Community Behavioral Health Association of MD

06/05/2026

CBH members from all corners of Maryland came together in Washington this week for Hill Day with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and we are so grateful for every single one of them.

We covered it all: CCBHCs, SUD programs, 988, workforce, block grant funding; and we made sure every Maryland congressional and Senate office knew what's at stake for the people we serve.
These providers took time away from their programs to stand up for behavioral health at the federal level, and it made all the difference. We also want to give a heartfelt thank you to the legislative staffers who welcomed us, asked great questions, and genuinely wanted to know how their offices can help. That means more than you know.

Thank you ALL for being the champions behavioral health needs right now.

06/02/2026

What a day! On May 21 we gathered over 100 CBH members for our Annual Member Meeting. A day full of great sessions, good company, and so much to celebrate.

Congratulations to our 2026 award recipients:
Partner Champions — Katie Rouse (On Our Own of Maryland, Inc.) and Stephanie Slowly Little (NAMI Maryland)
Advocate of the Year — Alyssa Sanders (EveryMind.)
Legislative Champion — Delegate Emily Shetty

We also celebrated some exciting board news! Katie Rouse moves into the role of Board President and Jonathan Davis (CarePoint Response) steps into Board Treasurer. And we're thrilled to welcome six new members to the CBH board:

Marshall Henson, Pratt
Kim Wireman, Powell Recovery Center
Candace Vanderwater, Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas, Inc
Jon D'Souza, Maryland Wellness
Jesse Guercio, Humanim
Kristy Blalock,

Thank you to all of our wonderful presenters and to everyone who joined us. We hope to see even more of you next year!

05/29/2026

Big news for Maryland behavioral health!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Maryland has been selected as one of 10 states joining the 2026 CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration!

This has been a long time coming...our community has been building toward this since 2016, with Maryland providers participating in the CCBHC Expansion Grant since 2018. Today, that hard work pays off.

The CCBHC model means more Marylanders can get the mental health and substance use care they deserve; comprehensive, coordinated, and close to home. We can't wait to see what comes next.

03/05/2026

Advocates know Maryland lawmakers are working with a tight budget this year but worry that another year without rate increases for behavioral health professionals will worsen a 34,000-person workforce shortage and threaten the services that struggling Marylanders need.

Advocates know Maryland faces a tight budget this year, but worry that another year without rate increases for behavioral health workers will worsen a 34,000-person workforce shortage and threaten the services that struggling Marylanders need.

02/26/2026

Thank you to the hundreds of advocates and CBH members who showed up to speak out for behavioral health at the Behavioral Health Coalition's 2026 Keep the Door Open Rally!

02/25/2026

https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-02-25/lawmakers-advocates-push-maryland-general-assembly-for-more-mental-health-funding

The state faces a 38,000 shortage of behavioral health workers by 2028.

02/25/2026

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/behavioral-health-programs-funding-maryland-session-2026/70497136

Senate leaders and advocates urged the Maryland General Assembly to preserve funding for behavioral health programs.

02/04/2026

Interested in legislative advocacy but not sure where to start? This training led by The Youth Power Project is for peer advocates, youth leaders, and emerging changemakers ready to turn lived experience into real mental health policy change. Learn how mental health policy is made, how to share your story strategically, and how to engage state and federal lawmakers. Gain practical tools to pitch legislation, identify policy gaps, and advocate sustainably while protecting your wellbeing.

Registration link: https://bit.ly/4ruePuK.

01/30/2026

Our members at work.

01/12/2026

Between 2023 and 2025, deaths by su***de in Montgomery County rose almost 26%. When times are tough, we must strengthen our safety net for those most at risk.

Data, and conversations with those who work in the field, show that residents of Montgomery County are struggling mentally, and that demand for mental health services has increased.