Joseph Masciandaro has served as President & CEO of CarePlus since 1978, pioneering an innovative care model for integrated primary and behavioral health care for adults and children. During his 44-year career as president and CEO of CarePlus, he spearheaded one of the most comprehensive community mental healthcare systems in the region.
Under Mr. Masciandaro’s leadership, CarePlus has prided itself on carrying out its four pillars of behavior healthcare — primary and mental health care, substance abuse treatment and access to social support services — providing integrated treatment options and over 80 programs designed to address each pillar.
Mr. Masciandaro has also championed countless initiatives ensuring those with mental illness and substance use disorders receive the treatment and services they need. His dedication and extensive experience in the field effectively positioned CarePlus to craft the winning bid to take over management of New Jersey’s largest public hospital, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (BNBMC), in October 2017 and was able to enhance the scope of services and continuum of care, increasing the effectiveness of discharge to address recidivism – especially in the ER.
Mr. Masciandaro is involved in the mental health field on community, state and national levels, locally through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) and the Paramus Rotary, and nationally with membership in Mental Health Corporations of America and the National Council for Behavioral Health, which recognized him with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.