Jeff DeGraff

Monday Plenary & Awards Breakfast | April 30th

Jeff DeGraff, The “Dean of Innovation,” will speak at the NJHSA Annual Conference Plenary & Awards Breakfast, scheduled for Monday, April 30th. Jeff has advised many of the world’s leading corporations, using the Competing Values Framework that he co-created, on how to grow, change and ultimately move forward to see positive results. Jeff’s ideas have gained such a following that he created the Innovatrium, an innovation institute in the heart of the University of Michigan’s campus. His talent for breaking down the steps needed to innovate effectively also prompted him to write a slew of successful books on innovation.

Jeff’s expertise in innovation aligns with NJHSA’s, newly forming Center for Innovation & Research, which is in the development process and aims to be an array of resources the Network can apply to help member agencies transform ideas and opportunities into actions through collaborations and partnerships.

Liza Long

Tuesday Closing Plenary | May 1st

Liza Long, writer, educator and children’s mental health advocate and her teenage son, Eric Walton, will speak about one of the most underserved populations – teenagers with mental health issues, on Tuesday, May 1st at the Closing Plenary.

Liza is the mother of four children, one of whom has bipolar disorder. She began her blog, The Anarchist Soccer Mom, in 2007, when her family’s personal tragedy intersected with the public tragedy of the shootings in Newtown, Massachusetts. In 2015, Liza published, The Price of Silence: A Mom’s Perspective on Mental Illness, which has been described as “a searing indictment of the lack of affordable care available for the treatment of mentally ill adolescents.”

Erasing the Distance Performance

Sunday, April 29

Erasing the Distance is a non profit arts organization that uses the power of performance to disarm stigma, spark dialogue, educate, and promote healing surrounding issues of mental health. Their performance on Sunday evening will be followed by a networking event designed for all conference goers. Disarming stigma is a goal all NJHSA member agencies strive to achieve and struggle with.

Stateless Film & Discussion

Monday, April 30

On Monday evening, a showing of the film Stateless, the 1989 refugee story of Soviet Jews who were stranded in Italy until they were finally accepted for resettlement through the JFS and JVS networks will be shown. An interactive discussion about NJHSA agencies and today’s integration process for refugees will be led by Lev Golinkin, author of A Bear, A Backpack and 8 Crates of Vodka.