Lt. Governor Appears at NAMI Breakfast Convention Event in Toms River

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno addressed a filled convention room Friday morning at the Holiday Inn in Toms River, as the Keynote Speaker during Ocean County’s annual legislative breakfast event for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

After an introduction by Bill Sette, President of Preferred Behavioral Health, Guadagno began her speech by thanking Michael Roche of NAMI for the invitation to attend, and outlining some of the progress made by the current administration during its tenure in the areas of job creation and economic development.

“At the time (the current administration) began, we were ranked last in measures of compatibility and competitiveness. We were thought to be the most business-unfriendly state in the country,” Guadagno explained.

The Lt. Governor, who also acts as Secretary of State for New Jersey, is chairperson for the Red Tape Review Commission, a “bipartisan, nonprofit” group which reviews and reforms the state’s regulatory process. Guadagno also explained the purpose of the Business Action Center, whose purpose is to attract, retain, and expand business influence in the state.

“The comeback in New Jersey has begun. Since our time in office, we’ve created 74,000 private sector jobs,” Guadagno said. “We had to determine what was important for New Jersey; we knew you understood that it was time for government to make progress. We’d like for you to hear us as we make the tough decisions.”

Guadagno said that the state’s first priority was to get “its own fiscal house in order” in a “challenging environment”, before it could then proceed with the goal of helping the state’s children and those in need of assistance with medical and mental health services.

Guadagno explained that in this budget year, the state administration would be focused on protecting who she termed “the most vulnerable” citizens, those afflicted with mental illness.

“We’re focusing on something you don’t put a dollar value on. There is not anyone I know who has not been in some way touched by mental health issues,” said the Lt. Governor. “Let’s turn to help to people who aren’t able to help themselves. I’m here to put a face to someone you can talk to in state government.”

Guadagno explained that everyone in the room was an “advocate” for this cause, and described the benefits that programs such as Project Lifesaver and the issuance of medical identifications cards have brought to those with illness.

Project Lifesaver is an initiative whereby, after a family consultation, a person who may be prone to wandering off or disappearing is fitted with a small monitor transmitter on their wrist. Along with the transmitter, their medical history, vital statistics and information that could be used to identify their location are kept inside of a database, where it can be later referred to if the person in question does disappear — a process which has cut down search times.

The Lt. Governor also explained how the issuance of medical identification cards to those with autism has helped in cases where a police officer may pull over an autistic driver to the side of the road. A driver presenting the card to the officer along with their license allows the officer to recognize their medical condition and respond appropriately.

“A message here is that we’re also trying to fund assistance for autistic kids,” said Guadagno, and added that the state was pledging a half-million dollars this year to accomplish that very goal. Guadagno further mentioned that one in 49 children in New Jersey has autism.

Guadagno also described the current debate between public officials statewide about whether to close or keep open certain mental health facilities, but said that if the state were to close them, that money does not return to the general fund — but rather, goes back to continue providing services to the mentally ill, including returning those formerly institutionalized back into society.

“Something like this requires passion. Passion is not a fight, it is a strong discussion,” said the Lt. Governor, explaining how that very discussion was going to be a key step in moving forward and making progress on this issue.

“We need to continue our advocacy,” Guadagno stated.