Department of Human Services | Councils/Boards/Committees

Advisory Committee for Programs for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Disabled
Behavioral Health Planning Council
Citizens Advisory Council (CAC)
Multicultural Services Group (MSG)
Olmstead Advisory Committees
Professional Advisory Committee for Addictions
Regional Advisory Committees
Statewide Consumer Advisory Committee
State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW)

Advisory Committee for Programs for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Disabled

The Committee assists DMHAS to guide the alcohol and substance use disorder programs for the Deaf, hard of hearing and disabled, assuring they continually meet the needs of the community which they serve and that the funds are utilized in a quality manner, assuring maximum potential for the programs. Click here to go to the Advisory Committee for Programs for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Disabled page.

Behavioral Health Planning Council

The Behavioral Health Planning Council consists of constituents of the New Jersey mental health and substance abuse community, including advocacy agencies, providers, consumers, family members, and State staff from various departments and divisions. The role of the planning council is to be active in the oversight of DMHAS planning and activities specific to the New Jersey Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. Please click here to go to the Behavioral Health Planning Council’s page.

Citizens Advisory Council (CAC)

The Citizens' Advisory Council (CAC) is a board composed of citizens and DMHAS members representing the voices of New Jersey residents at risk for, struggling with, or otherwise affected by behavioral health issues inclusive of Use Disorders (Substance, Alcohol, Process etc.). The CAC informs and assists DMHAS in fulfilling its mission of providing a continuum of prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery service delivery. Council Members participate in meetings/teleconferences. Through these meetings/teleconferences, the council works to identify relevant and current issues and topics. Once the issues and topics are identified the council will engage consumer in events and exercises which capture the consumer point of view. The information is then processed and provided to DMHAS to inform policy. If you are interested in participating a consumer event or exercise and/or further information, please contact Sandy Snell at sandra.snell@dhs.nj.gov

Multicultural Services Group (MSG)

The Division originally formed a Multicultural Services Advisory Committee in 1981 to address issues of quality and quantity in the development and delivery of culturally competent mental health services, and to advocate for policies, programs and legislation that impact the mental health delivery system.

During May of 2015, that group was restructured to provide for a working group format that could produce more direct technical assistance to the Division and our agencies. The MSG has representation from consumers, providers, training agencies and stakeholders who are committed to cultural and linguistic competency in the mental health and addictions system of care. MSG provides a structure through which New Jersey's multicultural population can communicate their needs within DMHAS, and ensures that cultural competency is a critical aspect in the planning and implementation of an effective system of care. Click here to go to the MSG page.

Olmstead Advisory Committees

The Olmstead Advisory Committee is chaired by a representative of DMHAS and co-chaired by a member of the Planning Council. The function of this Committee is to advise DMHAS in the planning and implementation of the Home to Recovery-CEPP Plan and be responsible for submitting a semi-annual advisory report to DMHAS management.

The Olmstead Oversight Committee is chaired by the Olmstead Coordinator and intended to be a DMHAS internal working group tasked with implementing and monitoring the desired outcomes of the Home to Recovery Plan.

In addition to the two committees described above, Hospital Olmstead Committees are charged with the local planning, implementing and tracking and evaluating existing policies and practices to ensure system wide coordination. Local Residential Planning Committees are charged with reviewing eligible consumers, facilitating coordinated assessments, treatment and timely discharges of CEPP consumers. There will be ongoing communication between the Olmstead Oversight Committee, the Hospital Olmstead Committees, Local Residential Planning Committees and the Olmstead Advisory Committee.

Professional Advisory Committee for Addictions

The PAC serves as a sounding board to DMHAS for addiction related programs and concerns. Membership is comprised of up to 30 individuals who bring their individual expertise to the table, thus, not representing any particular agency or coalition. Click here to go to the page.

Regional Advisory Committees

The Regional Advisory Committee Meetings were in developed, in part, to provide regular ongoing communication regarding our Olmstead initiative in each of the three regions, the north, the central and the south. Regional advisory committees are a forum for participants to come together and discuss issues, share information and concerns related to mental health services in the respective region. The Northern Regional Advisory Committee meets at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital and the Southern Regional Advisory Committee meets at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital. Participants include representatives from consumer-operated self-help centers, family members, county Professional Advisory Committees (PAC), community provider agencies, regional staff from DMHAS, staff from county hospitals, county mental health administrators and administrative staff from state hospitals.

Statewide Consumer Advisory Committee

The Statewide Consumer Advisory Committee (SCAC) is a diverse group of emerging leaders throughout the state who are experiencing recovery in their own lives. They are committed to having open, honest and compelling discussions with the leadership of the Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) around what a recovery and wellness-oriented system is about and what it is not. SCAC has been greatly instrumental in working with the Division on many aspects of the Transformation including focus groups to identify outcomes and other elements of service delivery. Click here to go to the SCAC page.

State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW)

In March 2006, DMHAS was awarded a grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) to develop a State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW). The SEOW was created and began meeting in 2007. More...