NNews-Aug-2025

socialwork.rutgers.edu/academics/ master-social-work-msw/msw- certificates/lista-certificate 24 August 2025 To help increase access to care that is not only clinically competent, but also culturally informed and sensitive, the New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI), which is NJAMHAA’s charitable arm, is planning a series of events, collectively called Building Solutions Together to Address Access Disparities . The series will begin with a roundtable discussion, Solutions to Engaging Diverse Communities , on October 7, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Johnson & Johnson, 1000 Route 202 South, Raritan, NJ 08869. This roundtable will consist of two strategic discussions on engaging African-American and Latinx individuals in need of behavioral healthcare services; and on building a diverse behavioral healthcare workforce to provide not only clinical care, but also legal, social determinants of health and reentry related services for vulnerable populations. The series will continue with focus groups withmore time devoted to developing strategies and their implementation to increase access to services. One focus group will concentrate on the African-American population and will be led by Christopher Womack, PhD, MBA, MS, MA, Community Leader and NJMHI Board Member. The other will be dedicated to developing strategies specifically for the Latinx community and will be led by Elsa Candelario, DSW, MSSW, LCSW, Vice Chair of the NJMHI Board of Trustees; and Professor of Professional Practice and Director of the Latina/o/x Initiatives for Service, Training, and Assessment Certificate Program at Rutgers School of Social Work. continued from page 23 Social workers in this program receive education on the diversity within Latinx communities, as well as common cultural values and frameworks that can inform more effective practice with Latinx clients. The program also provides hands-on experience and extensive support, including “mentoring, skill-building forums and scholarships to help more Latinx students enter and succeed in the field,” Dr. Candelario said. The LISTA Certificate Program, in collaboration with the school’s Office of Practicum Learning, identifies and develops specialized practicum placements —hands- on learning experiences at behavioral health organizations that serve Latina/o/x communities. In addition to social work, students gain experience “interpreting the impact of sociopolitical and cultural factors while acknowledging clients and communities as experts of their own lived experiences,” as explained on the LISTA Certificate Programwebsite . TheNew JerseyMental Health Institute’s (NJMHI’s) initiatives to increase access also include efforts to expand and strengthen the behavioral healthcareworkforce. TheNJMHI LeadershipAcademy for Behavioral Healthcare Professionals is an impactful, cost-effective programto achieve this goal. See the article beginning on page 1 for details, including testimonials from mentees, mentors and coaches. Rutgers LISTA Certificate Program Increases Access and Quality of Care for the Latinx Community NJMHI Focuses on Increasing Opportunities for Latinx and African-American Populations For more details and to register to attend, visit: njamhaa.site-ym.com/page/NJMHI_Roundtable Join Us at the Launch of the Series, Solutions to EngagingDiverse Communities ! October 7, 2025 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Johnson& Johnson 1000 Route 202 South, Raritan, NJ 08869