NJAMHAA 75th Anniversary

24 75 th Anniversary In addition, the state restored funding that was proposed for elimination from many other Department of Children and Families programs, including the Substance Use Disorder Services Initiative and Child Collaborative Mental Health Pilot. Charity Care and Graduate Medical Education, and the $45 million investment in Children’s System of Care rates was fully retained. 2023 brought a déjà vu experience: SBYSP funding was at risk again — and again, NJAMHAA and other stakeholders rallied to retain resources for this highly effective, in-demand program. Gov. Murphy agreed to continue SBYSP funding, at least temporarily, while the state explored the creation of a new statewide program they envisioned would be more comprehensive with three tiers of services. This became New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S). Though NJ4S has been proven to have the potential for greater effectiveness, its continuation was at risk in 2026 by a proposal in Governor Mikie Sherrill’s FY2027 budget to replace it with School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids (SPARK). NJAMHAA and other advocates have been working diligently to preserve NJ4S, just as they had with the SBYSP and to date, have received assurance that NJ4S will not be dissolved. Advocacy is continuing to have NJ4S work in tandem with SPARK — and, of course, to maintain and hopefully increase NJ4S funding. Advocacy for Children’s Service (continued) In addition, the state implemented the START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment) Model at community organizations in 11 counties. These agencies provide prevention and intervention services for individuals with both IDD and mental health disorders. Additional Provisions in Recent Budgets Further Illustrate NJAMHAA’s Consistent Influence NJAMHAA succeeded in having funding preserved without any cuts in most years and several budgets included increases, even in difficult financial times. Recent significant examples are increases to contracts and fee-for-service (FFS) rates in the FY2024-FY2026 State Budgets. Contracts: The FY2024 State Budget included in the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) $27 million in state funding with a federal match of $10.5 million for a total of $37.5 million to increase behavioral health rates and contracts; $31.3 million to increase direct support professionals’ wages; $36 million for reimbursing providers serving individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities, and $40 million to increase social service provider payments within the Department of Children and Families. This budget also provided up to $60 million for recruitment, retention and training for healthcare professionals. Despite FY2025 being a tight budget year, the many areas of funding that have been preserved from FY2024 were significant wins. These included the multi-year increases of $39 million and $37.5 million for behavioral health rates and contracts; recurring funding of $43 million for NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S); increases for Care Management Organizations and the Department of Children and Families’ Mental Health Initiatives; $20.9 million to annualize wage increases for direct support professionals (DSPs); and $210 million to fund the Quality Improvement Program. Rational Recovery (self-recovery) was founded. Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which changed the system of federally supervised release from being rehabilitative into being punitive. 1986 1987 The New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services was reorganized to integrate state hospital and community services within a cohesive administrative structure.