White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs invites you to join a briefing call on Combatting the Opioid Crisis on Tuesday, March 19 at 4:30 PM EST. Kellyanne Conway (Assistant to the President & Senior Counselor), Jim Carroll (Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy) and other administration officials will review and provide insight into ongoing administration efforts to combat the crisis. If you would like to join the…

The Washington County Health Department is slated to open a 24/7 crisis center this July.  The center will service people suffering from substance use disorders and mental illnesses. It is being funded in part by federal State Opioid Response grant funding awarded through the Maryland Department of Health. As reported by the Herald-Mail: The center would be staffed by several full- and part-time employees, including nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, social workers, intake specialists and…

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and Howard County Council Chair Christiana Mercer Rigby last week announced “It’s OK To Ask,” a plan developed by the Howard County Health Department to reduce youth suicide. The county faces a public health emergency, as suicide was the leading cause of death for youth ages 15-19 in Howard County between 2014-2016. According to a press release: Using proven approaches that reduce stigma and engage the community, this campaign will…

The Danya Institute (according to their website): Since it was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2001, the Danya Institute has provided training and technical assistance (T/TA) to more than 10,000 community outreach workers, and addictions and mental health providers nationwide. This equates to improved quality care for an estimated 100,000 persons in recovery from the chronic diseases of addiction and mental illness. The institute is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)…

Natasha Mehu, MACo's Legislative Director, testified on Wednesday in support of  SB 158 - Maryland Department of Health - Community Dental Clinics Grant Program. This bill creates a grant program to help counties establish affordable community dental clinics. Poor oral health has been linked to heart disease, premature and low birth weights, and diabetes. Counties have a duty to help promote the health and well-being of their communities, but affordable dental care is very difficult…