NNews April 2024

47 April 2024 are seeking academic credentials and certification to work in the field. “Beyond the treatment milieu, we host monthly dinners and other opportunities to build the community. These activities plus weekly therapy help build sustainable relationships and address issues that other programs don’t address, such as learning to love themselves and receiving assistance with name changes. Our LGBTQIA+ staff also developed a network of medical and social service providers, who are critical resources for this underserved population,” McWilliams stated. She added that these services are embedded in Maryville’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Turnersville. “We achieve health equity for a population at risk of poor health,” McWilliams said. Maryville has CCBHCs in Turnersville and Vineland. Both have programs tailored for adolescents. “We have great growing relationships with school systems for people with substance use and co-occurring disorders who are referred to us,” McWilliams said. Maryville certainly has achieved a lot throughout its 75- year history and under McWilliams’ leadership. “Every accomplishment is a teameffort of our resourceful staff and Board. We support each other and build services based on community need. We also advocate both independently and collectively, and continue to find new innovative ways to serve complex patients, even through COVID andworkforce challenges. It all speaks to the tenacity of our team,” she said. Looking Ahead to Achieve Even Greater Impact McWilliams’ vision for Maryville is to “serve as an integrated health systemproviding holistic prevention, treatment andwellness services for children, adults, families and our communities.” Housing, legal, and social supports will be embedded in our ecosystemof care,” she said. “We will continue to expand our partnerships with health, family and social services organizations and be able to confidentially share information across systems to improve community health,” McWilliams added. “We recognize the need to be able to serve a diverse population, andwe’re building a culture of commitment to achieve this goal,” McWilliams stated. “Every person March Is ProblemGambling AwarenessMonth; Maryville’s Comprehensive Treatment Also Addresses this Type of Addiction Another growing need is treatment for co-occurring problem gambling. According to the National Council of ProblemGambling, 6% of New Jersey residents have gambling disorders and 90% identify as social gamblers. “Since 2013, when online gambling became legal in New Jersey, there has been a steady increase in the number of people meeting the criteria for problem gambling,” said Kendria McWilliams, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Maryville Addiction Treatment Center. “We started our program in 2021, and gambling is now a fundamental piece of screening in our outpatient and residential programs and during treatment.” brings unique perspectives, experiences and value to the table. We’ll benefit as a community by embracing these differences. Increased collaboration and sharing of perspectives encourages innovation and improves decision making, both within our organization and among our community partners.” She noted that the team consists of “a robust set of incredibly talented, well-educated and experienced staff who connect with the people they serve. Many are in recovery themselves, so they know the help that people need.” McWilliams’ vision also applies to the state and nation’s entire behavioral healthcare systems. As Chair of the NJMHI Board and Vice-Chair of NJAMHAA’s Addictions Practice Group, she is working closely with Debra L. Wentz, PhD, Executive Director of NJMHI and President/CEO of NJAMHAA, staff and other NJAMHAAmembers on advocacy and other initiatives to strengthen the behavioral healthcare workforce and increase access to services for all diverse populations.