Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today unveiled the impact a nearly $5 million grant from the Maryland General Assembly has played on Howard County’s implementation of a new statewide youth mental and behavioral health and wellness initiative that aims to increase mental health resources and services for all Marylanders.

“With this grant, Howard County has been able to fund programs that increase the availability of mental and behavioral health support services,” said Ball. “I thank our Howard County State Delegation, the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission and the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports for putting forth this vital funding and launching this impactful initiative that will help make a difference and improve the lives of our children, brightening their future.”

An initiative of the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) and the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, this program utilizes a “hub and spoke model” to address a range of behavioral health challenges through prevention, behavioral health screenings, counseling, addiction treatment, family support and more. Howard County’s Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) Office of the Local Children’s Board was chosen by the CHRC and Consortium to serve as Howard County’s “Hub” to coordinate the initiative’s local behavioral health resources and services for residents.

“The Department of Community Resources and Services is excited to have been chosen as one of two Local Management Boards to be the local Hub to convene, collaborate, support, and expand youth mental and behavioral health services in Howard County,” said Jacqueline Scott, DCRS Director. “We’re proud of our role to partner and build relationships with existing providers and cultivate new relationships to expand services to improve the overall health and well-being of our young people.”

With this nearly $5 million in funding, the County’s Office of the Local Children’s Board has directed: 

• $1,100,000 to Backpack Healthcare to expand access to substance use groups. Piloted in the spring of 2023, Backpack Healthcare offers monthly Wellness Workshops, a self-care app for participants and group and individual therapy sessions. 
• $1,000,000 to BrainFutures to help improve learning ability, increase school connectedness and reduce negative mental health experiences for students grades kindergarten through fifth. This past summer, BrainFutures launched a pilot program that offers computer-based training and physical activities to students, grades kindergarten through fifth.
• $225,000 to Congruent Counseling Services to provide substance use disorder services, mental health interventions and education, parent support, and navigation to students in need. Programming includes motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy approaches.
• $385,000 to Parent Encouragement Program, Inc. to provide parenting education services to parents of students in need. 
• $2,250,000 to Sheppard Pratt Health System, Inc. to provide students individual and family therapy sessions, early intervention groups, case management, psychiatric services, consultation with school staff and parents, client transportation, and access to its summer programs. Sheppard Pratt’s summer programs include Student Check-Up, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools and Bounce Back.

In its first reporting period, March 2024 through June 2024, this funding has already served students from 39 Howard County Public School System schools. 

“Today, youth are struggling with enormous pressures – and we must do more to support them,” said State Senator Katir Fry Hester and Consortium member. “I’m proud of the State’s commitment: $111 million in grants, including nearly $5 million right here in Howard County, to ensure our children have the resources they need, including access to therapy and mental health services, early intervention, and parental support and education. With this, we can work towards a brighter future for our youth.”

“We congratulate Howard County on the successful launch of its Consortium grants,” said former State Senator Edward Kasemeyer and CHRS Chairman and Consortium member. “These programs are providing much-needed services and support to children and families.”  

“Through the Consortium’s commitment to supporting behavioral health providers in Howard County, our students and families will be able to receive expanded services related to substance use prevention, student therapeutic services, behavioral health focused parenting outreach, and enhanced student engagement and cognitive executive functioning,” said Dr. Caroline Walker, Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Chief Equity and Innovation Officer. “HCPSS is grateful to the Howard County Delegation and Government for making this possible and look forward to continued partnerships to create these valuable opportunities for our young people.”

To learn more about the County’s Office of the Local Children’s Board, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/olcb or call 410-313-6400.