![[photo, Anne Arundel County Health Services Building, 3 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/an/images/1198-1-1320.jpg)
In 1880, the General Assembly authorized the State Board of Health to organize local boards of health or advisory committees in every city, village, and legislative district (Chapter 438, Acts of 1880). Not until 1886, however, were County responsibilities assigned. In that year, the Board of County Commissioners was designated as the Anne Arundel County Board of Health (Chapter 22, Acts of 1886). In 1914, it was placed under control of the State Department of Health, which had organized in 1910 (Chapter 560, Acts of 1910; Chapter 742, Acts of 1914).
Anne Arundel County Health Services Building, 3 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland, February 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
The Anne Arundel County Model Health Department organized in 1931. Due to the efforts of the Rockefeller Foundation and the U.S. Public Health Service, the "model" health department would serve as a laboratory and an example of how to dramatically upgrade the quality of health care available to the public. Originally, the Department included the City of Annapolis from which it separated in 1933. The City rejoined the County Department in 1943.
Today, the Department of Health, under direction of the Health Officer, provides public health services and administers and enforces State and local health laws and regulations within Anne Arundel County (County Charter, sec. 553; County Code, sec. 2-1-603). Programs meet the public health needs of the community and provide services not offered by the private sector (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-202).
Appointed by the Secretary of Health, the Health Officer is the executive officer and secretary of the County Board of Health (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-301 through 3-310).
CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM
OFFICE OF ASSESSMENT & PLANNING
The Office collects and analyzes data to identify racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic disparities in health measures, and works with County agencies, local organizations, and members of impacted communities to identify solutions to these disparities.
The Council develops, submits to the Governor, and implements plans and strategies with which to evaluate, prevent, and treat alcohol and drug abuse in the County.
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE
With local partners and agencies, the Office works to engage and educate County residents about emergency preparedness. The Office distributes medications and vaccines, collects data on disease outbreaks, and provides nursing support at shelters.
MENTAL HEALTH CORE SERVICE AGENCY
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BOARD OF HEALTH
In Anne Arundel County, the County Council constitutes the Board of Health. Each year, the Board meets in May and October, and at any other time the Board deems necessary (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-202; County Charter, sec. 553).
The Child Fatality Review Team seeks to develop an understanding of the causes and incidence of child death in Anne Arundel County. The Team develops plans for and recommends changes within the agencies represented on the Team to prevent child deaths; and promotes compensation and coordination among agencies involved in investigations of child deaths, or in providing services to surviving family members. The Team also advises the State Child Fatality Review Team on changes to law, policy, or practice to prevent child deaths (Chapters 355 & 356, Acts of 1999; Code Health-General Article, secs. 5-705 through 5-709).
OPERATIONS
OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY & RACIAL JUSTICE
In April 2020, the Office of Health Equity and Racial Justice was formed within the Health Department to address racism as a public health issue, and implement health equity and racial justice initiatives in the County.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Public Health oversees the Mental Health Core Service Agency, the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, and five bureaus: Behavioral Health, Disease Prevention and Management, Environmental Health, Family Health Services, and School Health and Support.
DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE COUNCIL
In 2004, a drug and alcohol abuse council was authorized in each county by the General Assembly (Chapters 237 & 238, Acts of 2004; Code Health-General Article, sec. 8-1001).
The Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response was created in 2002.
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).
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