The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) will honor Deborah A. Megaro, chief executive officer of the Capitol County Children’s Collaborative, as a Golden Bell Leadership Award recipient.
Ms. Megaro will receive her award at the MHANJ’s Evening of Excellence on Wednesday, June 18, at the Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains, according to a press release from MHANJ.
”In her professional leadership roles in both systems and program development Deborah Megaro has made great contributions to assuring that children with mental health issues can access the services they need to reach their fullest potential,” said Carolyn Beauchamp, president and CEO of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, in the press release.
Ms. Megaro’s quest began in the 1980s and 1990s as she established a program emphasis on children and families at SERV (Social Educational Residential Vocational) Behavioral Health System, headquartered in Ewing, going even further to heighten awareness of the importance of quality assurance to ensure effectiveness in New Jersey’s children’s mental health system. She became the first chief executive officer of Capitol County Children’s Collaborative in 2002, Mercer County’s nonprofit care management organization.
Ms. Megaro spearheaded the team in Mercer County in the development of the local Children’s System of Care including launching new community resources to satisfy unmet needs, leading the way to an integrated system of care. Her advocacy efforts and active participation in statewide initiatives led to increased focus on children and youth mental health in New Jersey.
”I am honored to have met and worked with many, many families and children in New Jersey to learn about their needs. They have opened up their hearts and shared their challenges with me on a very intimate level. Their determination and perseverance are inspirational and helping to assure that they get the services that they need has been incredibly rewarding,” said Ms. Megaro in the press release.
Ms. Megaro has served as a board member for the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) since 2008 and was elected board president in 2013 and re-elected in 2014.
The MHANJ’s Evening of Excellence on June 18 marks the fifteenth annual Evening of Excellence benefit for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. In addition to Ms. Megaro, the other 2014 MHANJ Golden Bell Leadership Award recipients are Gov. Richard J. Codey, Jefferson Township Councilwoman Debi Merz and Attitudes In Reverse.
To purchase tickets to the MHANJ’s Evening of Excellence or to become a sponsor, contact Merrill Altberg at maltberg@mhanj.org or 973-571-4100, ext. 118.
Since 1948, the Mental Health Association in New Jersey has fulfilled its mission by responding to issues and concerns raised by consumers of mental health services. The association works for changes and promotes policies that protect consumers’ rights and fights the stigma that surrounds mental illness and makes recovery difficult. The MHANJ advocates for systems change with elected and appointed government officials on the state, federal and local levels. Administrative, legal, budgetary and treatment issues that affect people with mental illness are all addressed. The organization also provides services that directly assist consumers in need, and thus reduces the strain on limited government resources. The MHANJ’s state headquarters is located in Verona; additional offices are located in Atlantic, Hudson, Ocean and Union counties. For more information about the MHANJ, visit www.mhanj.org or call 973-571-4100.
