Henry Acosta is the Executive Director of the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health, an outgrowth of the award-winning and nationally and internationally recognized Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics program which Mr. Acosta directed since its inception.  Mr. Acosta is also the Deputy Director of the New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc., an organization founded by the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc., In his role as Director of the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health, Mr. Acosta aims to address the nationwide lack of availability of, access to and the provision of quality mental health services for Hispanics, and to heighten awareness, acceptance and understanding of mental illness among the Hispanic population.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Montclair State University, a Masters of Arts in Social Sciences with a concentration in Psychology from William Paterson University and a Masters of Social Work in Administration, Planning and Policy with Children and Families from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Mr. Acosta recently completed his coursework for a Doctorate in Social Work in Social Policy Analysis and Administration at Rutgers University and his currently preparing for his qualifying exams and dissertation.

Sought nationally and internationally as an expert/leader on Hispanic mental health issues, Mr. Acosta is an inaugural member of the New Jersey Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma, and served on the State of New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners for approximately six years – having been appointed by three different NJ Governor’s and where he served as the Board’s Vice-Chairman for nearly three of those years.  In addition, Mr. Acosta was appointed by former New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine to the New Jersey Health Care Access Study Commission. Previously, he served as Chair of former New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey’s Hispanic Advisory Council on Policy Development Initiatives’ Health Subcommittee Mental Health Work Group and as Co-Chair of the Health Subcommittee. His work on Hispanic mental health has appeared in numerous professional publications and he is a frequent speaker at local, state, national and international events regarding Hispanic mental health issues.  In addition, he had a column entitled, Point of View, in a quarterly bilingual newspaper on Hispanic mental health titled, Salud Mental, throughout the paper’s existence.

Mr. Acosta serves or has served on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations, and on several statewide advisory committees, including the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) National Board of Directors [2009-Present; Vice President, 2011-Present], Puerto Rican Family Institute, Inc.’s Board of Directors (National Board [4 years; Treasurer, 2 years]) and New Jersey (President for 5 years), the March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter State Board, the March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter’s Statewide Hispanic Advisory Committee [Vice Chair and subsequently Chair for approximately 5 years] and the Central New Jersey Boy Scout Council Board of Directors. He also served as the Chair of the National Hispanic/Latino American Agenda Summit Mental Health Issues and Platforms Committee in 2004, Co-Chair of the Policy Committee for a National Latino Behavioral Health Coalition, and is founding and existing Chair of the Alliance for Latino Behavioral Health Workforce Development; a nationally focused strategic partnership of the nation’s leading Hispanic behavioral health associations and organizations, and of experts in Latino behavioral health and workforce development.

A State of New Jersey Licensed Social Worker, Mr. Acosta has more than 20 years of direct service and administrative experience working with children and families in both clinical and social service settings.  He has served as a volunteer in many capacities, such as a mentor for a teenage inner city youth, as a Local Coordinator for the 2000 Million Mom March, and as the 2004 Million Mom March Tri-State Captain for Spanish-Speaking Communities.  For his work on the 2000 Million Mom March event, he received a State of New Jersey Senate Resolution recognizing his work and was invited to the White House for an event recognizing many of the individuals who helped organize the event. His most recent honors include a 2011 Ann Klein Community Advocate Award from the Community Mental Health Law Project (NJ), a 2010 Maria DeCastro Blake Community Service Award from the New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center at the Newark Public Library, being named one of the “Top 20 Latinos in America 40 and Under” by Latino Leaders Magazine, December 2009/January 2010 Issue, being named one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics in America” by Hispanic Business Magazine, October 2008, and recipient of the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health’s 2009 Minority Health Community Trailblazer Leader Award for the Latino community, a 2008 Eli Lilly and Company Welcome Back Award for Destigmatization, a 2008 Dr. Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Award for Community Service Leadership, a 2008 NJBIZ Healthcare Hero Award for Education Efforts as an Individual, a 2007 Advancing Minority Mental Health Award from the American Psychiatric Foundation, a 2007 “Forty Under 40” Award from NJBIZ Magazine, a national leadership award in Latino Mental Health from the Latino Behavioral Health Institute, a Certificate of Recognition Award from the American Psychiatric Foundation in May 2006, a 2006 National Association of Social Workers – New York City Chapter and New York Latino Social Work Task Force Leadership Award, the National Association of Puerto Rican/Hispanic Social Workers’ Leadership Award in November 2004, and the 2004 Rookie of the Year Award from the March of Dimes North Jersey Chapter.

A New Jersey certified firefighter, Mr. Acosta is a graduate of the Middlesex County Fire Academy. Upon graduation from the academy, Mr. Acosta served as a volunteer firefighter for the Keasbey Fire Protection Company #1.  He assisted for nearly a month at Ground Zero with the search and recovery efforts after the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.

The proud father of a 19-year old daughter, Mr. Acosta would like to represent the citizens of New Jersey in an elected office one day.  Mr. Acosta resides in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

Key Professional Accomplishments to Date:

• Appointed by four New Jersey Governors to serve on various licensing boards, commissions or councils.  These include: the New Jersey Board of Social work Examiners, the Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma, and the New Jersey Health Care Access Study Commission.
• Invited speaker to over 200 local, state, national and international conferences on mental health issues or early childhood education as Key Note Speaker, Workshop Presenter, Panel Member, or Expert Session Facilitator.
• Recipient of over 25 local, state and national awards for advocacy or leadership in social work or Hispanic mental health issues. Awards include recognition from Hispanic Business Magazine, Eli Lilly and Company, MD Advantage, NJBiz, the American Psychiatric Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Psychiatric Association, the Latino Behavioral Health Institute, the National Association of Puerto Rican and Hispanic Social Workers, the National Latina/Latino Psychological Association, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
• Invited to have own column in a nationally disseminated bilingual newspaper on Hispanic mental health.
• Author of nationally disseminated Model Mental Health Program for Hispanics Report.
• Co-author of Comprehensive In-Depth Literature Review and Analysis of Hispanic Mental Health Issues with Specific Focus on Members of the Following Ethnic Groups: Cubans, Dominicans, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.  The report has been shared with over 20,000 individuals throughout the country and abroad, and is now included as a chapter in a textbook on Hispanic Mental Health titled, Mental Health Care for New Hispanic Immigrants: Innovative Approaches in Contemporary Clinical Practice.  This same report is also included as a chapter in the Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Services (Volume 3, Issue 1/2 2005).
• Invited to serve on the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Planning Group and Organizing Committee for the National Network for the Elimination of Disparities in Behavioral Health.
• Elected to serve a three-year term as a Member of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) National Board of Directors (2009-2012; elected 2^nd Vice-President, July 2011).
• Elected as Chair of the Alliance for Latino Behavioral Health Workforce Development; November 2009.
• Invited to serve on the Steering Committee for a national employer anti-stigma campaign for the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Mental Health Services, July 2011.