AACMHA Facts in Brief
Mission
The mission of the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency (AACMHA)
is to provide leadership and collaboration for planning, monitoring,
and managing of a comprehensive continuum of mental health care to
eligible residents of all ages.
AACMHA Structure
AACMHA is established by State Law (HG§10-1201-1203) and enabled by
County Ordinance (Article 2, §2A-102)
The County opted for a not-for-profit management structure with a
Board of Directors appointed by the County Executive and accountable to
the County Council for its activities.
The establishment of AACMHA created a local single point of
accountability, planning, funding, and coordination for the care of
eligible residents of the County.
Functions and Special Achievements
AACMHA is established specifically to assure that persons with
serious and persistent mental illness get the services they need in a
coordinated manner and in a community setting.
AACMHA seized opportunities such as Federal Block Grant Funds for the
most comprehensive Crisis Response System in the United States.
AACMHA closed numerous other service gaps, such as Mental Health
Services in the Detention Centers.
AACMHA has increased the fiscal accountability and program outcomes
to a level that allowed new service provision without additional funding
in numerous cases.
AACMHA has established a comprehensive planning process that has
effected changes in state level budget priorities that resulted in more
responsive services at the local level.
Meeting Local Needs
AACMHA has met local needs by establishing:
1. The mental health jail project
2. The Crisis Response System
3. A Program of Assertive Community Programs (PACT) for the homeless
and seriously mentally ill
4. A self help program called On Our Own
5. A rapid eligibility determination system and providing urgent care
appointments
6. A Case Management Program
7. A Mentoring Program for emotionally disturbed children and their
families.
8. Expanded Residential Rehabilitation Programs (Adult Supervised
Living Units)
9. Co-created a Housing Development Corporation to provide
independent housing opportunities for the mentally ill
10. Collaborating with other agencies to help multi-disabled children
and their families get responsive care
11. Developed a way to get in-patient psychiatric care at North
Arundel Hospital for uninsured people
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updated 7/29/03
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