NNews December 2023

8 December 2023 Barrett Young “I always had a strong passion for all the work we do in the substance use andmental healthworlds and for people involvedwith the criminal justice systembecause they are commonly an afterthought although they did their time,” Young said. “We can’t arrest people out of the vicious cycle of recidivism. We need to educate themout of it. As professionals, wemust serve themwith the best opportunities to grow and succeed.” “Clients are at their lowest when they come to TheMission. We try to tell them they’re worth something. They’ve been told for years that they weren’t, sowe’re trying to crack that code and prove to them they’re worth it. When they’re ready for services, providers need to be ready. We have to be innovative in today’s world,” he stressed. In fact, Young is a rolemodel for innovation. At his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, he co-founded an entrepreneurial program, which is currently in its seventh year. Each spring, Rescue Mission clients have opportunities to take this class, which has enabled many to open businesses, and a significant number of these enterprises are still in operation today. Young was inspired to serve individuals with mental illnesses, substance use disorders and involvement with the criminal justice system since he was very young. He has been at The Mission his entire life, as his mother Mary Gay Abbott-Young, LCADC, started working theremore than 40 years ago, before he was born. She rose through the ranks to CEO and now serves as President as Barrett took on the CEO role. Abbott-Young is also a member of NJAMHAA’s Board of Directors and previously served on the NJMHI Board. “I had a crib in Room 22, so I tell clients who live in that room that I have a special bond with them,” Young shared, adding that this room also served as his first office when he started working there 20 years ago as an overnight supervisor in the shelter. Since then, he advanced through a number of positions: Intake andDischarge Counselor in the mental health unit; thenManager of Operations, Director of Operations, Chief Operations Officer and his current role, CEO, a promotion he earned in January 2021. “I would love to see The Mission become a bigger player in the behavioral healthworld. We have a lot to offer,” Young said. Young remembers going to The Mission during his childhood. “The agency had no funding back then. The industry has changed and TheMission has grown exponentially,” he shared. Much of the in-house vocational work was done by residential clients because they had abilities, such as plumbing, electrical work and painting. “Now, clients coming here have no general skill set. So, when they’re clean and sober, they have no skills to bring to the workplace,” Young said. “Our clients need career paths. Many are second, third or fourth generation with this vicious cycle. They started using drugs at very young ages and didn’t develop in school. Many didn’t graduate, though some earned their GEDs while they were incarcerated.” “What has always drivenme is that everyone is a human being. I push all my staff to look at each other and clients that way,” Young stated. Partnering with other providers, as well as NJAMHAA and NJMHI, is clearly a priority for Young. He is also a leader in the Halfway House Association. While the future of managed care raises concerns, Young is confident. “If we collaborate, the environment we work in will become better for clients. It will be a wonderful change for the industry,” he said. Naturally, Young embraced the opportunity for additional partnerships by serving on the NJMHI Board. “I look forward to learningmore about the NJMHI Board members’ passions. At my first meeting, we talked about diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce, which is such a need in our industry,” Young said. “The NJMHI Board holds vital discussions, though unfortunately, the issues aren’t new to our industry. I’m eager to be a part of initiatives to achieve significant, positive changes.” (continued from page 7)