February 2026 | Issue 51



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

February is Black History Month and Mental Health America is highlighting Black pioneers in mental health and Black voices on mental health. In addition they are highlighting historical events in the U.S. and their effect on Black mental health including the fallout from the 1840 Census, which helped to uphold a common belief that freeing people from slavery caused them to suffer from mental illness. It is important that we recognize these historical events in our country to better understand how systemic racism has harmed Black communities

in the U.S. and why culturally-based practices matter.

Friday, February 20th is National Caregivers Day. In our community, we have many professional caregivers along with county residents providing care to family members or other loved ones. We would like to extend our gratitude for the invaluable work they do to support and take care of others.

February is also Heart Health Month. Did you know there is a link between heart health and mental health? Biochemical changes that can be linked to mental health issues can also be linked to other health issues including heart disease. Learn more about this connection and how daily stressors and other factors affect both your heart and mind in this article from the American Heart Association.

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

at 410-768-5522.

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.

Interested in being a vendor at our event?

Vendor applications are being accepted through Friday, March 27th.

To register as a vendor, CLICK HERE or email MHMatters@AAMentalHealth.Org.

Stay tuned for more details!

Under "Eric's ID Law", Marylanders with hidden disabilities including PTSD, TBI, or other non-visible conditions may now voluntarily add a butterfly symbol on their driver's license, ID card or moped permit. The optional designation is free

and aims to help first responders and others recognize individuals who

may have communication challenges or needs.

The symbol supports safer interactions, requires no documentation,

and can be added or removed at no cost online or in-person. 

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 Anne Arundel Community College. This day-long, event, featuring workshops, networking, and is dedicated to discussing suicide prevention strategies and practices and to collaborating with partners across Maryland to promote hope and connection.

They are also accepting nominations for the 2nd Annual Impact of Hope Awards. This award celebrates individuals, organizations or communities whose efforts have created significant positive change by promoting mental well-being and using hope as a transformative force for good. It seeks to acknowledge the power of hope in overcoming adversity, fostering healing and building stronger, more supportive environments where individuals and communities can thrive.

Nominations will remain open until Friday, February 27th and recipients will be recognized at the Help, Healing and Hope Summit on Wednesday, June 24.

ArundelStat, the performance management and data analytics team for the Anne Arundel County Government has highlighted the most recent performance data from the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency's Crisis Response System.

View more details about the Anne Arundel County Crisis Response System's performance, along with the performance of other departments.

Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) will hold their annual memorial service to honor and remember individuals in Maryland who have lost their lives to intimate partner violence on Monday, February 23rd from 4:00 PM-5:00 PM ET. This virtual memorial service creates space for collective remembrance, reflection, and acknowledgment of the profound impact of intimate partner violence on families, loved ones, and communities across the state.

Survivors, family members, advocates, service providers, policymakers,

and community members are all welcome to join.

The Anne Arundel County Behavioral Health Advisory Council

Next Virtual Meeting: February 17th

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, February 17th, 9:00 AM-10:30 AM ET

Download the Meeting Registration Link

From video game chat streams to social media DMs, children and adolescents are forming and maintaining friendships in ways previous generations never experienced. These digital connections are reshaping what it means to be a friend and how friendships influence young people’s well-being.

Join Children and Screens for this free webinar to learn more about:

How online life changed norms, expectations, and boundaries for friendships?

Does the ubiquitous presence of smartphones during in-person interactions affect young people’s feelings of security and closeness with friends?

What do parents need to know about how and where youth are making friends online - and the potential benefits and risks involved?

Thursday, February 12th, 12:00 PM-1:30 PM ET

Can't join live? Register anyway to receive a recording

Each year, the Children’s Mental Health Matters Campaign features an annual poster contest. The winning artwork will be featured on the 2026 Children’s Mental Health Matters Campaign poster, reaching audiences statewide.

This year, the poster contest theme is No Judgment, Just Help, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 988 is a vital resource for families and youth to get support when someone is struggling with problems like stress, depression, and anxiety.

All Maryland students up to the age of 18 are invited to participate.

The contest deadline is Friday, February 6, 2026

2/5 Webinar: The Importance of Countertransference: Exploring Supervision’s Most Powerful Tool

2/6 Webinar: Welcome to the 21st Century-Ethical Integration of AI Technologies into Professional Mental Health Practice

2/6 Webinar: Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Trauma Healing- Practical Tools for Clinicians

2/10 Webinar: Teen Dating Violence - You Don't Know What You Don't Know

2/11 Webinar: We All Feel It-Supporting Communities While Grieving With Them

2/12 Webinar: Implicit Bias Interrupted-How to Reveal, Confront, and Get Unconscious Biases Out of Your Way 

2/19 Webinar: Gambling Disorder-The Hidden Addiction

2/20 Webinar: Implicit Bias in Aging: What it Looks Like and The Impact it Has

2/20 Webinar: Mission Possible-Effective Treatment for Individual with Disorder Gambling who Experienced Trauma

2/20 Webinar: Ethics, Racial Colorblindness and Trauma, Anti-Oppressive Diagnosis & Treatment

2/25 Webinar: Ethics of Self Disclosure

2/26 5th Annual Virtual 2026 Addiction and Recovery Conference

2/3-2/24 City of Annapolis Black History Month Series (Busch Annapolis Library)

2/5 Presentation: Top 10 Hints for Caregivers (Severna Park Library)

2/6 Presentation: Making Anxiety Work for You (Virtual)

2/9 Naloxone-Narcan Opioid Overdose Response Training (Deale Library)

2/9 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group (Virtual)

2/10 NAMI Anne Arundel Spouse /Partner Virtual Support Group for Those Married or In a Relationship with Someone with Symptoms of a Mental health Condition

2/11 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group (Glen Burnie)

2/11 University of Maryland BWMC Mental Health Support Group (Glen Burnie)

2/12 NAMI Anne Arundel Connection Recovery Support Group for individuals Over 18 Who Have Experienced Mental Health Symptoms (Severna Park)

2/17 NAMI Anne Arundel Family Support Group for Family Members and Friends Who Care About Someone Over 18 With a Mental Illness (Severna Park)

2/17 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group (Annapolis)

2/18 Webinar: A Parent's Guide to Bullying

2/19 Free Virtual Adult Mental Health First Aid Training from Maryland ROPTA

2/21 Free Virtual Adult Mental Health First Aid Training from Maryland ROPTA

2/23 Anne Arundel County Health Equity Forum

2/25 NAMI Anne Arundel Parent Virtual Support Group for Parents and Caregivers of Middle and High School Aged Children who are Showing Symptoms or Have Been Diagnosed with a Mental Illness