NNews-July-2023

12 July 2023 Inspiring Peer Leader Award Carlyn Barnes, Peer Specialist Supervisor, Legacy Treatment Services “Carlyn is a powerful rolemodel and source of hope and inspiration for individuals experiencing challenges similar to what she has overcome. She shares her story with individuals as they undergo psychiatric screening, whichmakes this process much less overwhelming,” NJAMHAA Board Chair Jacques Hryshko, LPC, ACS, shared at the awards reception. “In addition, Carlyn demonstrates initiative. She introduces post-crisis Wellness and Recovery Action Plans to individuals when they are discharged from screening, and she created and chairs agency-wide monthly meetings for peer staff. Carlyn consistently empowers others and shows them that anything is possible if you are willing to put in the work.” Avant Garde Leadership in Innovation Award Pauline Simms, MSoc.Sc, Chief Operating Officer, SERV Centers of New Jersey “Pauline has been integral to SERV becoming the largest provider of residential behavioral health services in New Jersey and to SERV earning awards for service provision and innovation. In addition to expanding access to care, she has demonstrated exceptional fiscal acumen and played a key role in SERV Centers’ securing funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to create Partners inWellness, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic,” Hryshko said. “Pauline also demonstrated her phenomenal leadership and innovation talent to an even greater degree during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shemaintained staffing quotas, launched an internal health monitoring program and quickly instituted telehealth to ensure clinical services continued without interruption.” COURAGE AND COMPASSION AWARDS: NJAMHAA Board Chair Jacques Hryshko, LPC, ACS, proudly presented awards to these deserving individuals from the NJAMHAA membership. State Senator of the Year Award State Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-16th District) “Senator AndrewZwicker is a welcome leader in Trenton and a champion for behavioral health and the workforce, as demonstrated by his sponsorship of several important bills during the current legislative session,” Dr. Wentz stated. Senate Bill 3591 would require the state to foster development and implementation of graduatemedical education programs in behavioral health care; and Senate Bill 3122 calls for the creation of an online job portal for behavioral healthcare workers and an online internship and externship portal for students working toward healthcare careers. In addition, Senator Zwicker is a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 3314, which requires the Department of Children and Families tomaintain School Based Youth Services Programs (SBYSP) as they are currently established. He also introduced Senate Bill 2703, which would allow healthcare professionals located outside of New Jersey to provide services using telemedicine and telehealth to individuals in our state. State Assembly Representative of the Year Award Assembly Deputy Speaker Yvonne Lopez (D-19th District) “We are tremendously grateful for Assemblywoman Lopez’s support for mental health and substance use disorder services in schools, colleges and the community, especially for the most vulnerable populations, including youth and homeless individuals,” Dr. Wentz said. During the current legislative session, Deputy Speaker Lopez demonstrated her commitment to increasing access to services by being the prime sponsor of Assembly Bill 1456, which would establish an annual cost of living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for certain children, youth and family services organizations; and Assembly Bill 4755, which allows behavioral health providers to serve individuals in homeless shelters. Deputy Speaker Lopez is also cosponsoring several additional bills that are important to NJAMHAA, including A4808, which calls for the continuation of the SBYSP, and A1176, which would require institutions of higher education to implement suicide prevention programs and raise awareness of mental health services.