FY2024 Annual Report

8 Transformational Leadership with Powerful Results Proposed FY2025 Budget NJAMHAA has been working hard to build on two years of substantial increases that, while extremely helpful and appreciated, still do not cover the full cost of care or allow for competitive wages. NJAMHAA’s latest campaign, Diverse Faces: All Are Worthy of Full Investment , has had a significant media presence and has been shared with state legislators and policymakers on a weekly basis, as well as in each individual legislative meeting NJAMHAA has had. The campaign continues to raise the level of awareness that led to NJAMHAA’s many recent budgetary successes. This is achieved through direct engagement of policymakers and legislators, and a broader campaign to include public awareness through press releases, opinion editorials, letters to editors and the use of social media, as well as ongoing encouragement to members to utilize the campaign materials in their own direct advocacy. Specific wins for NJAMHAA members in the Governor’s proposed FY2025 budget include: $ 2 million increase for the Behavioral Health Loan Redemption Program for a total of $7 million N early doubled funding for the Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence & Escalation (ARRIVE) Together Program for a total of $20 million An end to shifting professional licensing boards’ revenue to State Police salaries (The amount shifted in FY2024 was $8.5 million.) $5 million for a new Nursing Workforce Initiative to help nurses pay off their student loans, access zero-interest loans and receive training $ 7.3 million to expand the Children’s System of Care respite services $ 12 million for grants to be made to six communities for violence intervention teams A $10 million increase to the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Supplemental for a total of $34 million In this tight budget year, the many areas of funding that have been preserved can also be considered significant wins. These include: T he two previous multi-year increases of $39 million and $37.5 million for behavioral health rates and contracts, respectively Recurring funding of $43 million for NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) $ 20.9 million to annualize wage increases for direct support professionals $ 210 million to fund the Quality Improvement Program (QIP) Also of note is the $95 million in funds announced recently that are supported by the Opioid Remediation and Recovery Settlement funds, which will be allocated to treatment, prevention, harm reduction and recovery support services. NJAMHAA’s FY2025 campaign, Diverse Faces: All Are Worthy of Full Investment njamha.org/FB/2024-advocacy- piece/index.html “ NJAMHAA is central to community behavioral health policymaking in New Jersey. They have been an invaluable partner in building a state that values behavioral health as much as it values physical health. ” Matt Binder Senior Advocacy Specialist Easterseals New Jersey