NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

8 1965 - The New Jersey Mental Health Act sought protection of rights for individuals with mental illnesses and addressed the legal commitment process. - Medicaid and Medicare were established, along with the groundwork for funding of community mental health care. 1971 - Criteria for the diagnosis of alcoholism were published. 1969 - NJAMHAA was instrumental in having the per-capita allocation raised from 25 cents to 50 cents. 1964-1967 - Insurance payments led to a dramatic increase in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. 1970 - Federal agencies promoted new laws to require education, assessment, referral and treatment for individuals arrested for alcohol-impaired driving. - The Hughes Act for comprehensive alcohol abuse and alcoholism prevention was passed. - The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism was founded. 1967 - The American Medical Association adopted the position that alcoholism is a complex disease. 1966 - The rst federal block grants were created. including numerous terms as Board Chair, and continued to serve on the Board through 2014 . He remains an active association member today. Masciandaro also served as Chair of the New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI) Board soon after NJAMHAA established NJMHI in 2000 to increase the recognition, understanding and acceptance of mental illness. Even 24 years after leaving New Jersey’s behavioral healthcare system, Steve Ramsland, currently CEO of Catalyst Health Resources LLC in the San Francisco Bay Area, remembers how visible NJAMHAA has always been. “NJAMHAA has been and continues to be among the most visible – for example, with the National Council for Behavioral Health – and active state associations, doing so much on behalf of members and achieving good tangible things, such as helping providers with technology,” he said. “NJAMHAA combines very nicely policy and practical “What strikes me is the value and influence of NJAMHAA as a leader. I don’t know if we could’ve made the multitude of advances in the field if we didn’t have NJAMHAA.” - Bob Pekar, Former NJAMHAA Board Member “NJAMHAA combines very nicely policy and practical resources, and makes a real concerted effort to help members see what’s around them so they can plan strategically for change.” - Steve Ramsland, Former NJAMHAA Board Chair