2023 Conference Program Book

CONFERENCE OPENING

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Welcome to NJPN's 23rd Annual Addiction Conference

Lisa Asare Deputy Commissioner, Department of Human Services

Lisa Asare is the Deputy Commissioner of Health Services, overseeing the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services that administers NJ FamilyCare and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and leading the Department’s work on First Lady Murphy’s Nurture NJ maternal health initiative. Asare also supports the Catastrophic Illness in Children’s Relief Fund. Asare previously worked as the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Family Health Services at the New Jersey Department of Health, where she worked for more than 20 years. At Health, Asare oversaw units that provided extensive public health programs and services, including Maternal and Child Health, Special Child Health, Early Intervention Services, WIC Nutrition Services and the SNAP-ED Program. She retooled the Division’s approach to addressing black infant mortality and maternal mortality, contributed to the NurtureNJ strategic plan, addressed the social determinants of health by collaborating with sister state agencies and non-traditional partners, and leveraged additional state, federal, and philanthropic funding to address emerging issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her accomplishments included establishing the Colette Lamothe Galette Community Health Worker Institute, the Doula Learning Collaborative, and transitioning to eWIC. Deputy Commissioner Asare will welcome conference participants and professionals within the behavioral health field and share DHS priorities while highlighting the support and work that is being done across New Jersey.

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