NNews March 2026

March 2026 13 In 2010, I ran again for the NJAMHAA Board and was elected. I decided to run again last year because Trenton is running out of funding and there are concerning situations inWashington, DC. I think my experience can be helpful to the trade association, and I see being on the NJAMHAA Board as a way of learning frommy colleagues and hearing new ideas. Most of my peers are younger and have less experience, but I find I’m learning from them as I learned from those withmore experience years ago. I’m invigorated by their youth, energy and ideas. There’s a different perspective from younger people in the field. So, I want this experience. Also, it’s a difficult time to be in the nonprofit space and in the mental health and substance use disorder space. There have been funding constrictions, and we anticipate significantly less funding in the next five years. What goes up must come down. There was much focus on and support for behavioral health care during the pandemic. This is not over, so we may lose more funding and support. H.R.1 has the potential to be devastating to the behavioral health community. Medicaid is the biggest payer of mental health and substance use disorder services in the country by far. Over 10 years, H.R.1 will cut $1 trillion. There’s no way to do that without disenfranchising who is eligible for Medicaid. We need to work closely with the bureaucracy — this term is not pejorative; it’s just a description— to be sure eligible service participants don’t get disenfranchised by the new eligibility requirements, which are byzantine. Individuals in the state departments are great, but bureaucracy creates barriers. We need to build trust to eliminate barriers for the benefit of service recipients and to ensure providers are paid. Also, I like working with DebraWentz and the staff. NJAMHAANews: What advocacy achievements and challenges overcome stand out in your mind from throughout your involvement with NJAMHAA? Bob Davison: Working with NJAMHAA staff and several Board members, we secured housing initiatives and pay raises for direct care staff, though they’re still not enough. We also secured some increases in Medicaid rates, but they still don’t cover the cost of care. Deb and I worked closely with the State Legislature to secure the loan redemption program. I know senators who were supportive of this. Meet Bob Davison, Long-Time NJAMHAA Member Recently Re-elected to the Board continued frompage 12 I alsoworkedwithNJAMHAA and the State Legislature to expand the Early Intervention and Support Services program. At the time, Assemblyman John McKeon (now Senator) and Senator Vin Gopal pushed this through. I borrowed intellectual capital fromNJAMHAA. NJAMHAA has always been successful and an excellent partner. NJAMHAANews: What is your vision for NJAMHAA and your role and contributions as a re- elected Board member? Bob Davison: We’re in a protective stance. My vision is to protect the system. The wolves are at the door, so we need to keep them at bay. We need to ensure access that our service participants have now – keep this continuing. If we can expand that in the meantime, that would be wonderful, but first and foremost, my vision is to maintain access. NJAMHAA has always been successful and an excellent partner. “ ”