NJAMHAA - 2021 Advocacy Piece

11 I n this year like no other, community-based behavioral health providers have stepped up during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continuity of care for those they serve, innovating overnight to meet daily changes in state and federal guidance for each program they operate and going above and beyond to address the social determinants of health needs for those they serve – with technology equipment, food, medicines, nursing services and the like. Despite already operating with program deficits, non-competitive wages leading to high turnover, service components that are not even billable and non-existent capital support, they have been drawing on every available resource and creative approach to serve New Jersey’s most vulnerable populations. Strong, sustainable community-based services are necessary for the state’s fiscal viability and the health and well-being of New Jersey residents. It is time to further develop and strengthen not only the state’s many long-standing effective programs, but its more recent integrated models of care, its workforce and its infrastructure to build a better future for a stronger, fairer and healthier New Jersey! 0