LEONARDTOWN, Md. – The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health, Alyssa Lord, visited the St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) and its Health Hub in Lexington Park on September 27, 2024.
MDH Deputy Secretary Lord and her staff met with SMCHD leadership and behavioral health team members. SMCHD Behavioral Health Director Tammy Loewe highlighted the county’s efforts to address the behavioral health needs of the St. Mary’s County community. The MDH team also toured the St. Mary’s County Health Hub in Lexington Park which has expanded behavioral health services and supports for the county. The Health Hub offers a wide range of services, including behavioral health screening, crisis counseling, a jail diversion program, community mediation, and primary care medical services.
“We were honored to welcome the Deputy Secretary to St. Mary’s County and highlight the work of our local health department and partners,” said Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer. “This site visit allowed our partners at the Maryland Department of Health to see how local health departments can improve healthcare access in their jurisdictions. We also appreciated the discussion about ongoing challenges and opportunities for improving behavioral health in our county.”
“Reaching rural areas is key to our goal of making sure every Marylander has access to behavioral healthcare and we’re proud to work directly with local partners to fill gaps in this access,” said Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health Alyssa Lord. “I would like to thank the St. Mary’s County Health Department team for welcoming me. The Health Hub is a vital resource for Southern Marylanders and the expanded mental health and crisis response services are impressive.”
For more information on local behavioral health services, visit smchd.org/behavioralhealth.
For more information on the Health Hub, visit hub.smchd.org.
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