Paramus, N.J. (June 12, 2024) – CarePlus NJ, Inc. (“CarePlus”), a pioneer in integrated primary and behavioral health services for adults and children, proudly announces President and CEO Brigitte Johnson has been awarded the Transformational Leadership in DEI Award by the New Jersey Association of Mental Health & Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA). Johnson will receive the award at NJAMHAA’s annual membership meeting, which will be held virtually on June 12, 2024, for her commitment to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout her career, including in leadership roles at CarePlus NJ and on the Boards of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies and New Jersey Mental Health Institute.

Demonstrating an unwavering dedication to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) at CarePlus, Johnson spearheaded the formation of CarePlus NJ’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action (IDEA) Committee, which was founded in response to the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Under her leadership, the IDEA Committee is committed to both community education and internal cultural transformation; this includes facilitating weekly staff-to-staff support groups, instigating revisions to the organization’s HR policies and procedures, and consistently advancing initiatives to seamlessly integrate inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging principles throughout all facets of CarePlus NJ’s operations.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not empty gestures to meet quotas or appear socially conscious, but an active expansion of our perspectives, our possibilities, and capabilities. Fostering DEI in the workplace brings new perspectives, prevents monolithic thinking, and supports mindfulness. DEI is necessary for mental and behavioral healthcare to effectively serve every client’s unique needs,” said Johnson. “I’m very thankful to the CarePlus team for their participation and support in creating a more inclusive organization and to the New Jersey Association of Mental Health & Addiction Agencies for recognizing my efforts as well as the importance of DEI in all workplaces and communities.”

To learn more about CarePlus NJ’s DEIB initiatives visit https://careplusnj.org/inclusion-diversity-equity-and-action-idea/.

For more than 45 years, CarePlus NJ, Inc. has been a pioneer in integrated primary and behavioral health services for adults and children in northern New Jersey. Based in Paramus, New Jersey, CarePlus NJ is committed to providing the most comprehensive integrated treatment options through 80+ programs designed to meet the full spectrum of health and wellness needs for adults and children in the communities it serves. Specializing in acute care, CarePlus NJ provides immediate, high-quality health services and support programs for individuals in crisis. Nationally ranked for excellence in customer satisfaction by the Mental Health Corporations of America, CarePlus NJ is mission-driven, ensuring that anyone who needs it has access to specialized care. To learn more about CarePlus NJ and its wide range of programs and services, visit https://www.careplusnj.org/.

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