NNews March 2026

16 March 2026 NJMHI Welcomes New Board Members TheNew JerseyMental Health Institute (NJMHI) recentlywelcomed three newBoardmembers to expand and strengthen its efforts to promote qualitymental health and substance use services through training, technical assistance, research, and policy andworkforce development. O ver the past 30+ years, Dr. Tara Chalakani has advanced in the behavioral healthcare system, holding direct care roles in a variety of settings, followed by positions of expanding leadership. She is an award-winning and nationally recognized leader and psychotherapist, a thought leader on the Forbes Nonprofit Council and co-host of the Welloff podcast. In addition, she is an adjunct faculty member for Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Kean University’s Counselor Education Department, runs a private psychotherapy practice and provides organizational consulting. She previously served on the NJAMHAA Board of Directors from FY2023 through FY2025. “NJMHI is a collective of individuals that is committed to developing excellence across behavioral health organizations. The P atricia Dooley Budsock is an experienced programmanager and mental health clinician. She is an expert inmanaging large-scale state- and federally funded initiatives addressing addiction, opioid use and tobacco dependence. She provides clinical supervision, programoversight and strategic planning acrossmultiple public health projects. “I see NJMHI as a bridge between policy, practice and people, a connector in the behavioral health system. I really admire NJMHI’s aims to translate research and policy priorities of system-level goals into practice training, dialogue and innovation. It really reaches agencies and frontline staff. We’re continued on page 17 Patricia Dooley Budsock, MA, LPC, ACS ProgramManager and Mental Health Clinician Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in a fieldwhere we feel siloed. NJMHI fosters shared learning and collaboration to benefit the individuals and families we serve,” Patricia Dooley Budsock said. “The Board is a group of creative people open to sharing, learning and working together to have a positive impact in this challenging time.” “My experience is unique, which enablesme to contribute in different ways toNJMHI’s mission. I began three decades ago as a provider. Then, I started in clinical research 25 years ago, focusing on interventions, and behavioral andmedication trials, specifically on addictions. I work parallel toNew Jersey’s behavioral health systemand providers,” Patricia Dooley Budsock shared. Tara Chalakani, PsyD, LPC, RN Chief Executive Officer Preferred Behavioral Health Group opportunities for professional development are meaningful and unlike programs offered elsewhere,” Dr. Chalakani said. “As a former NJAMHAA Board member, it was a seamless transition and welcome opportunity to work with the same fantastic teamwhile interfacing with new leaders on the NJMHI Board. Also, we have sent Preferred employees to the NJMHI Leadership Academy and received wonderful feedback,” Dr. Chalakani said. “It would be great to develop succession planning resources for agencies. It’s a topic that gets skirted around, which leads to unfortunate unpreparedness for inevitable transitions. I also think an academy for newer CEOs/Executive Directors would be a valuable resource to member organizations,” Dr. Chalakani stated.