NNews-July-2023

16 July 2023 Outstanding Leadership in Children’s Services Award David Seegert, Director, School Based Youth Services, Preferred Behavioral Health Group “David has demonstrated incredible leadership to the School Based Youth Services Program, or SBYSP, throughout New Jersey and the SBYSP subcommittee of NJAMHAA’s Children’s Practice Group. When the budget fight to restore zeroed-out funding began in the summer of 2020, Dave had already been working closely with NJAMHAA since February of that year to advocate for expanding the SBYSP and had provided important reports and information that NJAMHAA used in its advocacy piece,” according to Dr. Wentz. The SBYSP Subcommittee was established in November 2020. “With a constant focus on delivering the highest quality care, Dave fosters his teammembers’ professional development to maximize their effectiveness in serving children and their families.” Lifetime Achievement in Children’s Mental Health Award Kathy Collins, LCSW, Former ExecutiveDirector, MonmouthCares CMO (CareManagement Organization) “Kathy is very sweet, caring, modest and committed, and she is a strong advocate. She has been an integral part of the Children’s System of Care since its inception and was extremely active in the establishment of CMOs. She certainly has moved mountains, though quietly and from behind the scenes, and her impact on the Children’s System of Care and the families it serves will remain indelible,” Dr. Wentz stated. She also shared and expressed agreement with other CMO executives’ comments, including that “Kathy has been an extraordinary leader in a constantly evolving, often chaotic, emerging system of care. She has an impressive ability to remain optimistic and see the strengths in many seemingly impossible situations.” Legendary Leadership Award JosephMasciandaro, MA, Former President/CEO, CarePlusNJ andPast NJAMHAAandNJMHI Board Chair “Joe sis a pioneer, trendsetter, visionary, remarkable, compassionate, inspirational and so much more. He blends positive old-world values, such as commitment to others and hard work, with a constant willingness to try new things to achieve goals for his organization and the behavioral health community overall, especially those served,” Dr. Wentz shared. “Joe is, as we say in Yiddish, a mensch. According to Leo Rosten, author of The Joy of Yiddish , a mensch is ‘someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character.’ The term is used as a high compliment, implying the rarity and value of an individual’s qualities, and Joe is clearly one of these rare gems.” New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. SAVE the DATE Membership Meeting September 13, 2023 10:30 a.m. to noon via Zoom