ABOUT US
Established in 2016, New Jersey Caregiver Academy's mission is to cultivate a positive learning environment that educates and empowers our students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide safe, competent and exceptional care in the communities we serve.
New Jersey Caregiver Academy offers a Certified Home Health Aide Training Program and a Certified Nurse Assistant Bridge (CNA) Program to CHHA under the guidelines of The New Jersey Board of Nursing. New Jersey Caregiver Academy partners with the Institute of Professional Care Education Inc. to offer both training programs in an on-line format that is flexible and convenient for the student.
Stephanie Howe, RN
Owner
Stephanie Howe RN, proud owner of New Jersey Caregiver Academy, has a well-established background in the health care industry. After beginning her career as a Registered Nurse over 20 years ago, she purchased her first Comfort Keepers franchise in 2005 in Hamilton Township, NJ. Today, she owns five Comfort Keepers offices, which include all of Mercer County, Monroe Township, Warren, Toms River and one on the eastern shore of Maryland.
Stephanie’s desire to establish an exceptional home health aide agency and caregiver academy was born of personal experience. Her father suffered from Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and required nursing home care at age 44 due to a lack of appropriate home care services. After Stephanie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 26, she resolved to provide home care options not available to her family during her father’s illness. She is committed to providing quality home care to any adult wishing to remain both independent and safe in their own home. Her dream has always been to also educate and empower caregivers to provide exceptional care to those in need of assistance in their homes.
Stephanie remains healthy and resides in Robbinsville with her six children and five dogs.
Lisa Cugasi, RN, CDP
Clinical Instructor
Lisa Cugasi RN, CDP, is the Director of Nursing for Comfort Keepers. She graduated from Mercer County Community College. Lisa’s experience has focused on geriatric and pediatric home care. Lisa first worked as a caregiver for Comfort Keepers several years ago before returning as an RN and learning all aspects of the home health care business. She has previously worked for Bayada Pediatrics, the New Jersey Turnpike, New Jersey Department of Corrections, a recruiting firm and a pharmaceutical marketing company.
Lisa is approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing as a
Clinical Skills Instructor to educate those wishing to pursue a career as a home health aide through the NJ Caregiver Academy. Lisa is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Approximately 80% of those seeking services through Comfort Keepers have some form of cognitive impairment.
Lisa and her husband, Pete, have been married 22 years and have two children. She enjoys reading, writing, learning and traveling, especially overseas. Two of her poems have been published in The Kelsey Review, Mercer County Community College's county-wide literary journal.
Denise Blanchard, BSN, RN
Program Coordinator
Clinical Instructor
Denise Blanchard RN, BSN, Program Coordinator, is responsible for maintaining the caregiver classes offered at New Jersey Caregiver Academy. Denise is approved by the NJBON as Program Coordinator and as a Clinical Skills Instructor to educate those wishing to pursue a career as a Certified Home Health Aide. Denise began her career with an Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy from Hahnemann Medical College in 1984. In 1996, Denise obtained her BSN from Neumann College. She furthered her education with a Clinical Research Certificate from Mercer College and Forensic Nursing Certificate from Kaplan University. Denise works as a private RN and as a Comfort Keepers Field Supervisor of CHHA's.
Spanning a 20 year nursing career, Denise has experience in psychiatric, hospice, plastic surgery and med surgery. Denise has a passion and expertise in holistic health, combining conventional and integrative modalities in her home practice. She is an Advanced Quantum Biofeedback Practitioner for Stress Reduction and Reiki Master Teacher furthering her desire to help those in need.
In her leisure time, Denise loves spending time with her family, especially her two granddaughters. She enjoys traveling with her husband to exotic destinations around the world.
Theresa Andrewsky, RN
Lead Clinical Instructor
Theresa Andrewsky RN, is a graduate of Mercer County Community College's nursing program and has worked in the
field of nursing for 45 years. Theresa has worked in local community hospitals in various aspects of nursing including medical-surgical, cardiac step down, pediatrics, and emergency room. Theresa also worked in the field of urology and at a local Surgery Center focusing on pre and post nursing care for patients undergoing diagnostic testing including upper endoscopies, colonoscopies and pain control.
Theresa currently works for Comfort Keepers in Robbinsville,
New Jersey, as a registered nurse and supervises certified home health aides. Theresa is approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing as a Clinical Skills Instructor to educate those wishing to pursue a career as a home health aide. As a registered nurse with many years of experience, Theresa brings a wealth of knowledge to educate students enrolled at New Jersey Caregiver Academy. In her leisure time, Theresa enjoys going to the shore, boating, and most importantly spending time with her two sons and five grandsons.