NNews-July-2023

13 July 2023 Leading Edge Direct Care Provider Award Shakita Johnson, Youth Development Specialist, Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse “At Ewing High School, Shakita Johnson serves as a role model for students and often proposes innovative programs to best benefit students and the local community,” Hryshko shared. For example, she enhanced the ASYSST (Available School Youth Services Support Team) program by creating a Zen Room to promote resilience and social development, as well as a coaching component. Shakita also proposed and implemented a girls’ social group called Sisters of a New Generation and she helped establish the first Black Student Alliance within the school community. She collaborates with a mental health clinician and the school’s guidance counselors to cultivate programming and modernize evidence-based curriculum to reflect students’ current needs. Futuristic Leader in Children’s Services Award David Bolignesi, LCSW, Director of Intensive Community Services, Preferred Behavioral Health Group “David teaches his staff clinical skills, frequently develops innovative strategies and encourages his team to share ideas for enhancing the effectiveness of services. He further builds morale by organizing teambuilding activities, promoting self-care, and helping staff identify and achieve meaningful goals. A constant source of support for his team, David returns to a direct service role when needed. He also volunteers to go shopping for families and delivers these items to their homes,” Hryshko said. “David’s innovative and collaborative spirit benefits the entire agency and state, as well. For example, he was integral to Preferred’s ability to quickly implement telehealth during the pandemic, and he helped all of the state’s directors of Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services meet the continually increasing demands by sharing creative staff- recruitment strategies.” Trendsetting Leader in Adult Services Award Donna Coyle, LCSW, LCADC, CCS, Vice President of Clinical Operations, CPC Integrated Health “Donna shined as a visionary leader during the pandemic and continues to implement innovative changes on a regular basis. She eagerly takes the reins for the entire agency when needed and maintains high standards in the programs she oversees to ensure that all services are of the highest quality and that operations continue with minimal, if any, disruption,” Hryshko shared. “Donna has continued to provide strong, inspiring leadership for CPC’s adult service programs. She is well known both within and outside of the agency for her innovative strategies and best practices for serving adults withmental health and substance use disorders.” Visionary Provider of the Year Award CarePlus NJ “Throughout nearly 28 years of working at NJAMHAA, I have had the privilege of working closely with the leadership of CarePlus NJ, including its first full-time employee Joe Masciandaro, who recently retired after leading the agency for 45 years. Everyone at CarePlus, both past and present, never ceases to amazeme with their innovative and collaborative spirit, impressive growth in programs, and extraordinary impact on individuals served,” Dr. Wentz said when she presented the CarePlus Award to Amie Del Sordo, LCSW, Senior Vice President, Hospital and Community Services. The many levels of innovative services that CarePlus developed since its inception in 1978 led to the agency becoming one of the largest and most comprehensive community mental health and substance abuse systems of care in northern New Jersey. Today, CarePlus serves approximately 14,000 individuals annually through more than 80 programs. “The impact of CarePlus is clear in that many lives are being saved and greatly enhanced by the agency’s broad array of clinical treatment, recovery support, educational and employment programs,” Dr. Wentz added.