NJAMHAA News Winter 2023

4 Winter 2023 NJAMHAA and NJMHI Welcome New Board Members As there is constant change in the behavioral healthcare field with new programs, laws and regulations, there is also transition among the providers. As a result of retirements, NJAMHAA and the New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI), NJAMHAA’s charitable arm that was established in 2000 to promote the quality of mental healthcare and substance use services, recently elected new Board members. Congratulations to Brigitte Johnson, Esq., who became the new Chief Executive Officer of CarePlus NJ on January 2, 2023, after Joe Masciandaro, MA, who served as CarePlus’ CEO for 45 years, retired. Johnson was featured in the previous issue of NJAMHAANews soon after her election to the NJMHI Board of Trustees. [Click here to read this article.] She also starts the new year as one of the newest NJAMHAA Board members. A special election was held in the late fall to fill vacancies that were outcomes of the retirement of two Board members —Mary Pat Angelini, MPA, CPS, then President and CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group (PBHG), and Theresa Wilson, MSW, LCSW, then President and CEO of South Jersey Behavioral Health Resources and Executive Vice President of InperiumNJ —at the end of the year. The special election also led to Tara Chalakani, PsyD, LPC, RN, then Deputy CEO of PBHG, becoming the agency’s new CEO, and ReginaWiddows, MS, President and CEO of SERV Behavioral Health System, Inc., joining the NJAMHAA Board. In addition, Frank Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP, President and CEO, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and Senior Vice President, Behavioral Health and Addiction Service Line, RWJBarnabas Health, was unanimously elected by the NJAMHAA Board tomove up froman At-Large Board seat to the position of Treasurer, which Wilson previously held. Dr. Ghinassi has been a NJAMHAA Board member since 2019 and also serves on the NJMHI Board. Also new to the NJMHI Board of Trustees is Elsa Candelario, MSSW, LCSW, Professor of Professional Practice and Director of the LISTA (Latina/o/x Initiatives for Service, Training and Assessment) Certificate Program at Rutgers School of Social Work (SSW). Get to know the newest Board members below! Dr. Tara Chalakani NJAMHAANews: What is your background and what inspired you to join the behavioral healthcare field? Dr. Tara Chalakani: As a high school senior, I loved psychology, but did not knowhow that would translate into a career. I worked as a medical receptionist/medical assistant and I loved it, so I decided to go to college for nursing. I excelled in psychiatric nursing, but my first position was in the neonatal intensive care unit. Nursing afforded me many exciting opportunities in pharmaceuticals, home health care and behavioral health. I later advanced my education in mental health counseling, and then finally with a Doctoral degree in Psychology. My career has been rich with clinical and leadership roles in both for-profit and non-profit organizations, all of which prepared me to take on the role of CEO at Preferred Behavioral Health Group. NJAMHAANews: What are your thoughts about NJAMHAA and how do you feel about being elected to the Board? Dr. Chalakani: One of the things that impressesme the most is the huge support NJAMHAA provides for this industry. I’ve been a member of other associations and I never felt as supported as I do with NJAMHAA. The NJAMHAA staff are true advocates. The association has its finger on the pulse and lets us know what important issues are coming up. I am very excited to become more involved as a Board member. NJAMHAANews: How do you see your experience and expertise benefiting NJAMHAA, its members and the individuals they serve?