NNews-Sep-2026

September 2026 19 NewNJAMHAAMembers Recognize and Contribute to Value of Partnership W ith the behavioral health landscape facing some sweeping changes due to the new requirements and funding cuts put into place by the federal government, it has becomemore important for organizations to come together and strengthen the behavioral health community. NJAMHAA’s mission is to “champion, support and promote the value of our member organizations” and some of the ways that we achieve that is through networking, education and innovation. Whether it is as a member organization or as part of one of our specialty councils, it is becoming increasingly vital for networking and collaboration to take place. For three newNJAMHAAmembers, this mindset was a paramount part in joining the association. “We were very much looking for a forward-thinking association that had the opportunity to bring their membership together in different ways,” Tanya Scarapicchia, PhD, Senior Director of Partnerships at Greenspace Health, said. “We very much appreciate the different working groups NJAMHAA runs and the different ways that the members can connect.” Echoing her sentiments is Ross Young, CEO and Founder of Clinically AI, who joined NJAMHAA’s Technology Council. “It’s been a great experience so far, and we got a lot of great feedback from folks on the council,” Young said. For Doug Bratton, CEO of Partners in Prevention, becoming a member of NJAMHAAmade sense as his company and NJAMHAA have similar goals. “I got to knowDebWentz fromserving on the Professional Advisory Council for the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and as we learned more about NJAMHAA and particularly its advocacy efforts on behalf of the field, we felt it was really important to be a part of that, bothwith our resources by joining and giving our time to advocate for mental health inNew Jersey and in particular mental health funding for New Jersey,” Bratton said. All three said that since joiningNJAMHAA, the collaborationwith fellowmember organizations has been key. Tanya Scarapicchia, PhD Senior Director of Partnerships Greenspace Health Ross Young CEO and Founder Clinically AI Doug Bratton CEO Partners in Prevention continued on page 20