NJAMHAA-FY23-Annual-Report

9 NJAMHAA Annual Report FY 2023 Of note, the Governor’s proposal also includes $36 million to increase the rates paid to providers of services for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities; $31.3 million for wage increases for direct support professionals and $10.4 million to address wage compression among supervisors. Proposed FY2024 Budget Includes our Workforce Priorities • An increase of $27 million in state funds for rate and contract increases that will be matched by $10.5 million in federal funding • A one-year, $86.75 million investment for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to distribute as follows: $20 million for loan redemption programs for mental health (MH) and substance use disorder (SUD) professionals, as well as Applied Behavioral Analysts and private duty nurses Up to $60 million for recruitment, retention and training for MH, SUD and intellectual/developmental disability professionals Funding for free certification for peers, Community Health Workers and others $37.5M TOTAL $40M INCREASE • $40 million to increase social service provider payments within the Department of Children and Families (DCF), including rates in Child Protection Clinical Services and the Children’s System of Care. On the heels of many successes in the FY2023 State Budget, NJAMHAA has already realized several significant wins for FY2024 in Governor Murphy’s proposed budget. These are all expected to be maintained in the Legislature’s final budget. All of the workforce priorities enumerated in NJAMHAA’s Diverse Faces: Partners in Care campaign, which highlights the dedication and effectiveness of the behavioral healthcare workforce and calls for increased investments for wages, loan redemption, tuition reimbursement and more, were included in the Governor’s proposed budget. In its first year, NJAMHAA’s Diverse Faces campaign focused on individuals served; this year, NJAMHAA also shone a spotlight on members of the workforce who provide life-changing treatment and supports on a daily basis. The campaign created a level of awareness that led to many budgetary successes. This was done through direct engagement of policymakers and legislators, and a broader campaign to include public awareness through press releases, op eds and letters to the editor, as well as ongoing encouragement to members to utilize the campaign materials in their own direct advocacy. These efforts gained state and national press coverage that provided additional strength to the campaign. GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED FY2024 BUDGET: