NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

26 “I admire NJAMHAA’s strength. Members were responsible at some level for reorganizing the system of mental healthcare delivery. It was spearheaded with NJAMHAA’s support.” – Greg Speed, Former NJAMHAA Board Vice Chair service (FFS); and having members recognized as priority providers to receive medical supplies and personal protective equipment. Meanwhile, the IT Project remained available to assist members with their transition to working remotely and serving clients through telehealth. “NJAMHAA’s access to government leaders has never been more critical than during the pandemic. We leveraged our relationships with legislators to ele- vate the voice of communities in need,” said Susan Loughery, current NJAMHAA Board Chair. “NJAMHAA has been invaluable to all of us, espe- cially during the challenging times of the pandemic. Our world has been completely turned upside-down. Deb and the staff have done an amazing job sup- porting all of us,” said Bob Budsock, MS, LCADC, President and CEO of Integrity House and Immediate Past Chair of the NJAMHAA Board. “NJAMHAA collab- orates with members to ensure, even while we’re in the midst of a pandemic, that we remain focused on our North Star, which is to provide essential services to many people in the State of New Jersey who are desperately in need of help.” “As a long-standing provider of substance use disor- der treatment and an emergency shelter in Trenton, NJ, we and many of our partners would not have been able to work in the COVID 19 environment without the information, contacts and advocacy of NJAMHAA,” said Mary Gay, LCADC, President, Rescue Mission of Trenton and a NJAMHAA Board member since 2017. “I acknowledge NJAMHAA is crucial to our work every day, but the effort at this time has been nothing short of vital and frankly amazing.” Also in 2020, NJAMHAA led the successful campaign to reinstate funding for the School Based Youth Services Program after funding had been fully cut in the Governor’s proposed Revised FY2021 budget. NJAMHAA’s advocacy contributed to increased appropriations in the SAMHSA Mental Health and SUD Block Grants as part of the Omnibus Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief Package. In addition, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law to provide $2.2 trillion in economic stimulus nationwide in response to the pandemic. It included the Paycheck Protection Program that provided forgivable loans to small businesses and funds for states to reimburse service providers for pandemic-related expenses. In 2021, NJAMHAA advocated to have legislation drafted that would tie rates and contracts to an inflationary index. The association also secured amendments to the telehealth bill that allows clients to receive services at any location and via audio only. On the federal level, SAMHSA further invested in the Block Grant funds in the American Rescue Plan. Reflective of NJAMHAA’s credibility, dedication and effectiveness, numerous awards were received over the years. Most recently, in June 2020, NJAMHAA was honored with the Award for Organizational Achieve- ment in Advocacy from the National Council for Behavioral Health. The National Council also recog- nized NJAMHAA in 2003 with an Award of Excellence – Public Policy Award. Other examples of recognition for NJAMHAA overall are the American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE’s) Award of Excellence – Government Relations in 1997; national Telly Award for the Mugshots anti-stigma campaign in 1998; Lilly Reintegration Awards – First Place, Advocacy from Eli Lilly in 2001; and ASAE’s Communication GOLD Circle Award – Media Relations for the advocacy campaign, Bottom Line: Investing in Mental Health Saves Money and Lives in 2008 and again in 2009 for the Bankrupt Dreams, Battered Souls advocacy campaign. ASAE also presented the Award of Excellence for the Tsu-