RWJBarnabas Health’s Connie Greene Honored for Leadership and Pioneering Work in Behavioral Health by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey

Greene honored at the 24^th Annual Evening of Excellence and 80^th Anniversary Celebration on November 13^th in Florham Park, NJ

West Orange, NJ, November 18, 2024 - Connie Greene, MA, CAS, CSW, CPS, Senior Vice President for the RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery was honored by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) for her leadership and pioneering work in behavioral health at its 24^th Annual Evening of Excellence and 80^th Anniversary Celebration on November 13^th at The Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park, New Jersey.

Ms. Green has been a trailblazer for the RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR) since joining the system in 1993. Under her leadership, IFPR has become the largest provider of hospital-based recovery support services in the United States and the largest provider of free tobacco and nicotine treatment services in New Jersey. Widely recognized for its training and educational programs for schools, agencies, businesses and healthcare organizations, IFPR has a significant impact for many on their journey to wellness.

Dedicated to destigmatizing addiction, reducing barriers to care and creating a whole-person continuum of care, Ms. Greene has spearheaded support services for IFPR including the Peer Recovery Program, DART Prevention Coalition of Ocean County, PROUD Youth Prevention Network, The Mental Health Awareness Training Program, The Communities That Care Program and The Human Trafficking Prevention Program.

Ms. Greene serves as co-chair of the RWJBarnabas Health's Tackling Addiction Task Force and as Chairperson of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Professional Advisory Committee for Addictions, and Vice Chair of the New Jersey Behavioral Health Planning Council. She received a Bachelor's degree in Education from the City University of New York and her Master's degree in Management and Administration from Central Michigan University. Ms. Greene is a Certified Addiction Specialist, Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Social Worker.

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.

RWJBarnabas Health partners with its diverse communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate and equitable manner and is the state's largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.

RWJBarnabas Health's commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey's largest private employers, with more than 41,000 employees, contributing more than $5.5 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org.

About the Mental Health Association in New Jersey's Evening of Excellence

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey's 24^th Annual Evening of Excellence is a crucial fundraiser for the organization. Proceeds from the event will support its efforts to increase access to advocacy and services for people living with behavioral health conditions. The MHANJ is grateful to sponsors, including: at the Gold/Wellness and Recovery Level -- RWJBarnabas Health; at the Silver/Anti-stigma Ambassador Level - Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Inserra Supermarkets, Inc., Janine and Dan Kane, Otsuka, United Healthcare and Uwill; and at the Bronze/Education and Resilience Level - Bristol Myers Squibb, Citizens Bank, Community Access Unlimited, Delta Dental, Steven E. Geltzeiler, Legacy Treatment Services, Lexpath and MikeWorldWide (MWW).

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to strive for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services. For more information visit https://www.mhanj.org/ or call 973-571-4100, ext. 123.

Contact: Carrie Cristello
[email protected]