Keep Advocating for the Full Investment in the FY2025 State Budget

that Everyone Is Worthy of

with NJAMHAA's Diverse Faces Campaign and a Helpful Template Letter!

Just a few minutes of your time

can have a huge impact!

Please click here to download a template advocacy letter, customize it as indicated - plus make any other changes and/or additions - and send it to your local legislators!

Also share the campaign brochure and videos on your websites and social media pages!

Highlight any of the success stories and providers' expressions of their dedication that are featured in the campaign - see some of the powerful examples below -- and/or showcase examples from your own experiences in serving clients!

“To help someone get stable and to empower someone to regain control of their lives, it’s very, very rewarding. If we didn’t do it, who would?

"Everyone can experience mental illness and people need help now more than ever.

“I am proud of the work we do.”

Adiba Saleem, LSW

Manager, Acute Partial Hospitalization

AtlantiCare Behavioral Health

Click here to watch a video in which Adiba shares more about the value of services that she and her team provide.

"The C.O.P.E. program has supported me through extremely difficult times and continues to be a valuable resource. I don’t know where I would be without these services." - Illias

Since before college, Illias has struggled with anxiety and participated in CarePlus NJ’s Children’s Out-Patient Endeavors (C.O.P.E.) mental healthcare program. After high school, he continued with C.O.P.E. to overcome challenges associated with living off campus, continuing with school and working, which exasperated anxiety along with feelings of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With support from Jen Velten, MA, LPC, ACS, CCTP, DRCC, Senior Director of Trauma Services and C.O.P.E. Supervisor and Clinician, Illias achieved his goals. In addition to successfully managing anxiety, he graduated from Rutgers University, is working in pediatric care and plans to earn a Master's degree and then attend medical school.

At 10 years old, Zhan was referred by an inpatient child psychiatric unit to CFG Health Network’s A Step Ahead Elmer program.

Although the treatment team was told that Zhan would most likely be residential bound when she finished the program, Zhan achieved a complete turnaround.

In fact, she became a role model for her peers and a leader in the program, which she graduated from at the highest level.

“I just want to be the person that I wish I had when I was their age. I struggled through so much...Even if I can just be there and let them know that they are here and they are heard and they are loved, that they belong, that, to me, is all that matters because I promised myself that if I ever got through those moments in my life, I would be that for somebody else."

JP Pedoto, LSW

Pride+, Program Coordinator and Clinician

Family Connections

Click here to hear more about JP and his dedication to helping others in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Thank you for joining NJAMHAA

in this critical advocacy effort!