Worcester County Local Behavioral Health Authority

The Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHAs) are the local behavioral health authorities responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring public behavioral health services at the local level. LBHAs exist under the authority of the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health.

The functions of local behavioral health authorities are to plan, develop, and manage a full range of treatment and rehabilitation services for persons with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders in their jurisdiction as stipulated by the Health General Article, 10-10-1203, Annotated Code of Maryland. As the local systems manager, the LBHA partners with the current Administrative Service Organization (ASO), Carelon Behavioral Health to ensure high-quality oversight and service provision.

The mission of the Worcester County Local Behavioral Health Authority is to ensure that people of all ages experiencing behavioral health conditions can better manage their illness; achieve their personal goals; and live, work, and participate in their community.

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Purpose

To ensure a comprehensive, effective, and responsive service delivery system in Worcester County. Our goal is to assist consumers in achieving optimal wellness and recovery by providing leadership and accountability in the establishment of diverse, comprehensive, and accessible behavioral health services. These services will be responsive to the needs and desires of citizens with behavioral health conditions (mental illness, substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders), their families, and service providers.

We aim to identify trends and service needs to promote prevention, outreach, education, referral, advocacy, and service delivery through collaborative efforts within the community.

Programs

The Worcester County LBHA is not a service provider but contracts for services with various providers in the area. Funds primarily come from BHA, but can be obtained through other grants or federal block grants. Fiscal year 2026 programs include:

Adolescent Clubhouse
Buprenorphine Initiative
Caregiver Education and Support
Consumer Support
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Crisis Response Team (CRT)
Drug Court
Early Intervention Assessment
Emergency Department Care Coordination Program (EDCC)
Homeless ID Project
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD)
Maryland Community Criminal Justice Treatment Program (MCCJTP)
Maryland Recovery Network (MDRN)
MOMentum
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
Peer to Peer
Re-Entry & Recovery Program (R&R)
Residential Rehabilitation Program
Recovery Community Center
Respite, Children’s Choice
State Care Coordination Program (SCC)
State Opioid Response IV (SOR-IV)
Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes Partnership (S.T.O.P)
Targeted Case Management (TCM)/Wraparound
Transition Age Youth (TAY)
Teen Intervene

Forms

Consumer Support Financial Assistance Request (PDF, 546 KB)

Consumer Support Pharmacy Assistance Request (PDF, 682 KB)

Consumer Support Transportation Assistance Request (PDF, 429 KB)

Reports

FY 2025 Worcester County Behavioral Health Annual Report

LBHA Staff

Shylia Tingle
Director
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Debra Harmon
Services Coordinator/Program Monitor
Residential Rehabilitation Program Specialist
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Ivonne Lomax
Coordinator of Special Programs
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Karen Waggoner
Worcester County CIT Coordinator
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