NJAMHAA News Spring 2021

spring 2021 3 I am excited to present this special edition of NJAMHAANews as it is part of our 70 th anniversary celebration. We have many accomplishments to highlight spanning our entire history and we have much more to look forward to as we are continuing to trail blaze. While we are gearing up to officially mark the milestone with our virtual event planned for May 20, 2021 from 10:30 a.m. to noon., we wanted to give you some highlights from our rich history. Some shining examples of our impact from over the years and other striking memories are featured in our cover story. Many more details will be shared in our 70 th anniversary commemorative publication, which will be presented at the May 20 th event. This issue of NJAMHAANews also features our practice groups, councils and Information Technology (IT) Project. Participation in the practice groups, as well as membership meetings, is one of the many benefits of belonging to NJAMHAA, as they provide opportunities for networking, gaining important information, sharing concerns and contributing to NJAMHAA’s advocacy strategies. Throughout the years, NJAMHAA has brought together diverse organizations and people, unifying them to strengthen advocacy, which has been proven to be highly effective. The IT Project offers technical expertise, as well as training and individual assistance, related to key technology-related issues, such as data security and compliance with privacy regulations. I strongly encourage all of you and your teams to make the most of these services to strengthen your organizations. In addition to the 70 th anniversary celebration, I look forward to seeing you at our virtual conferences: Spring Conference, For 70 Years Now… Building a Better Future on April 27 th and the IT Conference, Connection and Protection, on June 9 th . Please visit www.njamhaa.org for links to details on the programs, as well as sponsorship, exhibiting and advertising opportunities. Thank you so much for being a part of NJAMHAA! We have made tremendous progress in addressing challenges affecting access to services, and we will continue to have a profound impact, especially as we work together. With warmest wishes, Debra L. Wentz, PhD President and CEO From the Desk of Debra L. Wentz, PhD President and CEO We will continue to have a profound impact, especially as we work together.