NJAMHAA 75th Anniversary

40 75 th Anniversary Members Benefit from Consistent Communications, Professional Development and other Services M ember communications at NJAMHAA have evolved alongside the association itself, shifting in content to reflect the issues of the day and in format and frequency as new technologies emerged and there had been increasingly more information that needed to be shared. The trade association created various versions of newsletters and other communications vehicles to keep members informed over the years. In 1973, the association created a quarterly newsletter and in 1990, member communication was completed primarily through mid- month mailings, which consisted solely of a running list of chronological updates. Two years later, as the need to share information more frequently became evident, NJAMHAA began to send broadcast fax alerts to members. “When I started in 1995, I realized there is a plethora of information, and it took an inordinate amount of time to read through it. I envisioned a ‘Reader’s Digest’ that would encompass state, national and federal news, legislation, and clinical and member news, as well as practice group minutes and upcoming events. However, when NJAMHA News ( News Journal Assisting Mental Health Agencies ) reached 72 pages, it became unwieldy and I decided to restructure the different types of information,” Dr. Wentz said. Between 1995 and 2001, under Dr. Wentz’s leadership, NJAMHAA News was recreated with a different format and the Association’s publications were expanded to include The Bill Room, Public Policy Platform and the IT Project’s Bits & Bytes . With updated and consolidated membership tracking software, the association then had the ability to send broadcast e-mails. In addition, NJAMHAA’s website was launched and Dr. Wentz wrote an article about it, Site on a Shoestring , which was published in Association Management in September 2000. By that time, e-mail and the Internet had become widely adopted, and NJAMHAA used these tools to share volumes of information with members in near real time. The amount of relevant content continued to grow, ultimately prompting the launch of Newswire in 2013. Initially distributed five days per week, Newswire covers state and national behavioral health policy developments, NJAMHAA’s advocacy work and outcomes, and training and funding opportunities from a range of sources. “At that point, hands down, Newswire was the most comprehensive association newsletter, not just in the state, but also in the nation. We compiled facts, data and resources for members, so they didn’t have to go elsewhere,” Dr. Wentz said. NJAMHAA News , the longer form publication, transitioned to a quarterly schedule and was restructured to feature members, including newly joined organizations and those reaching milestone anniversaries and other achievements, such as new and innovative services; and thematic content, such as workforce development and children’s services; as well as more detailed highlights of NJAMHAA, including its recent and upcoming events, and advocacy and its impact. State and federal officials are among the 2020s The COVID pandemic began in 2020, leading to many more people experiencing depression and anxiety, and more open discussions about mental health. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was created to provide round-the-clock support for individuals experiencing mental health and substance use crises. 2022 Many more mental health apps and telehealth services were developed. A focus on preventing mental illnesses through evidence-based interventions began to increase, as reported by the National Academies of Sciences in 2025.