NJAMHAA - 2021 Advocacy Piece

1 T he New Jersey community-based behavioral health system of care is the safety net for the state’s most vulnerable residents – those with mental health and/ or substance use disorders and many comorbidities. Each year, more than 500,000 New Jersey children and adults depend on the services this system delivers. These services, more critical than ever to the health and wellness of New Jerseyans amidst an unprecedented pandemic, have been proven effective in helping people manage and recover from their illnesses and achieve personal goals. As providers and policymakers continue to improve both access to and quality of care through many approaches, including implementation of evidence based practices, care integration, telehealth expansion, value-based reimbursement and person-centered care models, New Jersey must continue to build on these efforts by investing in community-based behavioral health to achieve systemic goals that will serve those in need and the state’s bottom line well into the future.