FY2026 Annual Report

Annual Report FY2026 9 O f great significance to the substance use disorder continuum of care were the multiple successful efforts to fund the New Jersey Statewide Initiative (NJSI) and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Initiative (SAPTI). Following the abrupt end to provider access to these funds in July 2025, NJAMHAA reached out to the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), gathered data and made the case for additional funding. In September, $4.3 million from New Jersey’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund (Opioid Settlement Fund) were designated for community-based substance use treatment and providers were permitted to bill retroactively for individuals enrolled in the months of July and August for whom NJSI and SAPTI funds were unavailable. In December 2025, an additional $15 million in Opioid Settlement Funds were allocated to provide substance use treatment to uninsured individuals for calendar year 2026. Also in late 2025, NJAMHAA’s efforts to have $29 million in state funds (initially appropriated in the FY2025 budget and rolled over to the FY2026 budget) that were intended for children’s mental health services and workforce released per the plan the Department of Children and Families had submitted to the Governor saw partial success. In November, $5.9 million of these funds were distributed to children’s out-of-home treatment settings for workforce recruitment and retention and training purposes. Each contracted bed was allocated $5,000, going to 28 providers with 144 programs. D espite FY2027 being such a difficult year for securing increased state funding, with the State facing significant structural deficits; H.R.1 and many other federal policy changes; and funding cuts to Medicaid and other safety net programs, overall, it was a win for behavioral health services with prior levels of funding maintained when Departments had been anticipating cuts! There were exceptions, particularly in the Department of Children and Families (DCF). There, the Children’s System of Care saw increased funding. In the Division of Family and Community Partnerships, where school- based services reside, Governor Sherrill had initially proposed discontinuing the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) program. With NJAMHAA leading the advocacy charge, along with strong grassroots efforts, $40 million of funding was restored to NJ4S in the final FY2027 State Budget. NJAMHAA will continue its advocacy to strengthen and expand NJ4S, working collaboratively with members, DCF, legislators and the Administration. NJAMHAA’s FY2027 campaign, The Behavioral Health Budget Must Reflect New Jersey Values & Needs , outlines the many identified areas where more adequate funding and policy changes are needed. NJAMHAA was working every day to bring the messages within it to policymakers, legislators and the public through direct engagement, press releases, opinion editorials, letters to editors, and the use of social media with the goal of achieving additional successes on behalf of NJAMHAA members, and will continue to do so. State Fiscal Wins scan to read njamha.org/FB/2026-advocacy-piece/index.html NJAMHAA received an APEX Award for Publication Excellence in the Campaigns, Programs & Plans: Public Service category for the FY2027 advocacy campaign, The Behavioral Health Budget Must Reflect New Jersey Values & Needs . FY2027 Budget