April 2026 | Issue 53



The Anne Arundel County Local Behavioral Health Authority or LBHA is a

partnership between the Anne Arundel County Department of Health

and the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, Inc.

If you are interested in subscribing to the Anne Arundel County LBHA

Provider Announcement Listserv, please email your request to

aac-lbha-connect@aacounty.org

Healthy Anne Arundel Day is celebrated on April 7th, which is also World Health Day. Local residents are encouraged to move, have fun, reduce stress, improve physical and mental health, and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle! Healthy Anne Arundel and local partner organizations have planned events throughout the month of April, including health fairs, free exercises class, and more. Click here to check out Healthy Anne Arundel's list of events across the county!

April is National Counseling Awareness Month, and we would like to share our gratitude for our county's counselors, and their role helping residents work through challenges in order to improve their mental well-being. Counselors work in a variety of settings, including mental health organizations, schools, hospitals, residential treatment centers, private practice, and more. Teal Day is on April 10th, and everyone is invited to wear teal to recognize the important work that counselors do and spread awareness of their vital role in our community.

If you are in crisis and need help, call 988 or our Warmline is open 24/7

at 410-768-5522.

NAMI's Peer-to-Peer Education Program is a free, eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery.

Taught by trained leaders with lived experience, this program includes activities, discussions and informative videos. However, as with all NAMI programs, it does not include recommendations for treatment approaches.

NAMI Anne Arundel's Spring 2026 Peer-to Peer Classes will be held in Severna Park on Mondays from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM ET beginning on Monday, April 27th.

Our annual Mental Heath Awareness Family Fun Day has moved to a new location! This year's event will now be held at Severn Elementary School,

838 Reece Road, Severn, MD 21144.

No RSVP necessary, join us for a fun day for all ages!

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health is proud to announce that they will host the 3rd Annual Help Healing and Hope Summit, Embracing Experiences That Center Communities, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026,

at the Anne Arundel Community College.

The Anne Arundel County Behavioral Health Advisory Council

Next Virtual Meeting: April 21st

Established in 1999, members of the Behavioral Health Advisory Council (BHAC) include key stakeholders across the system committed to the utilization of the CCISC model and ensuring that Anne Arundel County provides an accessible, comprehensive behavioral health system for all residents.

 Participants on the council are co-chairs from Anne Arundel County Department of Health and Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, mental-health

and substance-use providers, hospital representatives, community members, cultural-organization representatives, and more. 

Their goal is to improve the mental wellness of all Anne Arundel County residents and assure access to needed services. Providers and referring agencies are empowered to successfully identify, refer and treat individuals with any Behavioral Health challenge. They provide input, direction, and influence on

behavioral health action planning in the county.

Meetings are held via Zoom.

All Anne Arundel County residents are welcome to attend,

however registration is required.

Next meeting: Tuesday, April 21st, 9:00 AM-10:30 AM ET

Download the Meeting Registration Link

Maryland Medicaid’s 1915(i) Intensive Behavioral Health Services help children and youth with serious emotional and behavioral health needs and their families access tailored services that address complex needs while keeping youth

in their homes and communities.

The program offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic mental health services, including 24/7 mental health and/or crisis support. Services are delivered through a wraparound model with intensive care coordination and an individualized plan of care for each child/adolescent and family. 

Provider services can include:

  Intensive in-home services 

Respite care, both in-home/community based and out of home

Family peer support services 

Expressive and experiential behavioral services, including art, dance, music, drama, equine and horticultural therapies 

Join Arundel Lodge for Hope Rising, a fun and uplifting day for boosting mental health and well-being! This free in-person event is all about building community, sharing stories, and learning new ways to care for your mind and body. 

Date and Time: Saturday, April 25th, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM ET

Location: Arundel Lodge Inc., 2600 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD

From classrooms to living rooms, kids today face more distractions and stressors than ever before. Mindfulness practices can offer children and teens simple, powerful tools to calm their minds, regulate their emotions, and stay focused. Adults play a critical role in modeling and supporting these practices at home and in schools. This training will share easy-to-use strategies that parents, caregivers, and educators can apply right away.

What You’ll Learn:

The science behind mindfulness and child development

Simple practices kids can use to stay calm and focused

Strategies for integrating mindfulness into classrooms and family routines

Resources to keep mindfulness practices consistent and fun

Sponsored by: McLean Hospital's Deconstructing Stigma Initiative: Changing Attitudes About Mental Health

Date and Time: Thursday, April 30th, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET

Maryland Coalition of Families is hosting a series of monthly Botvin Lifeskills Parent workshops to introduce an evidence-based parenting program with practical, hands-on strategies to strengthen family relationships and support your child’s success beginning on Monday April 27th through Thursday, August 27th.

Each workshop will be held from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM ET and can be attended in-person or virtually. Meals will be provided for in-person attendees and registration is required. Attendees will learn practical tools for everyday family life,and participate in interactive discussions in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Attendees will receive a workbook and welcome gift.

Session dates:

April 27: Family Communication

May 21: Parental Monitoring

June 25: Being a Good Role Model

July 30: Consistent and Appropriate Discipline

August 27: Substance Use- Effects & Warning Signs



4/9 Webinar: Risk Management Strategies for Ethical Practice

4/9-4/10 Brain Injury Association of Maryland Annual Conference-

“Connecting Minds, Changing Outcomes” (Pikesville)

4/13 Webinar: Self-Disclosure-An Ethical Approach to Knowing What to Say, When to Say it, and How to Say it

4/14 Webinar: Ethics, Digital Technology, and Telehealth Excellence

4/15-4/16 2026 Virtual Grief Summit

4/21 Webinar: Ethics, Boundaries & Cultural Competence: Navigating Professional Challenges in Mental Health

4/22 Webinar: The Practitioner's Path: From Gambling Screening to Recovery

4/23 Older Adults and Suicide: Addressing Risk, Building Protective Factors, and Advancing Prevention Efforts

4/23 Webinar: Beyond the Bet: Advanced Clinical Approaches to Gambling Disorder

4/23 Webinar: Adopting a Trauma-Informed Lens in Clinical Supervision

4/23-4/24 Webinar: 2-Day Trauma Certification Training- Enhancing Trauma Competency and Building Your Clinical Toolkit

4/24 Webinar: Implicit Bias and the Ethics of Mental Health Supervision

4/24 Webinar: Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence-Clinical and Programming Considerations

4/24 Webinar: Exploring Race-Based Trauma and Cultivating Collective Healing

4/24 15th Annual Across the Lifespan Conference (St. Michaels)

4/29 Webinar: Keeping the Spirit Alive: Clinical Approaches to Supporting Children after Parental Loss

4/30 Webinar: Strength-Based Suicide Assessment and Treatment-Enhancing Collaborative and Resilience-Oriented Practices

5/6-5/8 NASW-MD Chapter's 7th Annual Ocean City Conference 2026-Transforming the Tides

5/13-5/14 On Our Own of Maryland's 2026 Annual Conference: Courage in Community -Finding Our Individual and Collective Power(Ocean City)

4/4 Garden Egg Hunt at Historic London Town and Gardens (Edgewater)

4/6 NAMI Anne Arundel Support Group for Family Members and Friends of Someone over 18 with a Mental Health Condition (Annapolis)

4/6 Soul Collage Support for Grief and Loss (Pasadena)

4/7 CPR Friends and Family Training from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department

4/7 & 4/8 Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Virtual Evening Training from Maryland ROPTA

4/8 University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Mental Health Support Group (Glen Burnie)

4/8 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group Meeting (Glen Burnie)

4/9 & 4/23 NAMI Anne Arundel Connection Support Group for Individuals over 18 who have Experienced Mental Health Symptoms ( Severna Park)

4/12 Spring Farm Festival at Historic Hancock’s Resolution (Pasadena)

4/12 NAMI Anne Arundel Connection Support Group for Adults who have Experienced Mental Health Symtoms (Odenton)

4/13 CPR and Narcan Training (Annapolis)

4/14 NAMI Anne Arundel Virtual Support Group for those Married to or in a Relationship with Someone Living Symptoms of a Mental Health Condition

4/15 Virtual Workshop from Brain Injury Association of Maryland: Restoring Sleep and Mental Health after an Acquired Brain Injury with Yoga Nidra

4/18 Pet Loss Workshop at Perfect Pet Resort (Lothian)

4/18 Earth Day Celebration at Quiet Waters Park (Annapolis)

4/20 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group Meeting (Virtual)

4/21 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group Meeting (Annapolis)

4/22 NAMI Anne Arundel Virtual Support Group for Parents and Caregivers of Middle and High School Aged Children Showing Symptoms or Diagnosed with a Mental Health Condition

4/27 Anne Arundel County Health Equity Forum