MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Organized in July 2008 as Behavioral Health and Disabilities, Behavioral Health adopted its present name in October 2014 (Chapter 539, Acts of 2014).

Formerly Behavioral Health had been headed by a Deputy Secretary responsible for three administrations: Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Developmental Disabilities; and Mental Hygiene. However, in July 2014, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration merged with the Mental Hygiene Administration to form the Behavioral Health Administration (Chapter 460, Acts of 2014), and, in October 2014, the Developmental Disabilities Administration separated from Behavioral Health (Chapter 539, Acts of 2014).

Today, the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health oversees the Behavioral Health Administration.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Dix Building, Dogwood Circle, Spring Grove Hospital Center
55 Wade Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228

The Behavioral Health Administration was created from the merger of two older agencies: the Mental Hygiene Administration, and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration.

The Mental Hygiene Administration originated in 1886 as the State Lunacy Commission (Chapter 487, Acts of 1886). The Commission inspected public and private institutions for the insane and advised their boards of managers. In 1922, the Commission was replaced by the Board of Mental Hygiene (Chapter 29, Acts of 1922). The Board, in turn, was superseded by the Department of Mental Hygiene in 1949 (Chapter 685, Acts of 1949). Not only was the Board of Mental Hygiene abolished in 1949, but so also were the separate governing boards of the State mental hospitals. In that year, the Department of Mental Hygiene became responsible for the custody, care, and treatment of mentally ill persons. The Department of Mental Hygiene became part of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 1969 and subsequently reorganized as the Mental Hygiene Administration (Chapter 77, Acts of 1969). In July 2008, the Administration moved under the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health and Disabilities (Chapter 661, Acts of 2008).

The other agency from which the Behavioral Health Administration evolved was the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, which started as two separate agencies: one concerned with alcoholism and the other with addiction to narcotics. The Drug Abuse Authority, formed in 1969, was succeeded in 1971 by the Drug Abuse Adminstration (Chapter 404, Acts of 1969; Chapter 29, Acts of 1971). Thereafter, the Division of Alcoholism Control of the former Mental Health Administration became the Alcoholism Control Adminstration in 1976 (Chapter 746, Acts of 1976). By departmental organization in 1987, the Drug Abuse Administration and the Alcoholism Control Administration merged to form the Addictions Services Administration. In 1988, the Administration was renamed the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration (Chapter 758, Acts of 1988).

In July 2014, the Mental Hygiene Administration merged with the Alcohol and Drug Administration to reform as the Behavioral Health Administration (Chapter 460, Acts of 2014; Code Health-General Article, secs. 7.5-101 through 7.5-204).

The Behavioral Health Administration oversees Maryland's Public Mental Health System by planning, setting policy, and allocating resources. To ensure that Marylanders receive appropriate treatment, the Administration provides mental health services in the community through core service agencies and State institutions (Code Health - General Article, secs. 10-201 through 10-208).

Core Service Agencies. Under authority of the Secretary of Health, a core service agency is designated by each county government to plan, manage, and monitor the delivery of publicly funded mental health services in the county (Code Health-General Article, secs. 10-1201 through 10-1203).

State Institutions. Under the Behavioral Health Administration are five psychiatric hospitals. The Administration also is responsible for two residential treatment centers for youth.

Mental Health Crisis Response System. Within the Mental Hygiene Administration, the Maryland Mental Health Crisis Response System formed in October 2002 (Chapter 371, Acts of 2002). The System became part of the Behavioral Health Administration in July 2014.

Through the Mental Health Crisis Response System, the Behavioral Health Administration consults with family members, and consumers and advocates of mental health services to develop a statewide network to respond to the current mental health crisis. To reduce threatening situations involving those needing mental health services, the network provides assistance to prevent suicides, homicides, arrests, and unnecessary hospitalizations. This assistance includes a hotline for suicide prevention, treatment referrals, telephone assistance for mental information, and even transportation of patients to emergency appointments. The network coordinates its work with core service agencies (local health departments), police, emergency medical personnel, and mental health providers.

The Executive Director of Behavioral Health heads the Administration, and reports to the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health (Code Health-General Article, secs. 7.5-202 through 7.5-204). Appointed by the Secretary of Health, and with the Secretary's approval, the Executive Director of Behavioral Health is empowered to make State grants-in-aid to further community mental health services (Chapter 125, Acts of 1966). The Executive Director supervises programs receiving these grants-in-aid. Local mental health advisory committees also are authorized for each county and Baltimore City (Code Health-General Article, secs. 10-308 through 10-312).

The Administration's work is carried out through five divisions: Behavioral Health Facilities; Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Services; Clinical Services Adults and Older Adults; Service Access and Practice Innovation; and Systems Management. Also, one office, Finance and Fiscal Management. reports directly to the Executive Director.

FINANCE & FISCAL MANAGEMENT

Finance and Fiscal Management was initiated as the Management Services Division. Under Operations, it reformed as the Office of Finance, Grants, and Procurement in July 2014. It adopted its present name when Operations' functions were transferred to the Chief of Staff in January 2017.

Funds for substance abuse treatment and prevention statewide are awarded and monitored by Finance and Fiscal Management. Further, the office manages internal operations for the Behavioral Health Administration, prepares the Administration's budget, and develops the annual federal block grant application.

Under Finance and Fiscal Management are three sections: Federal Block Grants, Fiscal Services, and Grants.

GRANTS SECTION
The Grants Section began as the Grants Management Division. In 1994, the Division became Administration and Grants Management, and Grants and Contract Management Division in 1998. It reformed as the Grants and Contracts Management Section in 2001, and the Grants Section under the Management Services Division in January 2011. When the Behavioral Health Administration formed in July 2014, the Grants Section joined the Office of Finance, Grants, and Procurement, which reorganized as Finance and Fiscal Management in July 2017.

The Section awards and monitors Administration monies for substance abuse treatment and prevention. Grants are received by local health departments, government agencies, and private companies. As the Administration's fiscal agent, the Section works closely with the Fiscal Services Administration, and the Program Cost and Analysis Division of the Budget Management Office of the Department.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITIES

Behavioral Health Facilities originated as Facilities, which was established in July 2014 to oversee five psychiatric hospitals, and two residential treatment centers for youth under the Behavioral Health Administration's jurisdiction. In September 2017, Facilities was renamed Hospitals and, in January 2018, assumed its present name.

Under Behavioral Health Facilities are five psychiatric hospitals:

Behavioral Health Facilities also oversees two psychiatric residential treatment centers for youth:

EASTERN SHORE HOSPITAL CENTER

P. O. Box 800
5262 Woods Road, Cambridge, MD 21613 - 0800

Eastern Shore Hospital Center started in 1912 as Eastern Shore State Hospital (Chapter 187, Acts of 1912). Built on the banks of the Choptank River, the Hospital admitted its first patients in 1915. The Hospital was placed under the Board of Mental Hygiene in 1922, the Department of Mental Hygiene in 1949, and the Mental Hygiene Administration in 1969. It was renamed Eastern Shore Hospital Center in 1973 (Chapter 740, Acts of 1973). In August 2001, the original hospital was replaced by a new 80-bed facility in Cambridge. In July 2014, the Center was made part of the Behavioral Health Administration (Chapter 460, Acts of 2014).

In Dorchester County, the Center provides comprehensive psychiatric care for patients with mental illness who reside on the lower Eastern Shore. The facility was licensed for a daily capacity of 80 patients in FY2019 (Code Health-General Article, sec. 10-406).

THOMAS B. FINAN HOSPITAL CENTER

P. O. Box 1722
10102 Country Club Road, Cumberland, MD 21502 - 1722

[photo, Thomas B. Finan Hospital Center, 10102 Country Club Road, Cumberland, Maryland] Under the Mental Hygiene Administration, the Thomas B. Finan Hospital Center opened in October 1978. It became part of the Behavioral Health Administration in July 2014.

In Allegany County, the Center is a multi-purpose psychiatric facility which serves Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington county residents of all ages with mental illnesses (Code Health-General Article, sec. 10-406). Services extend as well to youth from Carroll, Howard and Montgomery counties.

Thomas B. Finan Hospital Center, 10102 Country Club Road, Cumberland, Maryland, July 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Staffed to accommodate and treat 72 adult and 24 geriatric patients, and 23 adolescents, the Center consists of small, 25-bed cottages and three cottages that house treatment programs for addicts. These are operated by the Allegany County Health Department.

Licensed by the Maryland Department of Health to the County Health Department, the one-cottage Massie Unit treats adults who abuse drugs and alcohol. Licensed by the Department of Juvenile Justice to the County Health Department, the two-cottage Jackson Unit treats juveniles with substance abuse problems or children in need of supervision. Another cottage is leased to Archway Station, Inc., as a 16-bed rehabilitation apartment complex.

CLIFTON T. PERKINS HOSPITAL CENTER

P. O. Box 1000
8450 Dorsey Run, Jessup, MD 20794 - 1000

On a 45-acre tract one mile south of Jessup, the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center is the State's only maximum security hospital. Formally established in 1959 as Maximum Security Hospital, it was placed under the Department of Mental Hygiene. In April 1960, the Hospital was renamed to honor Dr. Clifton T. Perkins, a distinguished psychiatrist who served as Commissioner of Mental Hygiene from 1950 to 1959 (Chapter 814, Acts of 1959). Dr. Perkins worked to desegregate Maryland psychiatric hospitals, and had planned and defined the function of the Hospital but died before it opened early in 1960. The Hospital in 1961 was placed under the State Board of Health and Mental Hygiene (Chapter 841, Acts of 1961). It reformed in 1973 as the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center under the Mental Hygiene Administration (Chapter 740, Acts of 1973), which became the Behavioral Health Administration in July 2014.

Patients referred by the courts of Maryland for pretrial psychiatric evaluation are treated by the Center, which also provides a residence for individual offenders who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Moreover, the Center serves as a hospital for prisoners who become mentally ill and require involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. Prisoners are committed to the Center for an indefinite length of time and only can be released upon the authorization of a judge. From other State psychiatric hospitals, the Center also accepts patients whose illness requires maximum security treatment for a period of time.

The Center is licensed to serve 298 resident patients, and in Fiscal Year 2019 was funded to serve a daily average of 288 patients.

SPRING GROVE HOSPITAL CENTER

55 Wade Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228

Spring Grove Hospital Center is the oldest hospital for the mentally ill in Maryland, and the second oldest mental hospital in the United States. Just west of Baltimore City, the Center is based on a 200-acre site in Baltimore County.

[photo, Bland Bryant Building, Spring Grove Hospital Center, Catonsville, Maryland] In 1797, Spring Grove Hospital Center was established in Baltimore at Monument Street and Broadway, the site where the Johns Hopkins Hospital later would be constructed (Chapter 102, Acts of 1797). First authorized as a "common State hospital" (the first public hospital in Maryland), it originally came under the auspices of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, and was run by private physicians. In 1834, however, the State assumed its control and called it the Maryland Hospital. It was renamed the Maryland Hospital for the Insane in 1838, and moved to its present site at Catonsville in 1872.

Bland Bryant Building, Spring Grove Hospital Center, Catonsville, Maryland, April 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Foster Wade Building, Spring Grove Hospital Center, Catonsville, Maryland] In 1912, the Maryland Hospital for the Insane was renamed Spring Grove State Hospital (Chapter 187, Acts of 1912). The Hospital was placed under the Board of Mental Hygiene in 1922, the Department of Mental Hygiene in 1949, and the Mental Hygiene Administration in 1969. The Hospital then reformed in 1973 as Spring Grove Hospital Center (Chapter 740, Acts of 1973). It was made part of the Behavioral Health Administration in July 2014.

On May 18, 2022, ownership of Spring Grove Hospital Center was transferred to University of Maryland Baltimore County with plans by the Maryland Department of Health to lease the property for up to 20 years and then vacate it for future campus development.

Foster Wade Building, Spring Grove Hospital Center, Catonsville, Maryland, April 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Comprehensive mental health services to adult and geriatric patients from Baltimore City, and Baltimore and Harford counties are provided by the Center. For these jurisdictions, the Center also conducts evaluations to determine competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility (Code Health-General Article, sec. 10-406). In addition, the Center provides ancillary services to the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, a joint program between the Maryland Department of Health, and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

In Fiscal Year 2019, the Center had a licensed capacity for 353 inpatients.

SPRINGFIELD HOSPITAL CENTER

6655 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, MD 21784

[photo, Springfield Hospital Center, Sykesville, Maryland] Springfield Hospital Center originated as the Second Hospital for the Insane of the State of Maryland authorized in 1894 (Chapter 231, Acts of 1894). The Hospital opened for patients in July 1896. Renamed Springfield State Hospital in 1900 (Chapter 70, Acts of 1900), the Hospital came under the Board of Mental Hygiene in 1922, the Department of Mental Hygiene in 1949, and the Mental Hygiene Administration in 1969. It became Springfield Hospital Center in 1973 (Chapter 740, Acts of 1973), and was made part of the Behavioral Health Administration in July 2014.


Springfield Hospital Center, Sykesville, Maryland, August 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

In southern Carroll County, the Center is a regional psychiatric facility which admits patients from northern Baltimore City and Carroll, Howard and Montgomery counties, as well as mentally ill deaf patients statewide.

The Center is the largest State facility in Maryland for the care of persons with mental illness. It provides acute, sub-acute and long-term inpatient services to Maryland residents, who are referred from hospital emergency rooms, inpatient units in general hospitals, or from State or local courts. In Fiscal Year 2019, it has a licensed capacity for 220 patients (Code Health-General Article, sec. 10-406).

REGIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS - BALTIMORE

605 South Chapel Gate Lane, Baltimore, MD 21229

In 1958, the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents - Baltimore opened. It originally was situated on the grounds of Rosewood State Hospital in Baltimore County, but moved to southwest Baltimore, near the U.S. National Cemetery, in the early 1970s. Formerly under the Mental Hygiene Administration, the Institute was made part of the Behavioral Health Administration in July 2014.

A residential and day treatment center for mental health, the Institute provides intensive inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, educational services, and community service programs for youths between ages 12 to 18 with serious emotional illnesses. It serves adolescents from Baltimore City, the Eastern Shore, Central Maryland, and parts of Western Maryland.

Licensed to treat up to 45 inpatients, the Institute in Fiscal Year 2016 served a daily average of 36 residential patients and 55 outpatients.

JOHN L. GILDNER REGIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS - ROCKVILLE

15000 Broschart Road, Rockville, MD 20850

In 1980, the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents - Rockville received its first patients. On May 9, 2001, the Institute was renamed for its founding chief executive officer, John L. Gildner, who died in November 1999. Formerly under the Mental Hygiene Administration, the Institute was made part of the Behavioral Health Administration in July 2014.

For children and adolescents, aged 10 to 18 years, with severe emotional disabilities, the Gildner Regional Institute provides mental health treatment, education, and rehabilitative services.

For eligible children and adolescents, the Institute offers three options: a short-term Evaluation Unit, a school-only program, and a full-time residential treatment program.

For 90-day evaluations and diagnostic screening, the Evaluation Unit accepts children referred by court orders, as well as by other agencies.

To be admitted to the school-only program, students must be residents of Montgomery County and be referred to the Institute through the Montgomery County Public School System. Indeed, the school at the Institute is a special education program in the Montgomery County Public School System.

Referring agencies may include the child's school system, other local agencies, or the Department of Human Services, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Department of Juvenile Services.

The Institute is funded to serve an average daily population of 80 young people in residence and 100 children between the ages of 5 and 18 in day treatment.

OPERATIONS

Within the Behavioral Health Administration, Operations had formed by May 2023.

CHILD, ADOLESCENT & YOUNG ADULT SERVICES

Under the Mental Health Administration, Child and Adolescent Services formed in 1984 to oversee and coordinate mental health services for children and adolescents within the Public Mental Health System. It was responsible for two residential treatment centers for youth: the Regional Institutes for Children and Adolescents in Baltimore and Rockville. Under the Behavioral Health Administration, Child and Adolescent Services restructured as Children's Services in July 2014, and under its present name in 2017.

Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Services oversees six units: Child and Adolescent Programming; Early Childhood Mental Health; Juvenile Forensics; Promotion and Wellness; Substance Use Disorders; and Transition-Aged Youth.

CLINICAL SERVICES ADULTS & OLDER ADULTS

In July 2014, Clinical Services formed under the Behavioral Health Administration. In July 2017, it adopted its present name.

Clinical Services Adults and Older Adults evaluates the network of services funded by the Behavioral Health Administration to ensure that such services meet the needs of Marylanders with mental health conditions, substance-related disorders, or co-occurring conditions and disorders.

This division oversees five offices: Crisis and Criminal Justice Services; Evidence-Based Practices, Housing and Recovery Supports; Gender-Specific Services; Older Adults Long-Term Services; and Treatment Services.

CRISIS & CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES

In 1991, the Mental Hygiene Administration established the Office of Special Needs Populations. When the Behavioral Health Administration formed in July 2014, the Office was reorganized as Special Populations and placed within the Office of Adult and Specialized Behavioral Health Services under Clinical Services. In July 2017, when Clinic Services reformed as Clinical Services Adults and Older Adults, Special Populations joined with Treatment and Recovery Services to create Crisis Prevention, Criminal Justice Treatment and Diversion. In December 2020, it restructured under its current name.

Crisis and Criminal Justice Services oversees federal grants which address the mental health needs of certain populations. The Office plans, coordinates, and monitors mental health services for individuals who are incarcerated, homeless, deaf or hard of hearing, victims of natural or man-made disasters, or have co-occurring mental disorders and substance abuse issues. The Office also serves veterans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq wars who have behavioral health needs.

GENDER-SPECIFIC SERVICES

Gender-Specific Services originated as Women's Services, but adopted its current name in July 2017.

For women and their families, Gender-Specific Services develops and coordinates comprehensive treatment and recovery substance-related disorders services. For pregnant women and women with dependent children, contracts for residential treatment services are managed by Gender-Specific Services. This office also provides technical assistance to local health departments and treatment providers.

SERVICE ACCESS & PRACTICE INNOVATION

In July 2014, Service Access and Practice Innovation formed first as Population-Based Behavioral Health within the Behavioral Health Administration. It reorganized in July 2017 as Health Promotion and Prevention, and in January 2019, restructured under its present name.

Service Access and Practice Innovation is responsible for four main units: Prevention, Public Awareness, Statewide Projects, and the Office of Workforce Development and Technology Transfer.

REGIONAL SERVICES
Regional Services originally formed as the Regional Field Services Division of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration. Renamed the Treatment and Field Services Division in 1994, and as the Treatment Services Section in 1998, it combined with the Prevention Services Section to form Regional Services in 2002. In January 2011, Regional Services moved from the Community Services Division to the Recovery-Oriented System of Care Division.

To coordinate addiction treatment services, Regional Services serves as liaison between local and State government agencies. To prevent alcohol and drug addiction, Regional Services works with the Governor's Office for Children; the State Department of Education; the Department of Human Services; and the Department of Transportation to fund, develop, implement, and monitor government agency strategies.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

The Office of Workforce Development and Technology Transfer started as the Office of Education and Training for Addiction Services in 1976. Under the Behavioral Health Administration, the Office restructured as the Office of Workforce Development and Training in July 2014 within Population-Based Behavioral Health, which was renamed Health Promotion and Prevention in July 2017. The Office, in January 2019, was renamed the Office of Workforce Development and Technology Transfer.

Public and private agency personnel who treat addicts and work to prevent addiction are trained and educated by the Office of Workforce Development and Technology Transfer. The Office also helps devise curriculum, and evaluates college and university courses on how to treat and prevent addiction.

SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Under the Behavioral Health Administration, Systems Management started as Operations in July 2014. It adopted its present name in July 2017.

OFFICE OF APPLIED RESEARCH & EVALUATION

Formerly under the Alcohol and Drug Administration.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS & DATA ANALYSIS

The Office of Management Information Systems and Data Analysis started as the Management Information Services Division under the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration. It reformed as the Information Services Division in 2004, and reorganized as the Information Technology Division in January 2011. Under the Behavioral Health Administration, the Division was made part of Operations in July 2014, and reorganized as the Office of Management Information Systems and Data Analysis in July 2017.

The Office collects, processes, and reports statistical information related to patterns in alcohol and drug abuse, and assessment of treatment programs; and assisted other divisions with data, research, and computerized information systems. All certified providers of public and private treatment and assessors of driving while intoxicated (DWI) report monthly data to the Office. The Administration's website is maintained by this office, which also publishes reports and newsletters.

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