NJAMHAA 75th Anniversary

Commemorative Journal 41 publications’ readership, supporting NJAMHAA’s broader strategy to educate legslators and policymakers and strengthen support for members’ programs. Still with a relatively small staff, the frequency of Newswire was reduced to three days per week a few years later. However, over the years, the wealth of information grew as relevant news, funding and learning opportunities, and especially the need to send advocacy alerts, continually increase. Since 2000, the IT Project has produced Bits & Bytes , a publication that began on a quarterly schedule before shifting to a biannual cadence. It covers technology news, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and privacy and other IT-related laws, along with hardware and software recommendations. “ Bits & Bytes is written for a non-technical audience, so it’s easy to understand. I appreciate the value of technology and want to continue bringing members into the future, and I find Bits & Bytes to be very informative and educational, especially for leaders,” Dr. Wentz said. Of course, additional emails are sent to members when needed — for example, to share breaking news on days when Newswire is not published, as well as urgent advocacy alerts. A notable example is from January 2026 when certain grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) were going to be terminated. The ability to immediately reach members and other partners enabled NJAMHAA to activate a vast and strong advocacy network to outreach to Congressional members, which resulted in a rescission of the terminations within 24 hours of SAMHSA’s announcement. Another aspect of NJAMHAA’s ongoing support of members is the staff’s consistent availability to provide technical assistance. They quickly respond to questions on a wide range of topics — including policies, licensing, legislation, regulations and insurance —that members raise through email and phone calls, as well as during Board and Membership Meetings, and practice group and council meetings. When questions extend beyond what is readily available in-house, staff reach out directly to contacts in the relevant state or federal agencies, as well as external corporations, national associations and research tanks to obtain answers and, when needed, arrange for meetings with government officials and others to address questions and concerns. The IT Project team is equally responsive, operating a help desk to answer questions and providing remote and on-site support. They address a broad range of technology issues, including establishment and enhancement of networks; implementation of electronic health record systems; and ensuring compliance with confidentiality regulations. “ NJAMHAA membership is a platform, not a pipeline. If you and your team invest in the meetings, the groups, and the weekly resources NJAMHAA produces, you can become one the most informed people in the room on a wide range of behavioral health, substance use, and social determinants of health topics. That kind of expertise opens doors that no referral list ever could. The more members engage in the councils and groups, the more directly they shape NJAMHAA’s positions and priorities. ” Lisa Lawson, MSW, MBA, LCSW Associate Executive Director, NJAMHAA, and a former member Three New Jersey bills were signed into law to protect individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. S2346/A2550 was introduced and passed by the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. If passed, it will allow continuation of health benefits coverage for young adults with physical or intellectual disabilities who are chiefly dependent on parents or guardians for support and maintenance. 2024 2026 2023 The number of state psychiatric hospital beds nationwide was further reduced to just over 36,000. 2025 The World Health Organization published guidance for transforming mental health policies. It specifically highlights the importance of providing holistic care, including addressing social determinants of health.