NJAMHAA-FY23-Annual-Report

Please Support the Behavioral Healthcare Workforce to Give Many More People Like Stephanie Opportunities to Be Stronger for their Families Click here to learn how Kayla’s support enabled Stephanie to make tremendous strides toward recovery from substance use disorder and toward achieving many other important goals for herself and her children. To attract and retain a sufficient number of New Jersey’s behavioral health workforce, reimbursement rates and contracts must cover the actual cost of care. These investments are necessary to build the community-based behavioral health system all of New Jersey’s citizens deserve. NJAMHAA thanks you for your support on behalf of all children and adults throughout our state who rely on the behavioral health system and can thrive with the life-saving and life-enhancing services it offers. Before going to Integrity House’s residential substance use disorder treatment program, Stephanie had relapsed from addiction multiple times and was not able to care for her children. Today, she is a graduate of this program and in a halfway house, where she is progressing in recovery and gaining skills to be successful in employment and her personal life. Additional, equally uplifting examples of individuals’ successes and the integral roles of behavioral healthcare providers are featured in NJAMHAA’s Diverse Faces, Partners in Care campaign publication and videos . Unfortunately, too many New Jersey residents are unable to access timely, appropriate care. The capacity to meet demand does not exist, and the gap continues to grow. However, with your support for Gov. Murphy’s budget proposal plus additional funding needs, these problems can be mitigated and many more New Jersey residents will be able to receive the health care and other support they need to live productive, high-quality lives. Please click here to learn about more of NJAMHAA’s budget and legislative priorities. Stephanie’s inspiring successes demonstrate the profound impact that Kayla and other Partners in Care throughout the behavioral healthcare system have on their lives, as well as the entire state, as they are now able to be productive, pay taxes and avoid the need for high-cost medical care. ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN EMAIL PROMOTION TO LEGISLATORS 17 NJAMHAA Annual Report FY 2023 In addition, NJAMHAA featured the campaign to state policymakers and legislators before and after Governor Murphy’s budget address through e-mail and on NJAMHAA’s website and social media pages, as well as during meetings. These actions certainly contribute to NJAMHAA’s goal of breaking barriers — inadequate funding, as well as excessively burdensome regulations and the absence of some needed legislation — that have been restricting access to care for years. Additional highlights of NJAMHAA’s media coverage include InsiderNJ.com’s posting of Dr. Wentz’s entire statement on Gov. Murphy’s budget address, and several NJAMHAA members, as well as Dr. Wentz and staff, being interviewed on NJ101.5 and by various news outlets on current initiatives, such the 988 crisis response system, and other issues, including increased youth anxiety, depression and suicides, holiday blues and how to cope with them.