NNews-July-2023

3 Throughout fiscal year 2023, NJAMHAA remained at the forefront, breaking barriers and bringing the highest quality treatment and support services to New Jersey’s children and adults withmental illnesses, substance use disorders, intellectual/developmental disabilities and co- occurring health conditions —as it has been throughout its 72-year history—and we hit the ground running when the new fiscal year began on July 1 st . NJAMHAA is proud to work with dedicated and resourceful individuals in all our member organizations and many other partners throughout the state and nation. Our collaborations have resulted in significant funding and supportive legislation. Most notably, our Diverse Faces: Partners in Care campaign and the media coverage it gained resulted in significant budgetary and legislative wins. I am tremendously grateful for the providers and individuals they serve who helped make this campaign tremendously impactful. They are highlighted in this issue of NJAMHAA News , as we honored themwith the Workforce Partners in Advocacy Award during our Annual Membership Meeting on June 21st. Examples of NJAMHAA’s successful advocacy in FY2023 on the state level include the Governor’s proposed significant funding for fiscal year 2024 and its retention in the legislative bills signed into law on June 30, 2023. These provisions strengthened the behavioral healthcare workforce through wage increases and resources for providers to pay recruitment and retention bonuses; and funds to increase rates for children’s behavioral healthcare services, expand screening centers’ mobile outreach and satellite services, bolster school-based programs, provide training for peer providers and more! NJAMHAA’s advocacy also resulted in several positive policy and regulatory changes. On the federal level, NJAMHAA’s advocacy contributed to substantial funding for mental health and substance use disorder services in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This law also includes extension of telehealth flexibilities that were implemented during the pandemic through December 31, 2024. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services authorized the original Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic demonstration states, which include New Jersey, to newly certify programs to be added to their demonstration. From the Desk of Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO Details on these and other advocacy successes are provided in our FY2023 Annual Report, Breaking Barriers in Behavioral Health Care . NJAMHAA will continue to advocate on behalf of its members to eliminate roadblocks to treatment, recovery support and other services for all New Jersey residents. We look forward to continuing our work with all our members, whose expertise, insights, experiences and recommendations are extremely valuable for our advocacy and impact. All members are strongly encouraged to provide this input by participating in Membership Meetings and on our practice groups and councils. Please see page 4 3 for information about these groups and how to get involved. With warmest wishes, Debra L. Wentz, PhD President and CEO