Formerly Behavioral Health had been headed by a Deputy Secretary responsible for three administrations: Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Developmental Disabilities; and Mental Hygiene. However, in July 2014, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration merged with the Mental Hygiene Administration to form the Behavioral Health Administration (Chapter 460, Acts of 2014), and, in October 2014, the Developmental Disabilities Administration separated from Behavioral Health (Chapter 539, Acts of 2014).
Today, the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health oversees the Behavioral Health Administration.
The Behavioral Health Administration was created from the merger of two older agencies: the Mental Hygiene Administration, and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration.
The Mental Hygiene Administration originated in 1886 as the State Lunacy Commission (Chapter 487, Acts of 1886). The Commission inspected public and private institutions for the insane and advised their boards of managers. In 1922, the Commission was replaced by the Board of Mental Hygiene (Chapter 29, Acts of 1922). The Board, in turn, was superseded by the Department of Mental Hygiene in 1949 (Chapter 685, Acts of 1949). Not only was the Board of Mental Hygiene abolished in 1949, but so also were the separate governing boards of the State mental hospitals. In that year, the Department of Mental Hygiene became responsible for the custody, care, and treatment of mentally ill persons. The Department of Mental Hygiene became part of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 1969 and subsequently reorganized as the Mental Hygiene Administration (Chapter 77, Acts of 1969). In July 2008, the Administration moved under the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health and Disabilities (Chapter 661, Acts of 2008).
The other agency from which the Behavioral Health Administration evolved was the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, which started as two separate agencies: one concerned with alcoholism and the other with addiction to narcotics. The Drug Abuse Authority, formed in 1969, was succeeded in 1971 by the Drug Abuse Adminstration (Chapter 404, Acts of 1969; Chapter 29, Acts of 1971). Thereafter, the Division of Alcoholism Control of the former Mental Health Administration became the Alcoholism Control Adminstration in 1976 (Chapter 746, Acts of 1976). By departmental organization in 1987, the Drug Abuse Administration and the Alcoholism Control Administration merged to form the Addictions Services Administration. In 1988, the Administration was renamed the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration (Chapter 758, Acts of 1988).
In July 2014, the Mental Hygiene Administration merged with the Alcohol and Drug Administration to reform as the Behavioral Health Administration (Chapter 460, Acts of 2014; Code Health-General Article, secs. 7.5-101 through 7.5-204).
The Behavioral Health Administration oversees Maryland's Public Mental Health System by planning, setting policy, and allocating resources. To ensure that Marylanders receive appropriate treatment, the Administration provides mental health services in the community through core service agencies and State institutions (Code Health - General Article, secs. 10-201 through 10-208).
Core Service Agencies. 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).
State Institutions. Under the Behavioral Health Administration are five psychiatric hospitals. The Administration also is responsible for two residential treatment centers for youth.
Mental Health Crisis Response System. Within the Mental Hygiene Administration, the Maryland Mental Health Crisis Response System formed in October 2002 (Chapter 371, Acts of 2002). The System became part of the Behavioral Health Administration in July 2014.
Through the Mental Health Crisis Response System, the Behavioral Health Administration consults with family members, and consumers and advocates of mental health services to develop a statewide network to respond to the current mental health crisis. To reduce threatening situations involving those needing mental health services, the network provides assistance to prevent suicides, homicides, arrests, and unnecessary hospitalizations. This assistance includes a hotline for suicide prevention, treatment referrals, telephone assistance for mental information, and even transportation of patients to emergency appointments. The network coordinates its work with core service agencies (local health departments), police, emergency medical personnel, and mental health providers.
The Executive Director of Behavioral Health heads the Administration, and reports to the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health (Code Health-General Article, secs. 7.5-202 through 7.5-204). Appointed by the Secretary of Health, and with the Secretary's approval, the Executive Director of Behavioral Health is empowered to make State grants-in-aid to further community mental health services (Chapter 125, Acts of 1966). The Executive Director supervises programs receiving these grants-in-aid. Local mental health advisory committees also are authorized for each county and Baltimore City (Code Health-General Article, secs. 10-308 through 10-312).
The Administration's work is carried out through five divisions: Behavioral Health Facilities; Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Services; Clinical Services Adults and Older Adults; Service Access and Practice Innovation; and Systems Management. Also, one office, Finance and Fiscal Management. reports directly to the Executive Director.
The Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Maryland Department of Health relating to the design, development, implementation, and funding of the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Registry and Referral System. Recommendations cover regulations; the status of the Department's resource directory and pilot program; and sources of funding, including grants, and federal, private or State funds.
Operations oversees Contracts and Procurement; Finance and Fiscal Management; General Services; and Office of Applied Research and Evaluation.
Funds for substance abuse treatment and prevention statewide are awarded and monitored by Finance and Fiscal Management. Further, the office manages internal operations for the Behavioral Health Administration, prepares the Administration's budget, and develops the annual federal block grant application.
Policy and Planning oversees Administrative Services Organization Compliance; Certification of Recovery Residences; Licensing and Accreditation; Local Planning and Management; Planning; Quality and Compliance; and Substance Use Disorder Compliance.
Prevention and Promotion is responsible for six main units: Division Operations; Maryland's Commitment to Veterans; Office of Community-Based Access and Support; Office of Integrated Prevention and Wellness; Office of Overdose Prevention and Education; and Office of Public Awareness.
Four units are overseen by Primary Behavioral Health and Early Intervention: Acute Care; Early Childhood Mental Health; School-Aged Programming; and Transition-Aged Youth and Young Adult Services.
Treatment and Recovery evaluates the network of services funded by the Behavioral Health Administration to ensure that such services meet the needs of Marylanders with mental health conditions, substance-related disorders, or co-occurring conditions and disorders.
Under Treatment and Recovery are Evidence-Based Practices, Housing and Recovery Supports; Older Adults and Long-Term Services; State Hospital Initiatives; and Treatment Services.
CRISIS SERVICES & COORDINATION
For individuals who are incarcerated, homeless, deaf or hard of hearing, victims of natural or man-made disasters, or had co-occurring mental disorders and substance abuse issues, Crisis Services and Coordination plans, coordinates, and monitors mental health services. This office also oversees federal grants which address mental health needs of certain populations. In addition, it serves veterans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who have behavioral health needs.
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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Dix Building, Dogwood Circle, Spring Grove Hospital Center
55 Wade Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228
MARYLAND MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER REGISTRY & REFERRAL SYSTEM ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Within the Maryland Department of Health, the Maryland Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Registry and Referral System Advisory Committee.was authorized in February 2021 by the General Assembly and made part of the Behavioral Health Administration (Chapter 29, Acts of 2021; Code Health-General Article, secs. 7.5–801, 7.5–802).
OPERATIONS
Within the Behavioral Health Administration, Operations had formed by May 2023.
FINANCE & FISCAL MANAGEMENT
Finance and Fiscal Management was initiated as the Management Services Division. Under Operations, it reformed as the Office of Finance, Grants, and Procurement in July 2014. It adopted its present name when Operations' functions were transferred to the Chief of Staff in January 2017. It later moved back under Operations.
OFFICE OF APPLIED RESEARCH & EVALUATION
Formerly under the Alcohol and Drug Administration. By April 2025, the Office of Applied Research and Evaluation moved under Operations.
POLICY & PLANNING
Under the Behavioral Health Administration, Policy and Planning started as Operations in July 2014. It adopted the name of Systems Management in July 2017. By January 2024, it was renamed Policy and Planning.
PREVENTION & PROMOTION
Within the Behavioral Health Administration,Prevention and Promotion formed first as Population-Based Behavioral Health in July 2014. It reorganized in July 2017 as Health Promotion and Prevention, and in January 2019, as Service Access and Practice Innovation. By January 2024, it restructured under its present name.
PRIMARY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & EARLY INTERVENTION
Functions of Primary Behavioral Health and Early Intervention started as Child and Adolescent Services under the Mental Health Administration in 1984. At that time, Child and Adolescent Services oversaw and coordinated mental health services for children and adolescents within the Public Mental Health System, and was responsible for two residential treatment centers for youth: the Regional Institutes for Children and Adolescents in Baltimore and Rockville. Under the Behavioral Health Administration, Child and Adolescent Services restructured as Children's Services in July 2014, and Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Services in 2017. By January 2024, it was renamed Primary Behavioral Health and Early Intervention.
TREATMENT & RECOVERY
In July 2014, Treatment and Recovery began as Clinical Services under the Behavioral Health Administration. In July 2017, it became Clinical Services Adults and Older Adults. By January 2024, it received its present name.
URGENT & ACUTE CARE
Under Urgent and Acute Care are four units: Criminal Justice; Crisis Services and Coordination; 988 Crisis Hotlines; and Operations and Data.
In 1991, functions of Crisis Services and Coordination began when the Mental Hygiene Administration established the Office of Special Needs Populations. In July 2014, at the start of the Behavioral Health Administration, the Office reorganized as Special Populations and was placed within the Office of Adult and Specialized Behavioral Health Services under Clinical Services. When Clinic Services reformed as Clinical Services Adults and Older Adults in July 2017, Special Populations joined with Treatment and Recovery Services to create Crisis Prevention, Criminal Justice Treatment and Diversion. In December 2020, it restructured as Crisis Programs and Criminal Justice Services, and reformed under its current name by January 2026.
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