NJAMHAA-2022 spring-conference-program book

FROM , NNNN Executive Director, New Jersey Mental Health Insti- tute Dear Attendees: Welcome to NJAMHAA’s Spring Conference, Nurturing Diverse Communities. Throughout its 70-plus year history, the New Jersey As- sociation of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA) has strived to ensure that every New Jersey resident is able to receive all the services needed to live the healthiest and most successful life possible. In the year 2000, we founded NJAMHAA’s charitable arm, the New Jersey Mental Health Institute, with one of its pri- mary goals being fighting stigma and discrimination by making cultural competence prominent in access, prac- tice and policy. With diversity permeating every activity of both NJAMHAA and the Institute, we have put a laser focus on eliminating inequity and disparities in access to services and improving quality of life for communities of color and all other vulnerable, disenfranchised popula- tions. While obtaining mental health, substance use and ot er critical services remains a challenge due to limited capac- ity, and ever exponentially increasing demand, stigma continues to impose a significant barrier. To address that head on, today’s conference will begin with a poignant keynote presentation on this topic by Dr. John Kelly, Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Founder and Director of the Recovery Research Institute. We look forward to learning from his insights on eliminat- ing stigma associated with substance use disorders. For the plenary session, Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, will share updates on federal legislation and a vision of the future behavioral health landscape that includes health equity as a prominent principle. A very special highlight of today’s conference will be our awards ceremony. We will honor state and federal leaders — Lieutenant Governor and Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Sheila Y. Oliver, New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal and U.S. Congressman Donald Nor- cross — for their tremendous contributions to the be- havioral health community, including eliminating health disparities, and 93-year-old Joe Albright in recognition of his impressive career as the statehouse correspondent with the longest tenure in the nation. We are most grateful to our sponsors, Conference Com- mittee and NJAMHAA staff for making this conference possible. We are confident that you will gain a wealth of valuable information, skills and new perspectives that will maximize the impact you undoubtedly have on many individuals’ lives every day as you join us in delivering health services to diverse communities. THE PRESIDENT & CEO AND BOARD CHAIR With warmest wishes, Debra L. Wentz, PhD Susan Loughery, MBA President & CEO, NJAMHAA, Inc. Board Chair Executive Director, New Jersey Mental Health Institute A MESSAGE 3