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Behavioral Health News, Events, & More
for the Mid-Shore Region
| | Student Prevents Overdose with Use of Naloxone | |
On September 15, 2025, the daughter (M) of a staff member at Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. (MSBH) was on her way to class at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, when she encountered an individual who was unresponsive due to an opioid overdose. Thanks to the naloxone provided through the Overdose Response Program (ORP) at MSBH, M was able to administer the life-saving medication and immediately called 911. She provided critical life-saving measures and remained with the individual until EMS arrived, preventing a fatal overdose and saving a life. This courageous act not only made a profound difference in the life of the person she helped but also left a lasting impact on M herself.
To obtain harm reduction kits please call the MSBH office at 410-770-4801.
To learn more about the MSBH Harm Reduction program, click here.
| Recognizing MSBH Team Member Anniversaries | | |
Please join us in recognizing and celebrating the work anniversaries of Audra Cherbonnier, LMSW, Programs Manager (six years), America Mckinney, Continuum of Care Support Specialist (two years), and Greg Gibson, Child, Adolescent, Young Adult Population (CAYA) Supervisor (one year).
Audra, America, and Greg, we are grateful for the passion, commitment, and care you bring to your work every day. Thank you for all you do!
| 12th Annual Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) a Success | | |
From left to right: Katie Dilley, MSBH CEO; Mary Becraft, MSBH Forensic Mental Health Case Manager; Amanda Tondin, Administrative Captain, Talbot County Department of Corrections; Bill Rhodes, LCPC, Mental Health Coordinator, Talbot & Dorchester County Detention Centers; Joseph Hughes, Director of Corrections, Talbot County; Chief George W. Bacorn, Jr., Denton Police Department; Judge Heather Price, Caroline County Circuit Court; Judge Marina L. Sabett, Associate Judge, District Court of Maryland & Coordinating Judge for Behavioral Health; Mariah Shupe, Mid-Shore CIT Coordinator; Alisha Saulsbury, LCSW-C, Forensic Mental Health Program Manager, MSBH.
On November 14th, 2025, Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. hosted the 12th Annual Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) Conference in Easton, MD, bringing together approximately 110 attendees from behavioral health, law enforcement, corrections, and the judicial system. This year’s theme, “Beyond Boundaries: Intercepting Challenges, Mapping Hope,” focused on strengthening cross-system collaboration to divert individuals with behavioral health and substance use needs toward treatment instead of deeper involvement in the justice system. Keynote and breakout sessions highlighted best practices at each intercept point—from community services and crisis response to court involvement, jail-based care, and reentry—while encouraging discussion on regional gaps and strategic priorities. The conference reinforced MSBH’s commitment to building safer, more coordinated, and compassionate pathways of support across the mid-shore region.
Read the full press release here.
| MSBH Hosts Good Samaritan & Harm Reduction Trainings | | |
MSBH recently hosted two events, Voices of Resilience on November 20th (pictured right) and the Good Samaritan Law Training on November 21st (pictured left):
MSBH partnered with His Hope Ministries to host Voices of Resilience, a powerful gathering that brought the community together to listen, learn, and honor the lived experiences of individuals who have faced homelessness. Three individuals shared their personal stories, offering honest reflections on their journeys and meaningful insights into what resources and supports are still needed. We are deeply grateful to all who attended, supported, and helped foster this space of empathy, understanding, and hope.
At the Good Samaritan Training, thirty-one attendees gained valuable knowledge about Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law, learning how it protects individuals when responding to overdoses. Participants also left with increased confidence in recognizing and responding to overdoses, as well as practical strategies to support others safely and compassionately.
To learn more about MSBH programs and services, click here.
| | Dorchester County MRC Unit Recruiting for Warming Center & Outreach | |
Dorchester County Health Department is recruiting new volunteers for its Medical Reserve Corps to support community health, emergency response, and seasonal outreach efforts. No medical background is required—residents simply need an interest in helping their community, with full flexibility in when and how they volunteer.
To learn more or register, click here.
| Protect Permanent Supportive Housing for Mental Health Recovery | |
On November 13, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced plans to direct funding away from permanent supportive housing toward more temporary housing. Unfortunately, this could harm many people with mental illness.
Permanent supportive housing is an evidence-based support that helps people with disabilities, including many people with serious mental illness, access mental health treatment, case management, and wraparound supports while providing long-term housing. Thanks to permanent supportive housing, people can avoid hospitalization and maintain independence.
Please take 2 minutes to write your members of Congress and urge them to protect and prioritize stable, permanent supportive housing for people with mental illness.
Learn more here.
| Help Us Keep Our Resource Guide and Network of Care Updated | | |
Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. maintains an annually updated Resource Guide for behavioral health and related services on our website, along with a digital resource directory through the Network of Care. These tools help individuals and providers quickly find local services and supports in Maryland.
We invite behavioral health providers/resources local to Maryland to review their listings and submit updates or new entries for inclusion in either or both resources. You can use the link below to submit your information.
Please note: all submissions will be reviewed before posting, and inclusion is not guaranteed.
Review the MSBH 2025 Resource Guide and Network of Care here.
Submit additions/corrections to either using this form.
| | In-Person Trainings & Events | |
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- December 5th, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11 AM: Senior Care Authority: Driving Under the Influence of Dementia. 104 Powell St, Centreville, MD, 21617. For more info, email here.
- December 5th, 2025, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Queen Anne’s County Inter-Agency Professional Networking Meeting, 104 Powell St, Centreville, MD, 21617. For more info, email here.
- December 14th, 2025, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Talbot Interfaith Shelter: Bingo With Santa. 315 Leonard Rieck Drive, Easton, MD 21601.
- April 27th – 29th, 2026, All Day: National Council for Mental Wellbeing: NatCon 2026. Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO.
| | Mid Shore Suicide Coalition | | |
The Mid Shore Suicide Coalition, a partnership between Channel Marker and Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc., focuses on suicide prevention through educational resources, training initiatives, and community events. The coalition offers toolkits, suicide prevention training, and a variety of resources for survivors of suicide loss, along with support for individuals and communities impacted by suicide.
To join or learn more, visit Mid Shore Suicide Coalition.
View the MD Department of Health Suicide Prevention Linktree Resources.
| | Pathways to Wellness: Integrating Suicide Prevention in Substance Use Disorder Treatment | | |
This resource provides guidance on integrating suicide prevention in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. It describes the importance, feasibility, and effectiveness of incorporating suicide risk screening and brief interventions in SUD treatment and offers a list of resources to help you apply suicide prevention strategies in your practice. Designed for substance use disorder treatment professionals, this document may also be useful for other behavioral and mental health clinicians.
View the resource here.
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Click here to access a centralized electronic resource for community partners on the Mid Shore of Maryland, focused on Autism-related needs—including events, education, medical support, and mental health services.
The group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Microsoft Teams. To join the meetings, please contact Andrea Wolders, Gregory Gibson, or Rachel Stoyanov.
| | Courageous Conversations Support Group | | |
- Mid Shore Therapist Support Network: A monthly network group for therapists who are open to working with lgbtq+ individuals and need to build skills and confidence to do so. Email Rachel Hutchison for more information.
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NAMI KQA offers a free online peer-led Family Support Group, for family members of older teens and adults struggling with serious mental illness -- the FSG meets twice a month. More info at 443-480-0565 or namikentandqueenannes@gmail.com.
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Talbot Mentors Parent Support Group, the last Wednesday of every month. This support group focuses on three areas that families have identified as important: Financial Literacy, Mental Health, and Art.
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The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. (MCVRC) invites families and friends of homicide victims to participate in a safe peer support group. MCVRC welcomes individuals, families, and friends to benefit from this free support service whether or not there has been an arrest or prosecution. To join, please call MCVRC at 301-952-0063 and do an intake with an advocate. This group meets on the first Tuesday evening of every month in a hybrid format.
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- Channel Marker is hiring a Residential Crisis Services Coordinator in Easton, MD. This full-time role supports adults in need of short-term mental health crisis stabilization, including supervising crisis support staff, conducting admissions and intakes, assisting with transitions and discharge planning, and connecting clients to community resources. Flexible, team-oriented candidates with a bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) are encouraged to apply here.
- Dorchester County Health Department is hiring mental health clinicians (LCSW-C) to work in an expansion of the School-Based Wellness Center program. Position would serve early elementary ages (PreK -2nd grade) in a small Tier II behavior program. Individual and family treatment, classroom-wide groups, and case management. Please apply via the Maryland State application if interested and/or contact Mindy Black-Kelly, LCSW-C, for more information, 443.521.1662 mindy.black-kelly@maryland.gov
- The Parents’ Place of Maryland is hiring Family Peer Support Specialists (FPSS) across the state to support families navigating mental health, substance use, and problem gambling challenges. Applicants must have lived experience caring for a loved one with behavioral health needs. Additional openings include Program Director, Regional Supervisors, Intake/Program Assistant, and Financial/HR Assistant. Services will be available in English and Spanish through one-on-one support, workshops, and groups. For more information and to apply, visit the careers section here.
| | Introduction to Careers in Healthcare (ITCH) Program | | |
The Introduction to Careers in Healthcare (ITCH) program, established in 2023, connects middle and high school students in Caroline, Chestertown, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties with career opportunities in the medical field. ITCH provides hands-on experiences, mentorship, and career planning to help students explore healthcare professions beyond what they see on TV. Through job shadowing, internships, and professional guidance, ITCH empowers young people to build confidence, develop career goals, and support the future of local healthcare.
Learn more here.
| | Grant & Funding Opportunities | | Grant Writing Workshop for Government and Nonprofit Professionals | |
The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, in partnership with Grant Writing USA, is hosting a Grant Writing Training in Annapolis, MD, on December 11-12, 2025. This two-day workshop is designed for grant seekers from all disciplines and will teach participants how to write successful government grant proposals and identify available funding opportunities.
Eligible participants include beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county, and state agencies, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and nonprofit organizations.
Click here to learn more
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding $19 million in new supplemental funding to states through the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHSBG) for efforts to address the intersection of homelessness and serious mental illness (SMI). This funding advances the President’s Executive Order, Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.
Click here to learn more
| | Make a Big Difference with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore | | |
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore (BBBSES) is a local mentoring non-profit serving all nine counties across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. By committing just 2-4 hours a month, volunteer mentors help youth facing adversity discover their strengths, grow in confidence, and reach their full potential. Mentoring also helps volunteers strengthen their leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills! Each match is carefully made based on shared interests and personalities, so both children and volunteers can build a genuine connection.
Interested in becoming a Big or referring a child? Visit shorebiglittle.org, call 410-543-2447, or email info@shorebiglittle.org to learn more.
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Caroline County Residents
Kent County Residents
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Queen Anne's County Residents
Talbot County Residents
| | Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition Interactive Food Resource List | | |
The Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition provides a range of food resources to support individuals and families in need across the region. From food pantries and soup kitchens available daily to mobile meal services through Shore Gourmet 'SHO-GO,' fresh groceries and prepared meals are delivered to various locations in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties. The coalition also supports homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels, as well as students and families with weekend food through Backpack Programs.
For more information on eligibility and services, visit their website or reach out to the coalition directly.
| | Additional Links & Resources | | Neighborhood Service Center Opens New Computer Lab | | Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition | | |
The Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition is making it easier to get connected to health resources in the region.
Residents can now text MIDSHORE to 898-211 and receive a monthly notification with a calendar of health events taking place within Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot counties.
Find health fairs, support groups, new parent classes, blood pressure screening, food pantries, walking groups, diabetes prevention programs, and so much more!
| | The A.F. Whitsitt Center is now offering convenient pick-up services for individuals seeking treatment. This new initiative ensures that transportation is no longer a barrier to accessing care. Scan the qr code in the image below to learn more. | | |
Do your patients currently have health insurance through Medicaid or the
Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP)?
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This year, Medicaid renewals are not automatic.
- Ask your patients to make sure their contact information is up to date with Maryland Health Connection.
- Encourage them to be on the lookout for notices, as they will be contacted by mail or through their online account when it’s their turn to renew.
- And please stress the importance of completing renewals on time. Participants can log in to their account at MarylandHealthConnection.gov/Checkin or call 855-642-8572 to get started.
| | BHIPP Consultation Warmline is Available Year-Round | Child mental health specialists are available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. (except on major holidays) to provide consultation in many areas of behavioral health including medication management, diagnostic issues, developmental delays, school/learning issues, autism spectrum disorders, trauma, and early childhood mental health. Call 855-Md-BHIPP (632-4477) Click here for more information. | |
Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc.
28578 Mary’s Court, Suite 1
Easton, MD 21601
410-770-4801
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