Mental Health Results Statement: Carroll residents have access to integrated, principle-driven mental health systems of care providing recovery/resiliency-oriented services.
Substance Abuse Results Statement: People across the lifespan are free of addiction and abuse of illegal substances and their effects.
Behavioral Health is a prevention and treatment discipline in which mental health and substance abuse issues are both addressed, allowing for a coordinated continuum of care and more successful treatment outcomes.
The Partnership no longer maintains separate Leadership Teams in the areas of substance abuse and mental health. We strongly support the behavioral health model, and work with the Carroll County Core Service Agency (CSA), Carroll County Health Department Bureau of Addiction Treatment Services (BOATS), the Carroll County Behavioral Health and Addictions Advisory Council (BHAAC), and other local partners to provide resources and initiatives that support recovery. The Partnership is aligned with Healthy People 2020 goals in mental health and substance abuse. We seek a state of successful functioning for all people, characterized by productive activities, fulfilling relationships with others, the ability to adapt to change, and the resiliency to cope with challenges.
Partnership Staff Contact:
Kim Spangler
410-876-4965
kspangler@dhmh.state.md.us
Click on organizational chart boxes to view details.
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Resource Directory
In FY 2012 The Partnership will update its Substance Abuse Resource Directory and expand it to include Mental Health resources. When completed, hard copies will be available for free to the public. In addition, it will be available in digital form on this web site.
The new Directory will replace the 3rd edition of the Substance Abuse Resource Directory, which was issued in January 2008. To update this important information resource, The Partnership will assemble an Action Team of local professionals in the substance abuse prevention and mental health fields. The Directory will include local licensed and certified treatment programs, other treatment programs, support programs, prevention programs, tobacco-specific programs, and law enforcement resources.
Copies of the 2008 Edition of the Carroll County Substance Abuse Resource Directory can be downloaded HERE.
Prescription Drug Abuse / Proper Disposal
In 2010, The Partnership conducted a letter campaign to Carroll County physicians and dentists to raise awareness about the local trend of increasing prescription drug abuse and, unfortunately, a concurrent rise in deaths attributed to substance abuse. The letter encouraged physicians and dentists to educate their patients about the proper disposal of unwanted prescription medications.
It has been determined that one of the common denominators in many of the recent suicide deaths is the presence of substance abuse disorders. Teen "Pharm Parties" are taking place with a variety of prescription drugs obtained from household medicine cabinets. The Partnership will continue leading local efforts to discourage prescription drug abuse through proper disposal of medications.
Click HERE to access "Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse" on The Anti-Drug.com - a web site created by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign to give parents and other adult caregivers the tools they need to raise drug-free kids.
Designated Driver Education at Maryland Wine Festival®
In 2010 and 2011, The Partnership collaborated with two other local organizations, Carroll County Health Department Bureau of Addiction Treatment Services and The Mid-Western Region Traffic Safety Program, to provide and staff a Designated Driver water booth at the Maryland Wine Festival® held at the Carroll County Farm Museum.
"Don't Hesitate to Designate" was the message at the Designated Driver booth in 2011. "Designated Driver" tickets to the Wine Festival® could be purchased at a discount from the regular price of admission. Attendees with proof of the Designated Driver ticket received free bottled water. The Designated Driver booth provided safe driving and substance abuse prevention materials for all attendees.
Carroll County Behavioral Health and Addiction Advisory Council (BHAAC)
The BHAAC serves as the local mental health advisory council and the local drug and alcohol abuse council. In this role, the BHAAC acts as an advocate for a comprehensive and integrated behavioral health system for persons of all ages to meet the identified needs of the general public as well as special populations within the county. The BHAAC accomplishes this mission through the use of smaller workgroups organized to improvement opportunities in the county's behavioral health system including quality of service, gaps in the system and interagency coordination and collaboration. The BHAAC meets on a quarterly basis in the months of March, June, September, and December. The meetings are open to the community. Call 410-876-4440 for additional information.
OTHER LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
While The Partnership does not currently coordinate any Leadership Teams in Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Behavioral Health, we continue to encourage local efforts in these areas. The initiatives listed below are examples of programs in our community that provide improved behavioral health services and/or resources for awareness and education. |
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SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR)
SOAR is a national initiative for training case managers and other social service workers to allow them to better assist clients in applying for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. Accessing benefits is often a critical first step in recovery.
Access to these programs can be extremely challenging for many people who are homeless, who have mental health disorders that impair cognition, or who are returning to the community from institutions (jails, prisons or hospitals). Previously, only about 10-15 percent of individuals who are homeless found a way to access these benefits. For those trained in the SOAR application process, approval rates for disability benefits grow to around 70 percent.
The SOAR Planning Committee meets on a quarterly basis and consists of representatives from the Core Service Agency, the local Social Security Administration, Access Carroll, Keystone Services of Maryland, Carroll County Youth Services Bureau, and the Mental Hygiene Administration's Office of Special Needs Populations. Current data for the Carroll County SOAR initiative reveals that six applications have been submitted via the SOAR process with a 100% approval rating. The average length of time to receive a decision on the application was 98 days.
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National Take Back Initiative / Proper Disposal
The National Take Back Initiative is a program of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) that helps people dispose of unwanted prescription drugs. It is coordinated locally by the Hampstead Police Department, and co-sponsored with the DEA. The second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was held in October 2011 with a drug collection at the Hampstead Police Station. Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs were accepted. The drugs removed are relinquished to the DEA for proper disposal. New National Take Back Day dates are planned for the upcoming year.
National Recovery Month
September marks National Recovery Month. This national awareness initiative promotes the benefits of treatment for substance use and mental disorders, celebrates people in recovery, applauds the contributions of treatment providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. National Recovery Month spreads the message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. The 2011 Recovery Month theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Recovery Benefits Everyone" was featured on the designated driver water bottles distributed at the Maryland Wine Festival.
The Carroll County Health Department coordinates local treatment and recovery services and local Recovery Month activities. Contact the Bureau of Addiction Treatment Services at the Carroll County Health Department by calling 410-876-4800.
Maryland Strategic Prevention Framework (MSPF)
MSPF is a program funded by a grant received by the Carroll County Health Department from the Federal Government. Its goals are to:
- Prevent the onset and reduce the progress of underage drinking.
- Build prevention strategies at the community level, and
- Partner with an established non-profit organization to increase awareness within the community.
The Community Media Center of Carroll County (CMC) is the non-profit organization leading the Westminster community in reducing underage drinking, reducing youth binge drinking, and preventing alcohol-related crashes. The CMC educates Career and Technology Center students in video production. Two students were chosen to work on a 30 second Public Service Announcement (PSA) targeting the effects of alcohol on the teen brain. The MSPF Coordinator discussed the "Save your Brain" concept with the student interns. Students Natalie and Beth became the driving forces of the PSA. They came up with the concept, set the production stage, filmed, and performed in the video. Click HERE to view the “Save Your Brain” PSA (VIDEO)
We are building our MSPF Carroll County Coalition Against Underage Drinking now. Who can help? Parents, students, educators, churches, civic groups, youth organizations, local government, businesses, and concerned citizens are needed. To join local efforts against teen drinking, please contact the MSPF Coordinator, Carol Mullen, at 410-386-4415 ext. 123 or CMullen@carrollmediacenter.org.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Mental Health First Aid is offered in the form of an interactive 12-hour course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S. and introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health disorders, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Those who take the 12-hour course to certify as Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The Core Service Agency sponsors local training about twice per year. Call 410-876-4440 for more information.
Prescription Medication Disposal Program
To help prevent the abuse of prescription medications, Carroll County has had a Prescription Medication Disposal Program in place since 2009. We encourage residents to participate.
Click HERE to download the program brochure.
Mental Health Links
Carroll County Core Service Agency
Carroll County Youth Service Bureau, Inc.
CCISC Model
Charter and Consensus Agreement for Co-Occurring Disorders
Directory of Community Services for Carroll County
Focus Adolescent Services
Get Connected Family Resource Center
Healthy People 2010 - Mental Health section
Maryland Coalition for Families
Mosaic Community Services – Granite House
Mental Health First Aid
National Institute of Mental Health
Network of Care for Behavioral Health - Carroll and Frederick Counties
NotMyKid
Carroll County Mental Health Diversion Program (Criminal Justin Diversion) (pdf)
Stop a Suicide Today
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Villa Maria Behavioral Health Clinic
Yellow Ribbon Teen Suicide Prevention
Substance Abuse Links
ADAA Substance Abuse Resources
American Council for Drug Education
Center for Substance Abuse Research (CEASAR)
CESAR Fax - weekly overview of substance abuse trends and issues
Coalition Against Underage Drinking
Get Connected Family Resource Center
Healthy People 2010 - Substance Abuse
Heroin Action Coalition
Join Together Online
Learn the Link - HIV/AIDS and teen drug abuse
Maryland Community Services Locator
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, MD
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS)
Nine Zero / Nine Months, Zero Alcohol (NineZero.com)
NotMyKid
ROSC Definition (pdf)
ROSC Strategies (pdf)
SART Background (pdf)
SART Presentation (pdf)
"Save Your Brain" PSA (video)
Strategic Planning Chart (pdf)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Substance Abuse Resource Directory - 2008 Edition (pdf)
Youth Prescription Drug Abuse Rising - 02/2009
Page updated: 02/12
