$2.5M To Support Behavioral Health Services Across Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Behavioral health services offered to Howard County residents will receive a $2.5 million boost in funding.

From 2016 to 2019, mental health emergency department visits to Maryland hospitals increased roughly 30 percent. Funding will support infrastructure and services at the Howard County General Hospital, Sheppard Pratt and Tuerk House.

“We will help address the growing need of behavioral health services in Howard County with this $2.5 million in combined funding to help our residents in need,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “With this investment of county and state funding, we are building on our efforts to support all our neighbors who are experiencing mental and behavioral health care crises in Howard County. These partnerships make clear that when we work together, address issues strategically, and take a truly holistic approach - we will save lives and help build a healthier future for all.”

The funding includes $1 million that will support critical investments in the behavioral health unit at Howard County General Hospital. There are currently five beds available in the emergency department to accommodate a growing volume of behavioral health patients. Ball’s proposed funding, in addition to $1.6 million in funding from the state, would create 24 beds that would expand capacity and decrease wait times for other non-behavioral health emergency department patients.

Ball also allocated $1 million to Sheppard Pratt’s Residential Crisis Program. The new facility will operate a residential crisis program at Sheppard Pratt’s Elkridge campus. County funding is also joined by $1.6 million in state funding. The new 16-bed residential crisis program will help county residents in crisis avoid higher levels of care such as emergency departments or inpatient units and help county residents transition from higher levels of care at record response times.

Ball also allocated $500,000 to Tuerk House for the creation of a new residential treatment facility in Highland primarily for pregnant women and women with children, which is a currently underserved population.

"An expansion of mental health services has been a strategic goal of the bureau of behavioral health for many years and it is exciting to see it coming to fruition," said Roe Rodgers-Bonaccorsy, Howard County Health Department bureau of behavioral health director. "This additional funding provided by the county allows us to make more effective referrals based on the increased access to services now available to help clients and family members."