NNews October 2024

9 October 2024 NJAMHAA Board Members Reinforce the Chair’s Vision and Highlight the Association’s Effectiveness A s the NJAMHAA Board is a strong, cohesive unit, it is no surprise that the entire group reinforcedNJAMHAA’s impact and vision for the future that Chair Anthony Comerford, PhD, shared in the previous article. Every Boardmember identified advocacy as NJAMHAA’s greatest and ongoing achievement. They cited the tremendous influence on state and federal funding, legislation and regulations that NJAMHAA has had throughout its 73+ years. They also expressed confidence that the association will continue to have such a powerful impact and the value of all members’ active involvement for making these successes possible. While NJAMHAA directly represents providers in its advocacy, the association is ultimately focused on the individuals served—to ensure everyone can receive the clinical treatment and support services needed to live healthy, fulfilling and successful lives. Long-term Board Member and Past Chair Anthony DiFabio, PsyD, President and CEO of Acenda Integrated Health, summed it up by saying, “At the broadest level and yet in a very real and powerful way, NJAMHAA’s mission and purpose embodies and amplifies the impact of our membership and by extension, strengthens and enhances the behavioral health and wellbeing of the individuals and communities we serve. This is our North Star; everything else is incremental to achieve that.” reinforced Jacques’ point, stating, “I believe government agencies and leaders aremore supportive of mental health and addiction agencies due to the advocacy of NJAMHAA on an ongoing basis.” Lou added that NJAMHAA’s efforts also include enabling providers to build “relationships with individual Senate and Assembly leaders, as well as the Executive Branch of state government. The advantage of that is that any one of us associated with NJAMHAA can call on the Legislature and Executive Branch on specific issues as needed. This greater access to government leaders for providers results in greater access to services for our consumers.” Further emphasizing the importance of having all members advocate, NJAMHAA Board Treasurer Derry Holland, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer of Oaks Integrated Care, said, “It takes all of us—a teameffort—to do it, but NJAMHAA spearheads our advocacy by encouraging us to testify andmeet with legislative officials.” (continued on page 10) According to KathyWhite-Thomas, MS, Chief Operating Officer of Volunteers of America - Delaware Valley, “NJAMHAA’s impact is widely felt throughout New Jersey. The advocacy work of this organization shows not only the value of supporting behavioral health programs in the state, but also the amazingworkers who get it done.” Prime examples of this are NJAMHAA’s three Diverse Faces campaigns, which resulted in significant funding increases, positive regulatory changes and supportive legislation for fiscal years 2023, 2024 and 2025. “NJAMHAA has created a foundation, including relationships with legislators, commissioners and the Governor’s Office, so behavioral health care can succeed. What has been the outcome of that? It’s stabilization through contracts and other funding increases,” stated Jacques Hryshko, LPC, ACS, Immediate Past Chair of the NJAMHAA Board and Chief Executive Officer of Family Connections. “Evenwhen increases don’t happen, there’s awareness of the need for increases among legislators and commissioners,” he added. Lou Schwarcz, MA, Chief Executive Officer of Family and Children’s Service, More Thoughts on NJAMHAA’s Impactful Advocacy “ NJAMHAA’s impact is widely felt throughout New Jersey. The advocacy work of this organization shows not only the value of supporting behavioral health programs in the state, but also the amazing workers who get it done. ” KathyWhite-Thomas, MS Chief Operating Officer, Volunteers of America - Delaware Valley