NJAMHAA News - October 2021

October 2021 20 TC: I believe technology, for both good and bad, is going to drive the way services are delivered and paid for, and that the transitions in play will likely undermine existing structures in health care. Ultimately, consumers may be harmed in this process as they fall in and out of the ability to access services due to inadequate finances or increased confusion over how to go about getting what they need. NJAMHAA can play a role in helping to bridge the gap. NN: What have you gained personally from serving on the Board? TC: The decisions made by the NJAMHAA Board not only impact member organizations, but also have the potential for positively affecting the availability and effectiveness of mental health care, substance use treatment, and related social and medical services across New Jersey. I’m proud to serve with others who have come to a place in their careers that allows for collaboration and the reflective delivery of meaningful input that can be made actionable through NJAMHAA and its membership. Mary Jo Buchanan, LCSW, MPA, Board Secretary Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Partnership for Children, Inc. NJAMHAANews: What do you see as the Children’s Practice Group’s and NJAMHAA’s greatest achievements from the past year and overall? Mary Jo Buchanan: The greatest accomplishment of both NJAMHAA overall and the Children’s Practice Group is successful advocacy on the budget, particularly the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the School Based Youth Services Program (SBYSP). This achievement showed the power of all of us coming together, rallying not only professionals, but also parents and especially students who would have been terribly impacted by the proposed SBYSP budget cut. NN: What do you see as the Children’s Practice Group’s and NJAMHAA’s greatest value and contributions for member organizations and the individuals they serve? MJB: Advocacy is the most valuable contribution. The NJAMHAA staff is phenomenal. They stay on top of all legislation and do the advocacy that needs to get done. I am so impressed with the Children’s Practice Group and NJAMHAA overall. The association is well connected. They have commissioners and assistant commissioners fromDCF, the Department of Human Services and Medicaid at meetings. These are powerful connections that make our voice heard more directly. NN: How does NJAMHAA contribute to the effectiveness of your organization and staff and the entire behavioral healthcare system? MJB: Advocacy is incredibly important across the entire behavioral healthcare continuum. NJAMHAA’s ability to bring people together quickly, including with legislators, is invaluable. Without funds, we would have no ability to carry out our mission. NJAMHAA helps us be effective through education and training. The conferences and workshops are based on the membership’s needs and they are incredibly valuable. The Information Technology (IT) Project is also very important. We rely on the IT Project for technical support and we learn so much from the IT conferences. See details on the IT Project, along with other members’ views on its value, on page 8. NN: What would you like to see NJAMHAA accomplish in the upcoming year and farther in the future? MJB: I would like to see NJAMHAA address staff recruitment and retention challenges. MJB: We also need to continue advocating about the federal funds coming in, to figure out how to use it wisely. This and other funding are essential for the sustainability of organizations of all sizes. To further strengthen our advocacy, we need to attract more people to the table, to discuss among providers of all services. NN: What have you gained personally from serving on the Board and as the Children’s Practice Group’s Co-Chair? Board Officers and Re-elected At-large Members Share their Views on NJAMHAA’s and NJMHI’s Impact and Value continued from page 19 October 2021