NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

65 certified and licensed mental health profession- als.  Brochures, newsletters, videos and public ser- vice announcements to educate the Hispanic population about mental illnesses and bilingual services.  Free and low-cost statewide conferences fo- cused on cultural competence to improve the quality of mental health services for individuals of diverse racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as the LGBTQ community. “NJMHI’s training evolved over the years into a NJAMHAA University and provided a wealth of infor- mation on a variety of topics,” said Joe Masciandaro, who chaired the NJMHI Board for several years after Sette held that position. NJMHI has also extended its efforts and influence be- yond state borders, yet resources developed through these initiatives have profound local benefits. One example is the Model Mental Health Program for Hispanics. “This invaluable resource was adopted by mental health professionals across the nation and cited by the World Health Organization as one of three best practices in 2004,” said Dr. Wentz, who also serves as NJMHI’s Executive Director. Building on the success of its Changing Minds pro- gram, NJMHI did business as and launched the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health (NRCHMH) in 2006 to address the nationwide lack of availability, access and provision of quality mental health services for Hispanics. NRCHMH developed an online repository of resources for providers, hosted several national Latino mental health conferences and created opportunities for federally funded proj- ects for NJMHI. Through partnerships with educational institutions, private industry, government agencies, advocacy organizations and family support groups, NRCHMH extended its reach nationwide and internationally. For example, presentations on best practices for engaging, retaining and serving Hispanics were given across the U.S. and in Argentina, Egypt and Greece. NJMHI’s second initiative was collaborating with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care) for nearly five years to provide training for New Jersey’s more than 11,000 Children’s System of Care partners. NJMHI provided logistical support, engaged speak- ers and performed back office functions. Back on the international front, Dr. Wentz launched the Tsunami Mental Health Relief Project in 2005, shortly after she survived the tsunami that claimed the lives of nearly 300,000 children and adults in Southeast Asia in December 2004. As Dr. Wentz un- derstood both the immediate and long-termmental health impacts of the tsunami, she immediately provided whatev- er help she could to relieve work- ers and impart her knowledge of mental health issues to citi- zens of Sri Lanka through commu- nication with the Prime Minister’s Office and an interview on the country’s official television station. She also worked with members of NJAMHAA’s Pharmaceutical Advi- sory Council (now the Life Sciences and Innovation Council) to provide medications and supplies to the people of Sri Lanka. Dr. Wentz worked with the Neurosurgery Develop- ment Foundation, a local, non-governmental Sri Lankan charitable organization and experts in trau- ma from NJAMHAA and assembled a NJMHI team, including an expert trainer with extensive experience in trauma treatment following disasters and a cultur- al ambassador to develop a training program. The team traveled to Sri Lanka for two weeks to provide trilingual, culturally appropriate training to more than 100 counselors, medical professionals, teach- ers, religious leaders and volunteers on recognizing the symptoms of mental illnesses and substance use While visiting the U.S. in 2019, the Venerable Dr. Ethkandawaka Saddhajeewa Thero from Sri Lanka met with Dr. Wentz to discuss the curriculum for the third and final phase of the Sri Lanka Mental Health Relief Project.