NJAMHAA News Spring 2021

spring 2021 4 “Deb built on the foundation that Len had established for the modern organization. She did a phenomenal job bringing the organization to the next level,” said Bill Sette, MSW, LCSW, former CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group who joined the association in 1970 and served on the Board, including as Chair, for decades – in fact, for more years than anyone else. Under Dr. Wentz’s leadership, the organization has grown significantly in several ways:  Numbers : NJAMHAA had 98 organizational provider members in 1995 and currently has more than 150. This number would be even higher – almost 185 – if several organizations had not merged, which demonstrates stability in the membership. There are also 52 business partners in the Information Technology, Integrated Healthcare, and Life Sciences and Innovation Councils, all of which Dr. Wentz established. The staff has more than doubled and currently consists of 13 employees. When certain grants have been carried out, staff had increased up to a total of 18.  Activities and services for members : NJAMHAA’s main focus in the 1970’s and 1980’s was presenting four conferences annually. Over the years, not only have there been many more training opportunities, but also many practice groups (see details beginning on page 8) and the Partners in Advocacy Program (see details on page 33.) were created during Dr. Wentz’s tenure.  Access to and strong relationships with state and federal legislators, policymakers and the staff in Governors’ Offices and, as a result, in NJAMHAA’s influence and impact : “I got members working together, so they got something for their dues. They were starving for something and wanted to see things get done. Deb gave them so much more by getting us on legislators’ radar,” Dr. Altamura said, who served on the NJAMHAA Board in later years.  Visibility in traditional media and on social media : Some of the most high-profile media achievements were Dr. Wentz’s interview on NBC’s Today Show following the 9/11 tragedy and a “Mugshots” multimedia campaign in 1996, which media outlets, including major networks, released multiple times over three years – an unprecedented long life for a public service announcement. More recent media highlights include interviews on NJ101.5, “Before COVID, Therapy Access Was Already a Problem in New Jersey,” on January 19, 2021 and onWBGO, “Mental Health Agencies in NJ Battle Effects of COVID,” on October 7, 2020; a feature in New Jersey Business in which Dr. Wentz discussed “Depression’s Dramatic Rise,” in November 2019; and another feature in ROI-NJ on September 11, 2019 about the 15th anniversary of the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia and the New Jersey Mental Health Institute’s (NJMHI’s) immediate actions and support provided over the course of 15 years. NJAMHAA established NJMHI in 2000 to increase the recognition, understanding and acceptance of mental illness. Strong, Lasting Overall Impressions When asked to share a “shining star” moment, several individuals who have been involved with NJAMHAA for many years could not come up with just one example. “It’s more of a constellation of things,” as described by J. Michael Armstrong, MA, MBA, former CEO of Community Hope and a former NJAMHAA Board Chair. “We were always making progress no matter who was in charge at DHS [Department of Human Services] and DMHAS [Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services]. We kept pushing for service expansion, enhanced quality and more funding,” he said. “Strategic planning at the executive level of NJAMHAA was always done one and a half to two years in advance. We planned for new state administrations and for the most part, we were very successful. We were always looking ahead and were never stagnant because things changed all the time. But, the core was the same: What NJAMHAA pushed for on behalf of clients never changed,” said Jerome Johnson, MSW, LSW, former CEO of Family Service Association, which merged with Center for Family Services in 2018, and a former NJAMHAA Board member. “NJAMHAA has been an evolution in terms of brand, howwe identify ourselves. We started as a reactive group responding to crises and changed our brand and focus to being proactive,” said John Monahan, ACSW, LCSW, Founder of Greater Trenton Behavioral Health Care, which merged with Oaks Integrated Care in 2015, and a former NJAMHAA Board Chair. “Instead of fighting the inevitability of public policy, NJAMHAA came to the forefront of public policy to NJAMHAA Celebrates 70 Years of [continued from page 1] What NJAMHAA pushed for on behalf of clients never changed. Jerome Johnson, MSW, LSW, Former CEO of Family Service Association, Former NJAMHAA Board Member