Clinical and Population-Focused Practice Groups
Addictions
The Addictions Practice Group addresses policy, regulatory and funding issues affecting the addictions treatment community, and develops strategies to effectively advocate on these issues.
Practice group members are encouraged to raise issues, share ideas and develop recommendations for advocacy, which are then presented to the Board of Directors.
NJAMHAA Staff Contact: Shauna Moses, 609-838-5488, ext. 204, smoses@njamhaa.org
Chair: Kendria McWilliams, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Maryville Addiction Treatment Centers
Co-Chair: Howard L. Haughton, CEO, Eva's Village
Vice-Chair: Eman Gibson, MBA, LCSW, LCADC, Chief Clinical Officer, Integrity House
Adult Mental Health
The Adult Mental Health Practice Group addresses issues affecting various programs serving adults with mental health disorders, including Integrated Case Management Services, Outpatient Services, Intensive Outpatient Treatment and Support Services, Involuntary Outpatient Commitment, Psychiatric Emergency Services/Screening, Programs for Assertive Community Treatment; Partial Care; Partial Hospitalization; and Inpatient, as well as the integration of physical and behavioral health.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Shauna Moses, 609-838-5488, ext. 204; smoses@njamhaa.org.
Practice group members are encouraged to raise issues, share ideas and develop recommendations for advocacy, which are then presented to the Board of Directors.
Co-Chairs:
Frank Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP, President and CEO, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and Senior Vice President, Behavioral Health and Addictions Service Line, RWJBarnabas Health
Kathy White-Thomas, MS, Chief Operating Officer, Volunteers of America-Delaware Valley
Regina Widdows, MA, Pres. & CEO, SERV Behavioral Health System
Chief Financial Officers (CFO)
The CFO Practice Group seeks to improve the financial position of NJAMHAA member agencies by providing analysis, support and advocacy to NJAMHAA on member agency or New Jersey State-sponsored initiatives, identifying and assisting in development of cost reduction strategies and operational efficiencies, and identifying and assisting the development of potential new revenue streams. The CFO Committee works to improve the knowledge and skills of NJAMHAA member agencies’ CFOs as they administer New Jersey State budgets and/or contracts.
Practice group members are encouraged to raise issues, share ideas and develop recommendations for advocacy, which are then presented to the Board of Directors.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Mary Abrams, 609-838-5488, ext. 221, mabrams@njamhaa.org
Chair: Jacques Hryshko, MS, LPC, Chief Executive Officer, Family Connections
Vice Chair: Kathleen Dedrick, CFO, Integrity House
Children's
The Children’s Practice Group addresses issues affecting various programs serving children, including Care Management Organizations, Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization services, emergency and acute care services, school-based programs, prevention services, juvenile justice, etc.
Practice group members are encouraged to raise issues, share ideas and develop recommendations for advocacy, which are then presented to the Board of Directors.
This group has a School-Based Subcommittee.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Mary Abrams, 609-838-5488, ext. 221, mabrams@njamhaa.org
Co-Chairs:
Alan DeStefano, MSW, Executive Director, Cape Atlantic Integrated Network for Kids
Shavonda Sumter, MBA, President & CEO, Children's Aid and Family Services
Vice Chair: Michelle Carlamere, LCSW, Director, Outpatient and Community Services
Integrated Case Management Services (ICMS) and Programs for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT): These groups were reactivated in 2020 in response to ICMS and PACT providers’ interest in opportunities to focus on issues that solely affect their programs.
ICMS
NJAMHAA staff contact: Mary Abrams, 609-838-5488, ext. 221, mabrams@njamhaa.org
Co-chairs: Renee Carrillo, Director of Burlington & Mercer ICMS and Camden & Mercer Senior Well Being, Oaks Integrated Care; Laurie DeSimone-Celuch, LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCS, Senior Director, Hospital and Community Services, Care Plus NJ, Inc.
PACT
NJAMHAA staff contact: Mary Abrams, 609-838-5488, ext. 221, mabrams@njamhaa.org
Co-Chairs: Kim Class, LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCTP, NCC, DRCC, PACT Director; Assistant Director of Adult Residential and Community Outreach, Bright Harbor Healthcare; Amy Harpster, MA, Director, Community Support Services and PACT, Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services, Inc;
Residential Providers: This group was recently created in response to popular demand to address issues specifically affecting residential treatment programs, including those that focus on mental illnesses and substance use disorders, as well as programs for children and adults.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Shauna Moses, 609-838-5488, ext. 204; smoses@njamhaa.org.
Co-Chairs: Dominic Barone, Vice President of Operations, Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.; Jared Levy, Chief Financial Officer, Maryville Integrated Care; Damaris Piliro, MBA, Executive Director, Hendricks House Group
Information Technology (IT) Project Practice Groups
Billing Supervisors Practice Group: Improves the way NJAMHAA member agencies bill and collect for services rendered; addresses billing issues relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Medicaid and other third-party billing entities; provides analysis, support and advocacy.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Ron Gordon, 609-838-5488, ext. 215, rgordon@njamhaa.org
Chair: Judy Rios, Accountant and Senior Director, Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties
Compliance and Performance Improvement Committee: Shares information about quality assurance/performance improvement, licensing, regulations, standards, accreditation, corporate compliance and more.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Ron Gordon, 609-838-5488, ext. 215, rgordon@njamhaa.org
Co-Chairs: Karen Acker, Chief Operating Officer, West Bergen Mental Healthcare, and Victoria Hewitt, Director of Compliance, Acenda Integrated Health; Samantha Burns, MSW, LSW, Director of Quality, Acenda Integrated Health
Human Resources (HR): The IT Project has expanded the scope of compliance to Human Resources since this business unit also has regulatory issues where the use and implementation of technology can assist. The IT Project plans on providing subject matter experts to present to the committee regarding best practices, regulatory compliance and avoiding HR pitfalls when working with their employees.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Steve Hirsch , 609-838-5488, ext. 202, shirsch@njamhaa.org
Co-Chairs: Kimberly D’Auria, Director of Human Resources, Acenda Integrated Health; Angela Mallon, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, CarePlus NJ
IT Professional Advisory Committee: Plays an integral role in the advocacy efforts of the IT Project for member agencies’ IT needs; works with the IT Project staff to assist behavioral healthcare providers in the collection, processing, integration and interpretation of data through automation; shares technical expertise, future trends and the management of outcome, performance and financial data; investigates the application of new technologies to increase efficiency, enhance revenue, reduce costs and improve quality of services.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Steve Hirsch , 609-838-5488, ext. 202, shirsch@njamhaa.org
Chair: Teri Gilroy, Senior Data Analyst, Acenda Integrated Health
Councils
Education Council
The Education Council consists of college and university representatives and behavioral healthcare providers. The group is developing strategies to address the workforce shortage, build a diverse workforce and identify internship opportunities for students working toward careers in behavioral health care.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Shauna Moses, 609-838-5488, ext. 204, smoses@njamhaa.org
Co-Chairs: Co-Chairs: Jack B. Lewis, DSW, LCSW, Associate Professor and Director, Intensive Weekend Program, Rutgers University School of Social Work; June DePonte Sernak, BA, MBA, ME, Statewide Diversity Leadership Officer, Center for Family Services; Amy Strickler, LMSW, LSW, Assistant Director, Intensive Weekend Program and Assistant Professor, Rutgers University School of Social Work
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Council
Representatives from HMOs, pharmaceutical/life sciences companies, NJAMHAA member provider organizations, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (Medicaid) discuss issues and develop strategies for ensuring access to high-quality, integrated healthcare services and providers’ success with value-based purchasing and managed care.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Mary Abrams, 609-838-5488, ext. 221, mabrams@njamhaa.org
Chair: Sam Currie, RPh, Director of Pharmacy Services, Horizon NJ Health
Hospital Community Integration Council
The mission of this Council is to reinforce collaboration beyond referrals of patients between hospital- and community-based providers; and advocate to the Administration to align incentives via a single funding stream and regulatory changes to support a population health model that emphasizes individual-centered integrated care, community integration, improved outcomes and ongoing recovery support for individuals with mental illnesses, substance use disorders, intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or physical illnesses.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Shauna Moses, 609-838-5488, ext. 204, smoses@njamhaa.org
Co-Chairs: Darian Eletto, MEd, LPC, LCADC, NCC, ACS, Chief Clinical Officer, Behavioral Health, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center; Brigitte Johnson, Esq., Pres. & CEO, CarePlus NJ; Kristine Pendy, LCSW, Chief Operating Council and Vice President, Clinical Services, Vantage Health System
Life Sciences and Innovation Council (LSIC)
Representatives from pharmaceutical, life sciences and pharmacy consulting companies, NJAMHAA member provider organizations, DMHAS and Medicaid develop and implement strategies for addressing challenges that affect individuals’ access to all types of treatment and support services.
NJAMHAA staff contact: Shauna Moses, 609-838-5488, ext. 204, smoses@njamhaa.org
Co-Chairs: Leslie Stein Lloyd, JD, CAE, IOM, Healthcare Policy & Advocacy Director, Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems; Mary Kay Roberts, Partner, Riker Danzig LLP
