NNews-Aug-2025

August 2025 27 Education Council Builds Partnerships to Create Effective Internships and Increase Staff Retention A lthough colleges and universities with behavioral healthcare related programs share the same goals as service providers, the lack of understanding and the different work parametersmake it difficult for the twoworlds towork together. NJAMHAA’s Education Council aims to change this. “We don’t understand each other. We have varying and separate sources to hold others accountable, andwe have different policies and protocols. Behavioral healthcare providers have funding sources with certain requirements that impact how they operate. Schools always have to abide with their accrediting bodies, so there are certain things we can and can’t do in practicums,” explained Amy Strickler, LMSW, LSW, Co-Chair of the Education Council and Assistant Director of the IntensiveWeekend Programand Assistant Professor at Rutgers University School of Social Work (SSW). “Schools and providers also have different accrediting standards. We need to be on the same page despite these different requirements. We need to determine how tomeet everyone’s needs,” reinforced Jack B. Lewis, DSW, LCSW, Co-Chair of the Education Council and Director of the IntensiveWeekend Programand Associate Professor at Rutgers SSW. The Education Council provides a forum to achieve such understanding for the benefit of the school staff and behavioral healthcare providers who participate, their organizations, students and service recipients. “The Education Council can facilitate sharing of this information so we can understand each other’s constraints and collaborate to make it all work while abiding by funding sources and accrediting bodies’ rules,” Strickler stated. “The university perspective is fantastic. Higher education staff bring that research and historical piece to the content of the work we’re doing. JuneDePonte Sernak, BA,MBA, EdD Co-Chair of the Education Council and Statewide Diversity Leadership Officer, Center for Family Services Their expertise helps bridge gaps in communities,” added June DePonte Sernak, BA, MBA, EdD, Co-Chair of the Education Council and Statewide Diversity Leadership Officer, Center for Family Services. “Providers give us the perspective from the boots on the ground—what’s happening in their communities and the state. They provide world knowledge for the present and the future.” continued on page 28