Joan Marie Granato is the President of Future Focus Inc., Creative Health Care Consultants.
Her company provides an array of Health Care Consulting services, educational experiences and development and implementation of new facilities throughout the Tri-State Area.She has received her Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration with a minor in Psychology from Kean University. She furthered her studies in Therapeutic Recreation at New York University.

She is also trained by A.L.T.A., as an Assisted Living Administrator and has been a Certified NCCAP National Trainer for the MEPAP Part I: Basic Education Course and MEPAP Part II: Advanced Management Course. She is also a Compliance Officer and has been trained by the Health Care Compliance Association.

As a National Advocate for Adult Day Services, Joan Marie has provided presentations to Congressmen, Assemblymen, Senators and their Staffers in Washington where she assisted in organizing a National Political March representing the United States. She continues her advocacy at the local levels with Senators, Assemblyman, County Representatives, Mayors, Zoning Boards and Leaders in regards to Adult Day Services.

As the State Department of Health and Senior Services placed a Mandate on the Adult Day Care Industry to be closed in NJ, Joan Marie developed a Strategic Task Force to initiate collaborations with the State and the MLTSS/HMO’s to institute the development of a Tele-health Program for the Adult Day Care Industry in N.J. The Department of Health approved the Tele-health Program in NJ and Joan Marie worked with the New Jersey ADC Providers to offer assistance in their development and compliance.

The National Adult Day Service Association NADSA implemented a National Task Force to assist other States in Developing the Tele-health Program for the Adult Day Care Centers. Joan Marie presented the Tele-health Program in NJ on a National Tele-health Webinar in April of 2020 for NADSA and currently is on the Policy Advocacy Committee.

Executive Board Positions:

Present:

• President: New Jersey Adult Day Services Coalition
• President: New Jersey Activity Professionals Association
• President: Future Focus Inc. Creative Health Care Consultants
• President: Serenity Gardens, New Jersey Adult Medical Day Care Center Inc.
• President: Life, New Jersey Adult Medical Day Care Center Inc.
• President: Town Square Adult Medical Day Care Center Inc.
• President: “The Club” A Premiere Social and Memory Program
• CO-Chair:  NADSA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee
• Committee Member:  NADSA Educational Committee
• Committee Member:  NADSA Membership Committee
• NCCAP:  Nationally Licensed Instructor to teach the Activity Professionals Training  & Certification Courses
• ADSC Adult Day Services Certification for NCCAP Designing and Structuring a new certification for Adult Day Care Professionals
• Union County College Social Service Advisory Committee Member

Past:

• Past President: NJADSA (New Jersey Adult Day Service Association)
• NADSA: National Task Force/Tele-health Program/Policy Advocacy Committee
• President: ADC NJ Strategic Task Force Coalition Leader
• Membership Chair: NADSA (National Adult Day Service Association)
• Board Member at Large: NADSA (National Adult Day Service Association)
• Executive Board, Legislative Chair: NJAPA
• International Committee Member of NAAP, National Association of Activity Professionals
• Professional Development Committee Member: NJAPA
• President: R.A.P.A (Regional Activity Professional Association)
• Professional Education Committee Member: NJACA
• Past Board Executive for the New York Head Injury Foundation
• Founding Member: Quality of Life Alliance
• Former Board Executive for the New York Head Injury Foundation
• Advisory Committee Member: NCCAP (National Certification Council for Activity Professionals

Certifications: BA, CALA, CRA, CLA, CCCI, ACC, HC, PC, AL, AD, EDU, MC

• C.A.L.A. Certified Assisted Living Administrator
• C.T.R.S. Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (2005) (Past)
• C.L.A. Certified Leisure Associate
• C.R.A. Certified Recreation Administrator
• C.C.C.I. Certified Chair Chi Instructor

NCCAP: National Certification Council for Activity Professionals

• A.C.C. Activity Consultant Certified
• Specialization in
• ADSC Adult Day Service Certification
• HC Home Care
• EDU Education
• AL Assisted Living
• MC Memory Care
• PC Person-Centered

Consultation Experience in the following populations:

• Adult Medical and Social Day Care Centers
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Nursing Home, Long Term Care Institutions
• Day Habilitation Centers
• Retirement Communities
• Senior Centers
• Alzheimer’s Association
• Developmentally Disabled Communities and Group Homes
• Psychiatric Population
• Substance Abuse and Addictive Disorders for Teen and Adults
• Corporate Training on Management
• Activity Therapy and Professional Organizations

Presentations: As a speaker, she had delivered presentations for the following:

• NADSA 4/2020 Tele-health Program in NJ National Webinar
• NADSA 2021 Legislation/Coalition
• NADSA 2022 101 Activities
• NADSA 2022  Activities and Marketing
• NJAPA 2022 Activities and Marketing
• March on Washington, 2012, 2013, 2014 NADSA
• New York State Department of Health and Senior Services
• NCCAP: Adult Day Care Certification
• National Adult Day Service Association
• New Jersey Adult Day Service Association
• Kean University
• New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association
• The NJ/Eastern PA TR Association
• The Alzheimer’s Association
• The New Jersey Activity Professionals Association
• The Goldfarb Institute
• New Jersey Activities Coordinators Association
• Mid-Eastern Symposium in Atlantic City
• Regional Activity Professional Association and other various Health Care Organizations.

Awards:

• Certificate of Commendation: Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
• Honorable Daughter Award 2015
• The Borough of Ridgefield: Honorable Daughter Award 2015
• Kean University Alumni Award 2016
• SBA Emerging Leaders Award 2016
• Certificate of Achievement The Borough of Palisades Park 2015
• Certificate of Recognition, The Bergen County Clerk 2015
• Certificate of Commendation, County of Bergen New Jersey 2015
• Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition Congressman Bill Pascrell 2015
• Certificate of Honor and Achievement Jung Won Adult Medical Day Care 2014
• Certificate of Special Senate Recognition United State Senator Robert Menendez, 2015
• Certificate Honorable Daughter Award, Borough of Ridgefield, Mayor Suarez, 2015
• Certificate of Assisted Living Training Associates 1996
• Certified Activity Consultant NCCAP 1999 to present
• Certified Instructor NCCAP 1998 to present

Work History: Consultation ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS

Consultation Services includes: Development of a new start up Adult Day Care Facility, Comprehensive Consulting Services for established Adult Day Care Centers, Management, Administration, Education and Training.

• Wellsprings Circle Day Habilitation Program
• Promising Adult Daycare, Paterson NJ
• Serenity Care Adult Medical Day Care, Pennsauken, NJ
• Dawn to Dusk Wellbeing Center, Dayton, NJ
• Pride Adults Day Care, Linden, NJ
• Partners in Caring Social Adult Day Care, Queens, NY
• Care Forever Adult Day Care, Edison NJ
• Sewell Senior Citizens Center, ADC, Sewell, NJ
• Golden Temple Adult Medical Day Care Center, Middlesex County
• Life Adult Medical Day Care Center, Newark, NJ
• Stars Adult Medical Day Care Center, Pennsauken, NJ
• Family Adult Medical Day Care Center, NJ
• New Jersey Pediatric Day Care Center, NJ
• Grace Social Day Care Center, Flushing, NY
• Circle of Friends, Brooklyn, NY
• Town Square Adult Medical Day Care Center, Elizabeth, NJ
• Hudson View Adult Medical Day Care Center, North Bergen, NJ
• Elite Adult Medical Day Care Center, Jersey City, NJ
• Salem Adult Medical Day Care Center, Salem, NJ
• Focus Adult Medical Day Care Center, Bayonne, NJ
• New Jersey Adult Medical Day Care Center, Fair Lawn, NJ
• AWCA Adult Medical Day Care Center, Teaneck, NJ
• Golden Path Adult Day Health Services, North Brunswick NJ
• Care Star Adult Medical Day Care Center, Patterson NJ
• Ivy Hill Adult Medical Day Care, Newark NJ
• Birchwood Adult Medical Day Centers, East Orange NJ
• Circle of Life Adult Day Centers, South Plainfield, N
• Five Star Adult Medical Day Care Center, Linden NJ
• Advanced International Adult Medical Day Care Center, Jersey City NJ
• Health Guard Adult Day Health Care, Roselle, NJ
• Forever Young Adult Medical Day Care Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Sun Flower Adult Medical Day Care Center, Bayonne, NJ
• Sweet Home Adult Day Care Center, Clifton, NJ
• Adult Care Day Care Center, Union City, NJ
• Just Home Adult Medical Day Care Center, East Brunswick, NJ
• Broadway Adult Medical Day Care Center, Fairlawn, NJ
• Club Medical, Fairlawn, NJ
• Long Life Adult Medical Day Care Center, North NJ
• Village Center for Care, ADC New York New York
• Jewish Nursing Home /Adult Day Care Program, Jersey City NJ
• Parkway Manor Adult Medical Day Care Center, Bloomfield NJ
• Bayonne Hospital Adult Day Center, Bayonne, NJ

HEALTH CARE FACILITIES & PROGRAMS

• Philippines International Consulate for Adult Day Care, Philippines.
• NYAH Diagnostics LLC, International
• Alzheimer’s Association, Parsippany, NJ
• Englewood Manor, Livingston, NJ
• Rahway Geriatrics Center, Rahway, NJ
• Castle Hill Health Care Center, Union City, NJ
• Discovery Institute for Addictive Disorders, Marlboro, NJ
• Elizabeth General Hospital Substance Abuse Addictive Disorders, Elizabeth NJ
• Village Center for Care, New York New York
• Harbor View Health Care Center, Jersey City NJ
• Palisades Nursing Center, Guttenberg, NJ
• Teaneck Nursing Center, Teaneck NJ
• Jewish Home and Hospital, Jersey City, NJ
• Association with Amber Court Assisted Living Facility

Through her contributions in development and publication of various manuals, books, videos, research reports and documentaries, she has proven to be an advocate for the advancement of the profession. Her philosophy of work is distinguished by her dedication to the Health Care Industry in helping people and in providing quality service. Her philosophy of life is reflective of our professional outlook and the pursuit of finding strength in the mind, body and spirit.It is an honor and a humble pleasure to be able to assist our senior and disabled community. Though my consultation services, I am able to help more individuals to help more individuals.

My Motto: I do what I love and I love what I do…
My Inspiration: Help others to Help Others, to Help Others!