FY 2020 annual report

A Y E A R L I K E N O O T H E R 12 N JAMHAA has been equally active and effective in its year-round federal advocacy on both funding and policy issues and has been at the forefront nationally in its advocacy to sustain and expand the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration program. In 2019, the CCBHC program was continuously facing an end to its funding, which was tied to Continuing Resolutions (CRs) expiring in June, July, September, November and December. NJAMHAA worked closely with the National Council for Behavioral Health at each juncture, taking a lead role in scheduling, attending and providing materials for meetings with the full New Jersey Congressional delegation, even- tually succeeding in having four more Repre- sentatives sponsor the CCBHC extension and expansion legislation. In addition, NJAMHAA President and CEO Debra Wentz and NJAMHAA member Vera Sansone, LCSW, President and CEO of CPC Behavioral Healthcare, met with Governors Chris Christie and James McGreevey, Chairman of the Board for New Jersey Reentry Corporation, in September to engage them in securing key legislative support from around the nation for the extension and expansion of the demonstration program. A CR passed in December once again extending funding, but only until May 22, 2020. This was amended in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Se- curity (CARES) Act, which was passed in March, further extending the funding to November 30, 2020 and adding two states to the demonstra- tion. NJAMHAA headed to Washington D.C. in Sep- tember 2019 for the National Council’s Hill Day, again taking on a coordinating role, in collab- oration with other advocates and NJAMHAA members. NJAMHAA’s legislative agenda for Hill Day 2019 was broad and comprehensive, (See the box on the next page.) NJAMHAA also fulfilled a key coordinating role for the National Council’s “CCBHC Fly-in” in March 2020, keeping a full slate of meetings scheduled despite de- clining in-person meetings and travel in those early days of the pandemic. NJAMHAA Achieves Impact through Advocacy throughout the Year: Federal Policy and Legislation Pictured left to right are Domenick Scrivanich, New Jersey Reentry Corporation; Vera Sansone, LCSW, President & CEO, CPC Behavioral Healthcare; Robert Carter, New Jersey Reentry Corporation; Gov. Christie; Debra Wentz; and Gov. McGreevey.