NNews October 2024

36 October 2024 (continued on page 37) (continued from page 35) Get Better Aquainted with the NJAMHAA and NJMHI Board Members Tara Chalakani, PsyD, LPC, RN Chief Executive Officer Preferred Behavioral Health Group Jacques Hryshko, LPC, ACS Chief Executive Officer Family Connections JACQUES HRYSHKOHAS SERVEDON the NJAMHAA Board since FY2019 and has chaired the Chief Financial Officers Practice Group for several years. He was the Board Treasurer in FY2020, Vice Chair TARA CHALAKANI WAS APPOINTED to the NJAMHAA Board in November 2022. She has more than 30 years of experience in various healthcare roles, including maternal/child health, crisis response, inpatient adult psychiatric, community mental health, partial care, intensive outpatient, behavioral health leadership and education. Tara has undergraduate degrees in Nursing and Psychology, a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, and a Doctoral degree in Psychology. She is also a Reiki Master and Yogi; has had several years of training in IMMEDIATE Past Chair Counseling with a specialization in Family and Group Counseling from SUNY-Buffalo. From serving on the Board, Jacques has gained “increased awareness of the partnership, collaboration and networking”, which he emphasized “needs to happen among agencies and between agencies and the state tomake things work.” “I have gained connections and relationships withNJAMHAAmembers and staff, seeing how they work, their impact and dedication. It’s all about delivering services to the citizens of New Jersey. It’s all very inspiring,” Jacques said. leaders in the state. We lean on each other and find ways to collaborate for the highest good of those we serve,” Tara said. Psychodrama; and is a certified Jungian Sand Play therapist and an EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) practitioner. She also studied holistic health at the doctoral level and maintains licensure as a registered nurse. In addition, Tara is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Medicine at Hackensack Meridian Medical School and an adjunct professor at Kean University’s Nathan Weiss Graduate College. “It is an honor to work beside the best and brightest behavioral healthcare in FY2021 and FY2022, and Chair in FY2023 and FY2024. Jacques joined Family Connections more than 30 years ago as a clinician, providing in-office and in-home treatment services. He has served as CEO of Family Connections for the past nine years. In this time, “NJAMHAA has been an invaluable resource both to the staff and me, especially during these past three challenging years, which have made clear the critical necessity of NJAMHAA,” Jacques said. Jacques received his BS degree in Biology/Chemistry fromUnion College. He earned his MA in Rehabilitation Additional NJAMHAA Board Members