FY2026 Annual Report

26 75 th Anniversary Partners in Different Industries Support NJAMHAA and its Members N JAMHAA is fortunate to have strong partnerships not only with providers throughout the membership, but also leaders in several other industries. They participate in NJAMHAA’s conferences to educate providers about their products and services that help enhance the quality and efficiency of service delivery. Some of the councils meet regularly with NJAMHAA staff and members on various initiatives to expand the behavioral healthcare workforce, increase providers’ knowledge and effectiveness, and much more. T he Education Council consists of representatives from colleges and universities in the tri-state area with social work, mental health care, substance use treatment and other related programs. It is also a group that meets regularly with providers to address workforce shortages and build partnerships to secure interns’ field placements and maximize these experiences to foster success in their behavioral healthcare careers. The Education Council hosted a variety of presentations. For example, one was a panel discussion, Fostering Colleges and Universities’ Support of Behavioral Healthcare Organizations to Ensure Interns are Appropriately Utilized . This discussion was moderated by Lisa Merritt, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, NE-BC, Chief Nurse Executive, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton and a NJAMHAA Board Member. The panelists were Heidi Hutman, PhD, LP, Counseling Psychology Faculty, Department of Psychological Studies in Education, Temple University; Lisa Lawson, MBA, MSW, LCSW, Associate Executive Director, NJAMHAA and Executive Director, New Jersey Clinical Consulting; and Angela Garcia Mallon, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, CarePlus NJ, Inc. and Board Member, New Jersey Mental Health Institute. In February, Ann Murphy, PhD, Director, Center for Mental Health Implementation Support – Northeast Atlantic and Caribbean Hub, and Associate Professor, Rutgers University School of Health, provided an overview of the Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health and the New Jersey Comprehensive School- Based Mental Health Resource Guide that it created. At the same meeting, Steve Hirsch, LSW, MSW, MBA, Vice President, Information Technology, Human Resources and Administrative Services, NJAMHAA, shared guidelines for effective and ethical use of AI for educators and clinicians; and an overview of the Promoting Interoperability Programs was presented by Melanie Matos, Lead Client Services Coordinator, New Jersey Innovation Institute. CO-CHAIRS: Jack B. Lewis, DSW, LCSW Associate Professor and Director, Intensive Weekend Program Rutgers University School of Social Work June DePonte Sernak, EdD Statewide Diversity Leadership Officer Center for Family Services Amy Strickler, LMSW, LSW Assistant Director, Intensive Weekend Program and Assistant Professor, Rutgers University School of Social Work Education Council