NNews October 2024

17 October 2024 NJAMHAA and NJMHI Bolster Each Other’s Mission and Achieve Impact with Shared Leaders A lways exploring innovative ways to further support members, strengthen the behavioral healthcare workforce, and eliminate stigma and discrimination, NJAMHAA established the New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI), a 501(c)3 charitable organization, in 2000. In addition to the natural synergies in their purposes and goals, the organizations share several board members. Many of NJMHI’s initiatives over the years have directly benefitedNJAMHAA members. Notable examples include policy recommendations that led to the establishment of state-funded cultural competence training centers, two of which are still operated by NJAMHAA members, Center for Family Services and Family Connections; state funding for bilingual/bicultural clinicians at community-based mental health agencies; and the state requiring training in social and cultural diversity for certified and licensedmental health professionals. From 2014 to 2017, NJMHI implemented a very successful multi-year training series focused on evidence-based practices for treating veterans, active military and their families. All of the participants work at NJAMHAA member organizations. Most recently, in 2022, NJMHI launched the Leadership Academy for Behavioral Healthcare Professionals to help build the workforce. The Academy provides emerging leaders in (continued on page 18) themental healthcare, substance use disorder and intellectual/ developmental disabilities services fields the skills and knowledge—and therefore, confidence—to advance in their careers and succeed as future leaders. The program is open to staff in all areas: clinical, administrative, information technology, legal, finance, human resources, etc. By contributing to organizations’ staff retention and long- termsustainability, programparticipants also help improve the quality and consistency of services to the individuals whom they and their colleagues serve. Below are insights about NJMHI and NJAMHAA’s impact from individuals who have served on both boards. Frank Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP, is currently the NJAMHAA Board Treasurer and had served on the NJMHI Board of Trustees for several years. “Both boards have, as a strength, the ability to crystallize current and future directions of the field from the policy and payment perspectives, as well as the healthcare delivery perspective. The Board members are experts in the field and bring decades of experience. They have seen many evolutions of healthcare policy and delivery, and their experiences enlighten the direction of each board,” said Frank, who serves as President and CEO, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and Senior Vice President, Behavioral Health and Addictions Service Line, RWJBarnabas Health. “Both organizations have the ability to develop key future behavioral health, addictions, and social services leaders from across the state. This work occurs across community settings, academia, medical systems and other key provider systems”, Frank added. “ Both organizations have the ability to develop key future behavioral health, addictions, and social services leaders from across the state. This work occurs across community settings, academia, medical systems and other key provider systems. ” Frank Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP President and CEO, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and Senior Vice President, Behavioral Health and Addictions Service Line, RWJBarnabas Health