Prince George's County Health Department Launches Two New Programs After Receiving More Than $7 Million In Grants
Largo, Maryland – The Prince George's County Health Department, Behavioral Health Division, is proud to announce the launch of the System of Care and Healthy Transitions grant programs on Saturday, March 30, 2024. These behavioral health programs are made possible through significant grant resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), marking a crucial step forward in providing comprehensive mental health support for young individuals and their families in Prince George's County.
“These grants emphasize the importance of providing timely assistance to children and families facing emotional distress,” said Dr. Matthew Levy, Health Officer. “This supports the Health Department's commitment to implementing programs that will effectively support the emotional well-being of children and families, thereby reducing potential risks.”
The Behavioral Health Division of the Prince George's County Health Department recently secured two substantial grants totaling $7.75 million over five years from SAMHSA. These grants are specifically designated to enhance mental health services for children, youth, and young adults, along with vital services and support to their families.
The System of Care (SOC) grant will also focus on improving mental health outcomes for children and youth who are at risk of entering the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
The SOC grant focuses on preventing the involvement of at-risk children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. With a commitment to assisting at least 350 individuals from birth to age 21 facing emotional challenges, the SOC program aims to provide comprehensive support, prioritizing early intervention to prevent legal issues.
The Healthy Transitions grant targets the critical age group of youth and young adults, ages 16 to 25, offering essential support to navigate emotional turbulence. This initiative seeks to empower a minimum of 275 individuals in Prince George's County, ensuring they receive the necessary resources to improve their emotional well-being and transition successfully into adulthood. Additionally, The Arc of Prince George's County has also been awarded a $750,000 Healthy Transitions grant from SAMHSA and will collaborate with the Prince George's County Health Department. While focusing on the same age group, they will specifically address the needs of individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disorders (IDD), further broadening the scope of support and services available to the community.
“The Arc Prince George's County is excited to support people with intellectual disabilities to gain access to mental health screening and treatment, said Constina Berry, Healthy Transitions Project Director. “It has been proven that youth and young adults ages 16-25 struggle to identify mental providers to receive proper treatment. Project LIVE is designed to train more mental health providers to accept people with intellectual disabilities for therapy and comprehensive treatment.”
Residents have the option of self-referring, but we are also partnering with various agencies, including the Department of Social Services, Department of Juvenile Services, Department of Family Services, and Prince George’s County Public Schools, to ensure a holistic approach to referrals, enabling residents to access services seamlessly.
Effective March 30, 2024, families will be able to access services and support provided by subcontractors carefully selected by the Prince George’s County Health Department, serving as the System of Care Clinical Home Providers and Healthy Transitions Clinical Home Providers, respectively. These providers are committed to delivering tailored, evidence-based care to meet the unique needs of each individual and family.
Furthermore, non-clinical support is available through organizations such as National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) PGC, Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF), and the Maryland Coalition for Families: Taking Flight Program, ensuring a comprehensive network of resources for those in need.
Through these subgrants, the Prince George's County Health Department reaffirms its dedication to the well-being of children, young adults, and families, expanding its reach to offer essential support to those who need it most.
For more information about the PGCHD System of Care children, youth, young adults, and families’ initiatives and related services, please visit https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/health/behavioral-health-services/systems-care-soc
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