NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

64 D uring his term as NJAMHAA Board Chair in 2000, Jim Lape helped launch the New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI), a 501(c)(3) of which NJAMHAA is the sole member. NJMHI’s mis- sion is to increase the recognition, understanding and acceptance of mental illness, and identify and seek the establishment of effective mental illness prevention and treatment services. “NJMHI has also responded to situations that were not given much attention. Its initiatives are more specialized,” according to Deborah Megaro, who has served as Vice Chair of the NJMHI Board for several years. NJMHI’s first initiative was the Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics project, which aimed to enhance resources for New Jersey’s Hispanic communities and the healthcare professionals who are uniquely able to serve themmost effectively. As a result of this ini- tiative’s success, NJMHI expanded its focus to ensure availability of, access to and delivery of culturally competent services to a variety of minority populations, including Black Americans and Southeast Asians, as well as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community. “Through its Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics program, NJMHI has been able to expand resources available to the Hispanic communities in New Jersey and the providers who serve those communities. This initiative was recog- nized not only in New Jersey, but also throughout the world,” said Bill Sette, who served as the NJMHI Board Chair for several years while also serving on the NJAMHAA Board. “NJMHI also has brought new opportunities for mental health professionals to de- velop cultural awareness and sensitivity, which are essential for providing the most effective care for all minority populations,” he added. Many of NJMHI’s contributions have directly benefited NJAMHAA members. Examples include:  Policy recommendations that led to the estab- lishment of state-funded cultural competence training centers, two of which are still operated by NJAMHAA members, Center for Family Ser- vices and Family Connections; state funding for bilingual/bicultural clinicians at communi- ty-based mental health agencies; and manda- tory training in social and cultural diversity for Further Expanding Training, Resources and Impact through NJMHI