NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

45 Codey’s Task Force on Mental Health and resulted in significant funding increases in the FY2005 State Budget. The policy staff also previously published the Bill Room, a summary of all bills they track that impact members. “With the transition to the electronic age, we now have links on our website to legislative web- sites. We still track relevant bills and share informa- tion regularly,” Dr. Wentz said. “NJAMHAA provides invaluable advocacy on behalf of its membership, which gives individual organi- zations a louder, stronger and more encompassing voice,” said Mary Pat Angelini, MPA, CPS, President and CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group and current NJAMHAA Board Secretary. To further bolster its advocacy, NJAMHAA launched the Partners in Advocacy program in 1997. The staff uses the annual advocacy campaigns to develop template letters to help members write correspon- dence to local legislators and talking points to use when they testify at state departments’ and legis- lative committees’ hearings on budgets and legis- lation. NJAMHAA also sends legislative alerts to all members. According to Dr. Wentz, this is a “key communicator technique” to maximize NJAMHAA’s collective impact. Information and specific experiences from providers and the individuals they serve resonate with local legislators. “Advocacy frommembers and others in the community is essential to get a strong, unified voice on particularly critical issues, such as the proposed cut to funding for the School Based Youth Services Program. NJAMHAA, other stakeholders and providers, as well as school staff, parents and students, were heard more loudly on this issue than any other I can remember in my 26 years at NJAMHAA. When there is a resounding outcry, that’s the way issues are turned around,” Dr. Wentz stressed. Educating the Public and Reinforcing Advocacy through the Media “From day one, I have been committed to increasing visibility, helping improve NJAMHAA members’ fiscal situation and increasing access to services. We take a diversified portfolio approach to public policy: the legislative route, media communications and special events, which have included rallies,” Dr. Wentz said. NJAMHAA has been using every kind of media to educate the public, as well as legislators and policy