NJAMHAA News Winter 2023

6 Winter 2023 My current course of studies’ emphasis is on skill development for addressing complex social issues. The content relates to my teaching and service that are centered on effective organizational administration and governance as well as interventions to improve the well- being of under-resourced communities, particularly, the Latina/o/x communities. An example of my recent participation is a collaborative effort to address the shortage of bilingual social workers, which resulted in a scholarship fund that will cover more than half of the full-time tuition for a cohort of 12 to 15 bilingual MSW students accepted into Rutgers SSW in 2023 who demonstrate a commitment of service to Latina/o/x populations through enrollment in the School’s LISTA Certificate Program. This major initiative is an outcome of joining with others to develop meaningful solutions to reduce the financial burden of education, improve the quality of education related to culturally responsive interventions, and increase the number of bilingual social workers. It’s an example of tackling a complex problem that will increase access to behavioral health services. An important foundation of my professional life has been fulfilled by service and in my opinion, the ethical imperative of social workers to challenge social injustice invites us to service to improve systems. Currently, I serve on: Rutgers SSW’s Inclusion, Intersectionality, Diversity, Equity and Advancement (IIDEA) Committee and its Community Engagement Task Force; the board of directors of the Family Success Institute and now, NJMHI; the Council of NJ Grantmakers’ and New Jersey Center for Nonprofits’ “Doing Good Better” advisory board; the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits’ Diversity and Equity Committee; and the advisory board of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy’s NJ Population Health Cohort Study. NJAMHAANews: What inspired you to accept the opportunity to serve on the NJMHI Board? Elsa Candelario: The accomplishments of NJMHI have been impressive since its inception, and in fact, within our many roles, I have had the pleasure of a collaborative relationshipwithNJMHI that achieved increased access to services within New Jersey’s mental health system. More recently, our work has aligned in terms of the investment in leadership development efforts for New Jersey’s nonprofit professionals. Finally, NJMHI’s mission “…to promote quality mental health and substance use services” provides many potential paths for NJAMHAA and NJMHI Welcome New Board Members NJAMHAA Congratulates and looks forward toworkingwith all NJAMHAA andNJMHI Boardmembers to continually strengthenNew Jersey’s behavioral healthcare system. Brigitte Johnson Esq. Frank A. Ghinassi PhD, ABPP Tara Chalakani PsyD, LPC, RN ReginaWiddows MS Elsa Candelario MSSW, LCSW (continued frompage 5)