A Lifelong Advocate for Vulnerable Communities
Celebrating Marlene Laó-Collins
On October 21, 2025, the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA) honored our Executive Director, Marlene Laó-Collins, with its prestigious Lifelong Leadership in Serving Vulnerable Populations Award at the association’s Fall Conference, Harvesting Hope: A Vision for Behavioral Health Care.
“I was deeply honored and genuinely humbled to receive this award,” said Laó-Collins. “The work we do for marginalized communities is only possible through the shared commitment of extraordinary colleagues and partners. None of us does this work alone. Every success is a collective one, built on collaboration, compassion and a shared belief in the dignity and worth of every person.”
Marlene’s career has been defined by her unwavering dedication to social justice. Prior to leading Catholic Charities, she served as Director for Social Concerns at the New Jersey Catholic Conference, where she shaped public policy on issues such as homelessness, poverty, health care and immigration. Earlier, she spent a decade in New Jersey state government, helping to manage and reform programs like Medicaid and public assistance, with a focus on expanding health care access for low-income residents.
In accepting the award, Marlene expressed heartfelt gratitude to her family, crediting her parents’ social activism for inspiring her path. She acknowledged the enduring support of her late husband, whose patience allowed her to give her best to the work, and praised her sons and in-laws for their steadfast encouragement. She also paid tribute to her team at Catholic Charities “the quiet heroes who show up every day, often without recognition, but always with heart.”
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Service Area Directors Mary Pettrow and Lisa Merritt joined Executive Director Marlene Laó-Collins in celebration of her Lifelong Leadership Award.
Catholic Charities is proud to be a member of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. NJAMHAA represents more than 160 behavioral health care organizations and 61,000 professionals across New Jersey. Since 1950, the association has been a powerful advocate for mental health and addiction services, working with state legislators to shape policy, secure funding, and improve care for individuals with behavioral health conditions.
You can learn more about NJAMHAA here: https://www.njamhaa.org/