FY2026 Annual Report

14 75 th Anniversary The following op-eds, written by Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO, were published during the current fiscal year: • Asbury Park Press , “NJ urgently needs mental health and substance use treatment,” May 29, 2026 • NJ Spotlight News , “Student mental health program NJ4S must be preserved,” May 19, 2026 • NJ Spotlight News , “Boost behavioral health funding now or pay much more later,” February 16, 2026 • Bergen Record , “Why other states should follow New Jersey’s lead on Medicaid,” December 5, 2025 - This op-ed was also published in NJ Spotlight News on November 26, 2025. NJAMHAA staff and members were interviewed many times. Examples are: • Mental Health Weekly , “Leadership Academy boosts New Jersey behavioral health workforce strength,” August 18, 2025 • NJ.com , “Mental health crisis prompts renewed push for 988 hotline funding in N.J.,” January 30, 2026 • NewJerseyMonitor.co m, “NJ faces ‘catastrophic’ mental health workforce shortages, report says,” March 10, 2026 • Asbury Park Press , “Why Sherrill’s student mental health fix worries these providers,” March 31, 2026 • Northjersey.com , “NJ plans overhaul of student mental health programs. What to know,” March 31, 2026 • Northjersey.com , “NJ mental health advocates take issue with RFK antidepressant message,” May 8, 2026 • NJBIZ , “Trump 100% pharma tariffs raise concerns for New Jersey life sciences,” April 3, 2026 NJAMHAA Reinforces its Impactful Advocacy through Traditional and Social Media T o expand the reach of its advocacy messages and educate the public about behavioral health disorders and related legislative and budgetary issues, NJAMHAA frequently writes opinion editorial pieces (op-eds), letters to editors and press releases. The op-eds and letters are often published by print and online publications, and the press releases regularly result in NJAMHAA staff and Board members being interviewed and their comments being included in news articles and broadcasts.