Oversight Agencies Manage Publicly Funded Mental Health/Substance Related Disorder Services and Child Well-Being Results

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

Behavioral health services are very important for the overall health of the population, but how can you make sure that the available services within each jurisdiction are quality services and that they are available to everyone who needs them? There is actually a combination of agencies in each Maryland county that are responsible for doing just that.

The Local Behavioral Health Authority (LBHA) and the Local Management Board (LMB) are located within the Garrett County Health Department, but they fall under the authority of the Behavioral Health Administration, as part of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services.

The Local Behavioral Health Authority is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring public behavioral health services at the local level. Their oversite ensures access to a full range of quality behavioral health services and advocates for policies to advance prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery within the county. They collaborate with system partners to improve access to care and strengthen communities by supporting behavioral health and wellness.

Goals for the Local Behavioral Health Authority found in the Strategic Plan of Operations for Garrett County include: 1) Increase Access to Care, 2) Improve Quality of Care in the Public Behavioral Health System, 3) Improve Coordination of Care. The plan includes specific objectives and strategies that can be measured to track the progress toward achieving the goals.

In Fiscal Year 2023, the Garrett County LBHA office partnered with the Allegany County LBHA office to fund and implement Mobile Crisis Response Services to serve both counties. This service provides a safe and responsive emergency room/hospital diversion plan anchored in Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) using a family centered approach and a personal introduction to community services. The multi-county MRSS is for adults and children experiencing severe situational, emotional, or behavioral crisis and will be fully in effect in early fiscal year 2024.

The first Local Management Boards (LMB) were established during the mid-1990s to change the way services were provided to children and families in their local communities. Local Management Boards are now operational in all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. The focus of the LMB is to increase local authority to plan, implement, and monitor children and family services utilizing eight Child Well-Being Result areas through programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

The LMB office reports two times a year to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services on progress made towards achieving the Maryland’s Results for Child Well-Being goals. The LMB office negotiated 11 Partnership Agreements in Fiscal Year 2023 and actively collects data and reports for six child-serving programs and initiatives in Garrett County.

In Fiscal Year 2023, the LMB implemented an Affordable Housing Feasibility Study for Garrett County with funding provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. This study will examine the effects of the current housing market on struggling populations and identify barriers to development. The factors considered in the study include municipal zoning ordinances, transportation, employment, building lots, vacant buildings, and residential properties. The goal of the study is to provide a detailed plan for future housing options for adults, families, parents/caregivers, children, and youth of Garrett County. 

For more information about Garrett Counties LBHA and LMB, call 301-334-7440.

Cutline: Pictured above are staff members of the Local Behavioral Health Authority and the Local Management Board. From left to right are Brianna Graham, Gillian Shreve, Director Fred Polce, Jr., and Julie Sanders.