NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

44 NJAMHAA always keeps members apprised of what is happening on the state and national levels that impact providers and the individuals they serve. Sometimes, this entails going the extra mile, which the staff is always willing to do. For example, during the one-week shutdown of the state government in 2006, late on a Saturday night, Dr. Wentz slipped into the State House through an open back door when staffers were practically camping out to find out exactly which budget line items would be line-item vetoed by then Governor Corzine and called a staff member from her car to get the news on the finally signed budget out to members right away. In August 2019, Dr. Wentz contacted staff member Shauna Moses during a weekend when she learned of a fire that occurred at Straight and Narrow. “We immediately got the word out about donations of supplies needed, and many of our members re- sponded just as quickly,” she recalled. In past years, NJAMHAA produced the Public Policy Platform , first quarterly and then annually, which Dr. Wentz used to write before the staff grew and those focused on policy took on the responsibility. “It was very useful as it provided details on the many diverse issues and on where NJAMHAA stood on them. As we transitioned to the Internet, staff started posting position papers and together, we created annual advocacy campaigns, which replaced the Platform, ” Dr. Wentz recalled. While all of NJAMHAA’s advocacy campaigns were effective and some even earned awards, one that truly stands out is Broken Promises, Shattered Lives . In addition to the compelling document, NJAMHAA created a full-page print ad and a public service announcement that was broadcast on radio stations throughout New Jersey. Many of the recommenda- tions in this campaign were promoted by Governor This year’s Annual IT Conference, Back to the Future, was held on December 3, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza, James- burg, New Jersey. Con- ference speakers and presentations spanned a range of challenges that behavioral health providers face. June Noto, COO and Direc- tor of the IT Project, said, “Our goal is to help our nonprofit member organizations be bet- ter prepared to serve their clients – whether it is in the aftermath of a natural disaster or by adapting to ever-changing technology – and we selected our speakers and presenters with that goal in mind.” Followig is a short summary of some of the key speakers and presentations: To start off the day, the Keynote Speaker Dennis Morrison, Ph.D., Chief Clinical Officer of Netsmart, brought the audience through the growing pains of technological innovation with his presentation, The Role of Disruptive Innovation in Health Care. He discussed various cultural changes throughout history and some of their effects on established behavior. Citing innovations such as the printing press, radio, TV, iPhones and the Uber cab, Dr. Morrison explained how those innovations were met with resistance to the changes they cre- ated. This progressed to discussing the increasing consumer drive for using online apps for many health needs. As health applications’ popularity increases, so does the ability of professionals to monitor the activity for a more immediate response of assistance to patient needs. There were many key takeaways from the plenary presentation, Message Mapping for Emergency, Disaster and Crisis Commu- nication Effectiveness by Robert Chandler, Ph.D., from the Nicholson School of Communication, University of Central Florida. Dr. Chan- dler explained the need for preparing in advance as communication is difficult under the best of circum- stances and disasters are typically unexpected. At- tendees learned how the more stress an individual is under, the lower their ability to communicate will be. Dr. Chandler cited that the av- erage reading skill is at the 10 th Winter 2015 Android Security Pg. 3 Also in This Issue | iOS 8 Vulnerability Pg. 5 | Windows 10 Release Date Pg. 7 | NJAMHAA IT Conference a Huge Success! IT Conference keynote speaker, Denny Morrison (center), pauses for a photo with IT Project Director June Noto and IT Project Associate Director Ron Gordon. Plenary Speaker Robert Chandler (left) with IT Project Director June Noto [Continued on Page 8] April/May 2008 Page 1 April/May 2008 Annual Conference Explores the World of Mental Health [See Annual Conference, Page 25] NJAMHA members to be honored for Courage, Compassion, and Commitment, Page 6 Discover valuable IT Project services at NJAMHA’s Annual Conference, Page 31 NJMHI’s Training and Advocacy benefit NJAMHA members, Page 34 NJAMHA’s 57th Annual Conference, Explor- ing the World of Mental Health , which is be- ing held on April 22 and 23 at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin, NJ, will feature a strong program that supports the goals of the diverse members of the mental health commu- nity. Clinical workshops will help direct care professionals enhance the quality of services they provide to children and adults with men- tal illness, substance abuse or co-occurring disorders. Additional workshops will assist ex- ecutive officers and program directors to im - prove strategic planning and performance and strengthen business operations. Lizzie Simon, Speaker andAuthor of Detour – My Bipolar Trip in 4D , will provide a dynamic presentation on her personal experiences with bipolar disorder and her extensive interviews with young people successfully coping with the disease. Matt D’Oria, Deputy Commis- sioner, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, and representatives of the Commission on Rationalizing Health Care Resources, also will discuss the expected im- pact of the Commission’s recommendations for shoring up the financial condition of New Jersey’s hospitals and reforming and improv- ing the healthcare system to meet both physi- cal and mental health needs. Sen. Vitale Introduces Universal Healthcare Plan On March 17, 2008, Senator Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), Chair of the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, introduced his plan for universal health care that would be phased in over three years. Once access to affordable health care is ensured for all New Jersey residents, the next step will be to require all residents to have health insurance, as reported on www.northjersey.com (March 18, 2008). According to Sen. Vitale, quoted on www.northjersey.com , “We’re going to save more than we’re going to spend…When this is fully operational and every child and every adult has coverage, it will cost us in the range of $300 [million] to $400 million—a far cry from what we’re already spending.” Funding for the universal healthcare plan would be obtained in part from charity care. As explained by David Knowlton, President and CEO of the New Jersey Quality Health Care Institute, in the Star- Ledger (March 17, 2008), “the $719 million the state now spends on charity care…would be a source of funding for the new program as fewer uninsured people turned up seeking care at emergency rooms.” This plan causes concern among hospitals because a time frame has not been specified for when hospitals would lose charity care, Randy Minniear of the New Jersey Hospital Association told the Star-Led- ger . Although Governor Jon Corzine is supportive of the plan, he was quoted on www.northjersey.com as saying, “I’m a realist, and I understand that the current budget circumstances may inhibit our ability today to reach that common goal.” The Star-Ledger also reported that under the new plan, insur- ance companies would be allowed to charge older individuals 3 ½ times more than younger consumers, who are presumably healthier. Phase 1 to Begin in 2008 According to www.northjer- sey.com , the plan would begin by exp anding coverage for parents and children. During the first year, a small percentage of New Jer- sey’s 1.4 million uninsured (of whom 242,000 are children) will be covered. This includes 52,166 children and 12,000 parents who are currently uninsured. CEO’s Message NJAMHA News The National Front State House Press Children’s Corner Clinical Issues Around the Nation Housing Issues IT Project Update Institute Update Announcements 2 3 10 13 17 20 26 30 31 33 36 Contents [See Universal Healthcare, Page 25] Illustrating the Value of Behaviora l Health Services Insid Partners in NJAMHAA, Legislature and Benchmarking Receive Accolades Page 6 NJAMHAA CEO Debra Wentz Shares the Credit for Impact Achieved over the Years Page 2 Board President Deborah Megaro Urges Members to Be Nimble and Proactive Page 4 See NJAMHAA NJAMHAA NEWS 2013 October NJAMHAA Members Share More Impressive and Inspiring Achievements Social Supports and Many Other Se rvices Contribute to Healthy Aging Read About Great Things Happening at Several Member Agencies on Pgs. 8-9 To live a high quality life, man y needs must be consistently addressed: p hysical and behavioral health, social connec tions, positive relati nships, recreation and intellectually stimulating activities. Numero us agencies throughout NJAMHAA’s membe rship offer an array of services to meet these ne eds. Their staff also conducts outreach to proac tively engage individuals and families into their services. “Aging can be depressing, esp ecially as the elderly watch friends and fam ily members become ill, as well as experien cing illnesses themselves. Depression also c an lead to physical illnesses, as well as add ictions, which are often under-reported an d, therefore, under-treated. Our clinical s ervices help minimize these issues,” said Lisa Fedder, Executive Director, JFS of Berge n and North Hudson. “The signs of depression in th e elderly are often atypical,” noted Dale Ofe i-Ayisi, LCSW, Coordinator of Community Ser vices, Rutgers University Behavioral Health C are (UBHC). “Because of the stigma ass ociated with mental illness, many elderly in dividuals will say ‘No’ when asked if they a re depressed. However, the sam e persons may have complained of vague somatic symptoms, such as head, back and stomach ache s, or exhibit uncharacteristic ange r, irritability or social withdrawal in their environment, all of whic h may also be signs of underlyin g depression.” “Our goal is to keep older adu lts safe, stable, healthy and happy in their homes with dignity for as lon g as possible. W call this aging in place. We literally save lives,” sa id Reuben Rotman, MA, Executiv e Director, JFS of Metrowest. “W e facilitate the transition to oth er living environments that becom e necessary because of aging, psychiatric history, the economy or other dynamics. Our agencies are extended families for many older adults.” “Collectively, all our member p roviders offer a full continuum of services to m eet a variety of needs for every age group,” said Debra L. Wentz, PhD, CEO of NJAMHAA. “I am proud to represent these vital organ izations. Our advocacy serves as essential e ducation for legislators, policymakers, othe r healthcare providers and the general pub lic, to ensure awareness of and access to th ese services, which are proven to both save and greatly enhance people’s lives.” Services meet many needs o f the elderly population, including behav ioral health care and social activities. “Stud ies show that socialization is connected to ha ving a better outlook. When people don’t h ave a social outlet and don’t feel connec ted to other people, they become sicker,” sa id Pearl Ricklis, Therapist and Geriatric Care C oordinator at JFS of Greater Clifton-Passaic. [continued on page 15] January 13, 2013 Featuring Lowell Arye, Deputy Com missioner, Division of Aging Services, Departm ent of Human Services, and Grace Egan, Executive Director, NJ Foundation for Aging Stay Tuned for More Details! Learn More about JFS Agencies’ Services for the Elderly and their Impact N E W S y o u r v o i c e i n b e h a v i o r a l h e a l t h s i n c e 1 9 5 1 r c i 9 Fall 2019 Ammon Labs ccurate Reliable Testing Since 1998 This Issue sponsored by: Illustrating the Value of Behavioral Health Services L et the 25 powerful statements below inspire your own innovative thinking and prompt th development of cr ative plans as you look ahead to even more positive stimulat on that you will gain during NJAMHAA’s Fall Behavioral Healthcare Conference, Winning Innovations in Health Care. Wit a lineup of visionary leaders and compelling experts on a range of essential topics, this event will provide a wealth of knowledge and tools for everyone to put to g od use at their organizations. Se eral presenters will share creative ideas for enhancing quality of services and attendees will have ample time for networking, which can lead to new partnerships that will strengthen their businesses. Focus on Innovation In his keynote presentation, The Opioid Epidemic from a Public Health Perspective, Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD, Vice Dean for Public Health Practice, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, will explain the Institute of Medicine’s description of the three core elements of public health: assessment, program and policy development, and assurance. He will discuss how to develop promising state and community strategies for prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery, as well as cross-cutting issues such as stigma and inequity. G t into an Innovative Mindset at NJAMHAA’s Fall Behavioral Healthcare Conference [continued on page 4] CBH Care’s New Executive Director Continues Important Traditions and Makes Significant Changes Page 8 Atlantic Health Systems’ Behavioral Health Leader Focuses on Integrated Care Locally and Statewide Page 6 Seashore Family Services Treatment Executive Shares Mission to Eliminate Stigma Page 10 Graphic obtained from jeroen-de-flander.com [continued on page 4] N JAMHAA was established in 1951 as the New Jersey Association of Mental Hygiene Clinics and remained a small organization for quite some time. It originally had seven clinics as members and had grown to a membership of 70 by 1981. “The organization functioned as an arm of the Department of Institutions and Agencies [I&A; predecessor to the Department of Human Services] until 1952 when it gave priority to the purpose of serving the needs of private, as well as public clinics and began working toward improving mental health care standards. That year, the association advised the I&A Commissioner of the need for adequate facilities for the emotionally disturbed and advocated for a comprehensive and preventative program through good mental health education,” according to the association’s 30 th anniversary newsletter. In 1955, the Association and the Department of I&A worked with other groups in “laying the groundwork for the Community Mental Health Services Act of 1957”. In 1969, the association was renamed the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies and in 1976, the first part-time Executive Director, Domenick A. Colangelo, ACSW, was hired. NJAMHAA had its first full-time CEO – Len Altamura, DSW, LCSW– in 1990, grew to five staff members and acquired its first office space. Dr. Altamura stayed in this role until April 30, 1995, and the current President and CEO, Debra L. Wentz, PhD, took the helm the following day. She is NJAMHAA’s first internal advocate; the association hired outside lobbyists before she came on board. This change led to greatly increased visibility with government leaders, expanded partnerships and a unified voice among members – which is quite an achievement, especially considering the enormous diversity of members. Providers range from s mall niche agencies that ha ve one or two pr ograms se rving a few specific populations to very large organizations offering a full or nearly comprehensive spectrum of services for individuals of all ages with a broad range of needs. “One of the things I ammost proud of is that I changed NJAMHAA’s culture so that we always have top of mind the end beneficiaries of services and supports. This drives everything. The human dimension and those our members serve are always present in everything the association does,” Dr. Wentz said. “I brought NJAMHAA closer to peers because of the relationships I formed with the individuals served by the system and their families,” she added. NJAMHAA NEWS Your Voice in Behavioral Health since 1951 Spring 2021 In this Issue Councils Broaden Partnerships to Industries Supporting Service Providers 12 This issue sponsored by: NJAMHAA and its Members Gain Immense Value from Practice Groups 8 Ammon Labs Accurate Reliable Testing Since 1998 NJAMHAA Celebrates 70 Years of Transforming Lives and Health Systems IT Project Constantly Evolves to Meet Members’ Needs 16 “NJAMHAA provides a foundation for thinking in a visionary way.” - Nick Armenti, Former NJAMHAA Board Member