BALTIMORE CITY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

HEALTH

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

On March 20, 2023, the Health Department headquarters building at 1001 East Fayette Street was renamed for Dr. Maxie T. Collier (1945-1994), who served as Commissioner of Health from 1987 to 1990.

Today, under direction of the Commissioner of Health, the Baltimore City Department of Health provides public health services and administers and enforces State and local health laws and regulations within Baltimore City. Programs meet the public health needs of the community and provide services not offered by the private sector (City Charter, Art. VII, secs. 54-56).

Appointed by the Mayor with City Council approval, the Commissioner of Health heads the Department.

Under the Department of Health are four main divisions: Aging and Community Support; Finance and Administration; Population Health and Disease Prevention; and Youth Wellness and Community Health. The Department is aided by the Child Fatality Review Team, and the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council.

CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM
The Child Fatality Review Team seeks to develop an understanding of the causes and incidence of child death in Baltimore City. The Team develops plans for and recommends changes within the agencies represented on the Team to prevent child deaths; and promotes compensation and coordination among agencies involved in investigations of child deaths, or in providing services to surviving family members. The Team also advises the State Child Fatality Review Team on changes to law, policy, or practice to prevent child deaths (Chapters 355 & 356, Acts of 1999; Code Health-General Article, secs. 5-705 through 5-709).

DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE COUNCIL
A drug and alcohol abuse council was authorized in each county and Baltimore City by the General Assembly in 2004 (Chapters 237 & 238, Acts of 2004; Code Health-General Article, sec. 8-1001).

In Baltimore City, the Council is known as Behavioral Health System Baltimore. The Council develops, submits to the Governor, and implements plans and strategies with which to evaluate, prevent, and treat alcohol and drug abuse in Baltimore City.

DIVISION OF AGING & COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The Division of Aging and Community Support originated as the Office of Aging and CARE (Commission on Aging and Retirement Education) Services under the Department of Health. By 2015, it was elevated from an office to a division within the Department and, by January 2025, the Division of Aging and CARE Services took on its current name.

COMMISSION ON AGING

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN

ADVOCACY SERVICES

OFFICE OF CLIENT SERVICES

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES

OFFICE OF HOME & COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES

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