Read more about the article FREE NACo Webinars on Finance Compliance, Non-Tax Revenue, Child/Family Social Impacts and Strategic Planning
County Government and Structure / Finance and Procurement / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues
FREE NACo Webinars on Finance Compliance, Non-Tax Revenue, Child/Family Social Impacts and Strategic Planning

Every month the National Association of Counties (NACo) hosts webinars to provide county leaders and professionals with knowledge on best practices and hot topics in various areas. Join NACo for the following webinars in June: County Finance Transformation: Improve Efficiency, Productivity, and Compliance June 8th - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm REGISTRATION Overview - County government organizations face significant challenges, including budget constraints, changing regulations, and increasing demand for transparency and accountability.  These challenges can…

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May 25, 2023
Read more about the article State’s Behavioral Health Budget Intended to Funnel People Away From Jails
Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections
State’s Behavioral Health Budget Intended to Funnel People Away From Jails

Moore-Miller Administration intends to use FY24 Behavioral Health funding to solve ongoing issue of mental health patients inadvertently becoming inmates. In a meeting with the Maryland Correctional Administrators Association on Tuesday, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health - Healthcare Systems, Bryan Mroz, gave an update on the status of court-ordered mental health transfers from local jails. Deputy Mroz reiterated that there is still a backlog of inmates that are required to be…

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May 24, 2023
Read more about the article 70 New Affordable Units Estimated to Combat Homelessness in Maryland
Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development
70 New Affordable Units Estimated to Combat Homelessness in Maryland

State's plan to administer $23.9M in remaining ARPA funding is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In a press release from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Secretary Jake Day announced funding to develop an estimated 70 affordable housing units in the state with the goal of combatting homelessness. Theses resources are made available as allocations from the federal HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP). Under program…

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May 23, 2023
Read more about the article States Consider Forced Treatment at Intersection of Homelessness and Mental Health Tragedies
Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development
States Consider Forced Treatment at Intersection of Homelessness and Mental Health Tragedies

California and Oregon look to reform forced treatment in the face of mental health issues leading to homelessness and higher mortality rates. According to an article from the Kaiser Family Foundation, several public tragedies have given state lawmakers pause to consider a shift in strategy when dealing with individuals with severe mental illness. As covered previously on the blog Maryland lags behind 47 states and the District of Columbia on providing some form of court-ordered…

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May 18, 2023
Read more about the article Four Maryland Universities to Receive $2.5 M to Train, Hire Mental Health Support
County News / Education / Health and Human Services / Higher Education / NACo and Federal Issues
Four Maryland Universities to Receive $2.5 M to Train, Hire Mental Health Support

Four Maryland universities will receive more than $2.5 million in federal grants to train and hire new mental health service personnel to help address student mental health. Under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the U.S. Department of Education will distribute nearly $100 million to 36 states to fund the training and hiring of mental health professionals across the country in order to address student mental health needs. Maryland will receive a little more than…

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May 18, 2023
Read more about the article Montgomery Schools Will Allow Students to Carry Lifesaving Narcan
County News / Education / Health and Human Services
Montgomery Schools Will Allow Students to Carry Lifesaving Narcan

Montgomery County will now allow students to carry personally obtained Narcan -- the lifesaving overdose reversal drug -- on school grounds. Students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) are now allowed to carry "personally obtained" overdose-reversing nasal spray, also known as naloxone or Narcan. Opioid reversal medications (like naloxone/Narcan) work temporarily to counteract the toxic and mortal effects of an opioid overdose. Notably, naloxone is considered safe to administer even if symptoms are not due to…

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May 17, 2023
Read more about the article Anne Arundel Health Department Hosts Health Equity Forums
Health and Human Services
Anne Arundel Health Department Hosts Health Equity Forums

County Health Department looking to increase opportunities for everyone to achieve their best health.  The Anne Arundel(AA) Health Equity forums are an initiative of the AA Health Department's Health Equity and Racial Justice Division. The ongoing work of this department was previously recognized as the 2020 winner of the MACo County Innovation Award. While the forums have already begun, more will be held at 3pm on the fourth Monday of every month through November of…

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May 17, 2023
Read more about the article $750K in Supplemental Funds for Harford Health Department
Health and Human Services
$750K in Supplemental Funds for Harford Health Department

Supplemental investment to staff and modernize the Harford Health Department permitting office comes through.  An agreement reached between the Harford County government and the Harford Health Department, extended e-permit software services to the Environmental Health Division that processes permits for wells, septic systems, and food service providers. This technology sharing across divisions is an important step towards modernizing various services within the local health departments. County Executive Cassilly from the press release stated: “This technology…

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May 11, 2023
Read more about the article The Federal Health Emergency Ends, but Marylanders’ Food Insecurity is Rising
Coronavirus / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / NACo and Federal Issues
The Federal Health Emergency Ends, but Marylanders’ Food Insecurity is Rising

As the formal end of the declared federal health emergency arrives, low-income Marylanders struggle with issues like food insecurity and the cost of everyday household items.  May 11 marks the end of the federal health emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the statewide hunger-relief non-profit, Maryland Food Bank, expressed concern about the staggering food insufficiencies that have risen drastically among low-income and struggling families. Between March and April, the share of families with incomes between…

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May 11, 2023
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