NJAMHAA’s Year of Advocacy Achievements further Highlighted with Award from the National Council for Behavioral Health

NJAMHAA’s recent Annual Membership Meeting was a celebration of NJAMHAA’s advocacy achievements and its members’ contributions. It was even more meaningful because shortly before the event, NJAMHAA learned that it was selected to receive the prestigious Advocacy Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence from the National Council for Behavioral Health. This recognition is a meaningful testament to the effectiveness of our efforts.

For example, our advocacy has led to the state's increased reimbursement rate for long-term residential substance use disorder treatment services, which went into effect on June 1, 2020, despite budgetary challenges; the federal government's extension and expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics; and relaxation of the state and federal governments’ telehealth regulations during the pandemic. We are advocating strongly for these regulatory changes to be permanent, as NJAMHAA members want to maintain the option of using them either in a hybrid model of in-person and virtual service delivery as per the needs of each organization. Telehealth has clearly increased access to services and it will be needed to meet the expected increased demand for services after the pandemic is declared to be over.

Many more examples of our impactful advocacy are highlighted in our FY2020 Annual Report: A Year Like No Other. Please click here to read this report and gain the details of how our work together is continually reinforcing New Jersey’s mental healthcare and substance use treatment system.

NJAMHAA President and CEO Calls to Stand Together to Promote Social Justice and Racial Equality

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

While as a society we have made progress toward equality, the brutal murder of George Floyd shows that despite the advancements, much more work is needed to eradicate injustice. In fact, this horrific incident of George Floyd’s death sets us back more than 50 years when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

 

This incomprehensible tragedy and the intense reactions to it have resulted in an emotional rawness throughout our society. Many people are traumatized and rightfully so. The harrowing impact is further compounded as we are also struggling to cope with the distressing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

NJAMHAA remains dedicated to helping people cope with these emotional difficulties and to fighting for justice and equity for all human beings regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, origin or gender. To level the playing field, we continuously advocate for equal access to all healthcare services and supports to address social determinants of health, which include housing, employment and access to education, transportation and health care. Our member providers offer a full continuum of services to meet all health and social needs.

To reach the very progress that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. espoused, we must -- and we will – stand strongly together to promote social justice and racial equality; oppose violence against our human brothers and sisters; and beseech all to display compassion and demonstrate understanding of and love for all others at all times.

Testament to Member Providers and Reinforcement of NJAMHAA's Support during the Pandemic and Beyond

While NJAMHAA members contend with multiple challenges year round, the current COVID-19 crisis far exceeds anything they previously encountered. Our members and their staff continue to inspire me – even more than they have over the years. I am truly awed by those on the frontlines and how they have been responding to this changed world and unprecedented crisis. All our members are staying in touch with their clients, whether it is through telephone, videoconferencing or in person at facilities or in the community.

All are demonstrating their dedication to serving the most vulnerable individuals and their families. They are working incredibly long hours, placing themselves at risk and making personal sacrifices – often without enough personal protective equipment (PPE), which is desperately needed to ensure safety. Not only is their physical health at risk, but also their mental health as their work can exact an emotional toll at any time and especially during this more intensely stressful and challenging time.

NJAMHAA knows how much of a challenge it has been to deliver services, remain solvent and address clients’ and staff’s fear and apprehension, which are normal reactions to an abnormal situation. The added stress of the coronavirus crisis is resulting in exacerbated mental illnesses, substance use disorders and trauma, making our members’ services and sustainability even more critical. NJAMHAA has taken the lead in advocating on the state and federal levels for funding, other resources including PPE and relaxation of telehealth and other regulations. NJAMHAA will continue to tackle these new challenges nonstop by advocating for, supporting and, most of all, applauding our members because they are our heroes.

I also applaud our own NJAMHAA staff members, who have been going far above and beyond to address members’ concerns and needs, which include technical assistance and support relating to policies, advocacy, information technology and other issues.

Doing everything we can and more to support members during the coronavirus crisis, NJAMHAA is already looking to the future and is exploring strategies to continually strengthen our association and our members. Always please remember that NJAMHAA, your trade association, is here for you during good times and not-so-good times!

NJAMHAA Keeps Everyone’s Health and Safety as Top Priority throughout Coronavirus Crisis

The COVID-19 news has dominated the news as of late. NJAMHAA, like so many of you, has been closely monitoring the situation and the implications at the local level.

As everyone’s health and safety are NJAMHAA’s top priority, we have postponed our conferences that were originally planned to take place in April.

The NJAMHAA IT Project Conference, No Fooling – IT is Critical!, scheduled for April 1st in Edison, NJ, has been postponed to June 2, 2020 and the NJAMHAA Annual Conference, Reimagining Health Care, which was scheduled for April 23^rd and 24^th, has been postponed to July 9^th and 10^th.

We will continue to monitor the situation; stay abreast of warnings and notices from our local, state and federal bureaus; and make adjustments for other events and meetings if deemed appropriate. 

The health and safety of our members and attendees are of the utmost importance, and we expect that you will listen to the advice of experts in the field. For example, remember to wash your hands often throughout the day. If you have a cold or are sneezing or coughing, please get some rest and recover at home.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance that you can read more about by going to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. 

 

Warmest wishes,

 

Debra L. Wentz
President and CEO, NJAMHAA   
609-838-5488, ext. 292
dwentz@njamhaa.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NJAMHAA Hails Governor Murphy’s Continued Focus on Substance Use Treatment and Behavioral Health Care in Proposed FY2021 Budget

The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) is gratified that our persistent advocacy has paid off with the Governor’s call for continuation and increases of funding for community mental healthcare and substance use services, as well as other investments that are needed by the vulnerable populations our members serve.

 

Most notable of the valuable budget provisions are the increases in rates for long-term residential substance use treatment services, Integrated Care Management Services (ICMS) and children’s behavioral health services. We are pleased to see specified in the Budget in Brief that the Children’s System of Care will receive at least $45 million in additional funding for out-of-home and in-community service rates, and we look forward to receiving the details on the other proposed rate increases.

 

The proposed funding to reduce the wait time for facility licenses to three months is also greatly appreciated. All of these provisions, along with many others in the Governor’s proposed budget, are critical to ensure access to life-saving services for individuals with mental illnesses, substance use disorders, intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or medical conditions.

 

NJAMHAA also applauds Gov. Murphy for his ongoing commitment of $100 million to fight the opioid crisis. This funding includes $20 million for the Keeping Families Together program, which serves families who are involved with the child welfare system, as well as funding to maintain the Attorney General’s Operation Helping Hand in all 21 counties and to continue increasing access to medication-assisted treatment.

Click here for more details on NJAMHAA’s budget priorities.

Comprehensive Funding Is Imperative to Sustain Programs That Make a Difference

You can’t pick up a paper, turn on a television or radio, go online or check social media without seeing news about the opioid crisis. It is a metaphor for all substance use disorders and mental illnesses – not only because they are all highly prevalent, but also because they are commonly concurrent. While there has been investment in certain programs and that is positive, more funding is always needed. Good quality care does not come without a cost.

Funding in the state and federal budgets needs to be greatly expanded. It is imperative to have robust, continuous funding to sustain programs to make a difference.

New Jersey’s mental healthcare and substance use disorder treatment providers are going into the third year of fee-for-service reimbursement with a significant gap. In addition, it is uncertain whether federal funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics will continue and the state needs to have a contingency plan in place in case the federal funding does end.

We are seeing increasing numbers of deaths, most notably from opioid overdoses and suicide in New Jersey and across the U.S. Simply put, this is not acceptable.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health’s (DOH’s) Opioid Data Dashboard, there were steady and significant increases in deaths due to fentanyl (from fewer than 200 in 2012 to more than 1,400 in 2017) and heroin (from 500 in 2012 to 1,600 in 2017) and the number of deaths due to any type of drug increased from more than 1,000 individuals in 2012 to more than 4,000 people in 2017. DOH suspects that 3,118 deaths that occurred in 2018 and an additional 2,167 from January through September 2019 were due to drugs.

In New Jersey, on average, one person dies by suicide every 11 hours, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. It is the second leading cause of death among New Jersey residents aged 15-24; the third leading cause among 25- to 34-year-olds; and the fourth leading cause among those between 35 and 54 years of age.

A report recently published on nj.com highlighted the significant increases in suicides among teens and young adults. In 2017, one hundred 15- to 24-year-old New Jersey residents died by suicide; by comparison, 60 youth and young adults took their lives in 1999. There has also been a disturbing increase in attempted overdoses among 9- through 12-year-olds in the state.

Tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of HIV, cancer and heart disease, enabling individuals to live with these illnesses for many years and often with a high quality of life. People acknowledge mental health and substance use disorders are the same as physical illnesses, but without substantial investment into research and services for prevention, treatment and other supports, the same type of progress will not be made.

What this means is despite all positive steps we have made, stigma still surrounds these illnesses and is creating barriers and this is reflected in the inadequate funding. With comprehensive funding across the board to ensure access to treatment and supports for all types of illnesses, progress will start being made.

Many Achieve Recovery from Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders

September is National Recovery Month

On August 19^th, actor Colton Haynes, star of the hit television show Arrow, shared a slideshow of photos of himself in the hospital on his Instagram account, a year after he landed in the emergency room following a week-long drug and alcohol bender. Along with the photos, Haynes shared that he has been focusing on his sobriety and wants to be open with his followers about his struggles, in hopes of helping someone else who may be struggling with mental health and substance use issues. He stated, “I get immense joy when someone comes up to me and says that my willingness to open up about depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and addiction has helped them in some way…I’m a human being with flaws just like you. If you’re in the middle of the dark times… I promise you it doesn’t have to last forever.”

Nearly every day, we read and hear about substance use disorders, mental illnesses and related deaths. While it is important to build awareness about substance use and mental health disorders, it is especially critical to highlight the fact that treatment for both types of illnesses is effective.

The successes that individuals are achieving, as well as the roles that mental health care and substance use treatment play, need to be shared to help build confidence in the prospect of recovery among those who are struggling with these illnesses. Sharing such positive stories would be a tremendous help in the ongoing battle against stigma, which is the greatest barrier that prevents individuals from seeking treatment.

By encouraging individuals to speak up about their struggles and ask for help, and ensuring access to the services that have been proven to be effective, many lives could be saved – not only by addressing the substance use and mental health disorders, but also by reducing the risk of suicide, which is a common result of untreated addictions and mental illnesses.