FY2024 Annual Report

22 Transformational Leadership with Powerful Results Information Technology Project Practice Groups HUMAN RESOURCES PRACTICE GROUP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Co-Chairs: Kathleen Lambert Human Resources Director Maryville Addiction Treatment Center Kate Royal Vice President, Human Resources & Administrative Services Acenda Integrated Health (Former) Chair Teri Gilroy Senior Data Analyst Acenda Integrated Health The Human Resources (HR) Practice Group is a combined committee of HR professionals within NJAMHAA’s membership along with HR professionals with the New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth and Families. As the workforce crisis is having a dramatic impact on the behavioral healthcare field, the HR Practice Group has been engaged in ongoing discussions about strategies for improving staff recruitment and retention. Many organizations have stabilized with recruitment and the committee shared many creative strategies for continued success. Other areas of interest included creating spaces that are comfortable and “happy”; the influence of artificial intelligence; diversity, equity and inclusion programs; and a special presentation on Mental Health in the Workplace and Psychological Safety and its Importance in the Workplace. The Information Technology Professional Advisory Committee (IT PAC) has been actively serving numerous agencies under its Total Managed Solution agreements and moving more organizations to the Microsoft Azure cloud. Now post-COVID, the IT Project has been focusing more on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. For example, they have been working with agencies on cybersecurity, discussing various options that have been useful in the field, and will continue to work to meet this critical need. In its ongoing efforts, the group worked with agencies for funding opportunities for substance use treatment facilities, especially the Substance Use Disorder Promoting Interoperability Program (SUDPIP). The IT Project also guided colleagues in collecting grant monies offered through the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant COVID-19 Supplemental Reimbursement program, and the DMHAS Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant COVID-19 Supplemental Reimbursement (DSCOVRS) program, which allows reimbursement for up to $50,000 in related technology expenses. As DMHAS staff participate in this group, NJAMHAA had opportunities to advocate for the development of downloading functions to help providers with submitting data through DMHAS’ new Unified Services Transaction Form web portal and to have training on this new system created and provided.