placement of people with special needs in local residences to foster their life to the fullest potentials and enhance their quality of life. Municipalities with unspent affordable housing trust balances were actively encouraged by State officials to commit funds to the initiative.

DDD and NJHFMA provided a mechanism to fund this project including the interim financing of $250,000, which is anticipated to be replaced by local Affordable Housing Trust funds as they become available. Mayor Jon Hornik and the Marlboro Township Council participated in this initiative by adopting Resolution 2012-142 authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding approving a $1.75 M contribution to the special needs housing partnership. The funds have yet to be approved for release by the Council on Affordable Housing.

Mobility Special Care Housing, Inc. (MSCH) is the first special needs housing developer to purchase a home in Marlboro under the Special Needs Housing Partnership. MSCH was founded as the result of a partnership between Mobility Consulting and Contracting headed by Mr. Jeff Wolf, a qualified home developer and Special Care Community Services, Inc. headed by Ms. Senen Cabalfin, RN, MSN, a qualified service provider, both residents of Marlboro.

“I am very pleased that MSCH was able to arrange funding to finance this project as we await the release of the Affordable Housing trust funds.” said Mayor Hornik. “The ability to keep adult, special needs children close to home is of paramount importance to our residents.”

This home will be renovated to provide accessibility for four individuals with disabilities. MSCH will search, purchase, modify, build and manage each residence.

The National Anthem will be sung by Tiffany Viray. Speakers will include Jeff Wolf, MSCH President, Senen Cabalfin, RN,MSN, MSCH Vice President, Mayor Jonathan Hornik, Ms. Janel Winter, DDD, Director of Housing Development and other representatives from the Department of Developmental Disabilities. The press and the public are invited to attend this event.