NJAMHAA News - October 2021

October 2021 22 Board Officers and Re-elected At-large Members Share their Views on NJAMHAA’s and NJMHI’s Impact and Value continued from page 21 NN: How does NJAMHAA contribute to the effectiveness of your organization and staff and the entire behavioral healthcare system? MPA: Practice groups, task forces and committees give my staff and me excellent opportunities to network and learn what other organizations are doing in similar situations. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. NN: What would you like to see NJAMHAA accomplish in the upcoming year and farther in the future? MPA: We need to think strategically about partnering in a more formal manner with other trade associations and lobbying groups. I feel strongly that NJAMHAA would be more effective with a larger base for our advocacy efforts. NN: What have you gained personally from serving on the Board? MPA: I gained wonderful friendships that I’ll value for the rest of my life. Former NJAMHAA Board Chair Deborah Megaro, MBA, Appointed for an Additional Year as a NJAMHAA At-largeMember, Member of the NJMHI Board of Trustees, and Past NJAMHAA Board Chair Chief Executive Officer, Capitol County Children’s Collaborative (Note: Another NJAMHAA Board seat became available after the elections were completed.) NJAMHAANews: What do you see as NJAMHAA’s and NJMHI’s greatest achievements from the past year and overall? Deborah Megaro: The accomplishments of both organizations over the past year have a lot to do with being able to meet the demands of the health crisis; helping people organize; and sharing information in a timely manner at a time when everything is very confused. NN: What do you see as NJAMHAA’s greatest value and contributions for member organizations and the individuals they serve? DM: The steadiness of NJAMHAA, Board and staff has gone a long way in helping people feel able to move on, to do what they need to do and have a source of information and support that’s always reliable. That truly impacts the entire mental healthcare and substance use treatment system. Agencies are able to get new information, and come together to discuss concerns and possible solutions. Nothing stopped –NJAMHAA kept going through the whole year. NJAMHAA’s value to all our organizations is serving as a clearing- house of information. NN: How do NJAMHAA and NJMHI contribute to the effectiveness of your organization and staff and the entire behavioral healthcare system? DM: The training offered is timely and on point. With communica- tions, NJAMHAAmakes it clear and quick to catch up on broader is- sues that we don’t ordinarily have time to deal with during the day. I feel really good about being able to participate on practice groups. They give opportunities to build knowledge, hone skills and create more leaders in the behavioral health and substance use service system. NN: What would you like to see NJAMHAA and NJMHI accomplish in the upcoming year and farther in the future? DM: NJAMHAA continues to monitor trends, understand legislation and share related alerts. We have the opportunity and obligation in the coming year to deal with the impact of COVID, isolation, etc. and NJAMHAA and its members can contribute – they are contributing – mightily to that. I look forward to the establishment of a Center of Excellence through NJMHI. As social determinants of health have a tremendous impact on all aspects of health – not just mental health and substance use – the Center will undoubtedly be an invaluable resource for providers and the individuals they serve, as well as the general public. NN: What have you gained personally from serving on the Boards? DM: I’ve had the pleasure of learning from leaders in the field about contributing to behavioral health and substance use services. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and hear about other leaders nationally and feel part of an organization that is the opposite of stagnant. October 2021