The Child and Adolescent Services Team of the Bureau of Mental Health/Core Service Agency contracts for and monitors publicly funded services for children and adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral problems, who are at risk for out-of-home placement, and their families. The Child and Adolescent Services Team represents, at the County level, the Child and Adolescent Division of the Mental Hygiene Administration, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).
The Bureau of Mental Health/Core Service Agency does not provide clinical services. Rather, the Child and Adolescent Services Team access funding, including state grants and Medical Assistance for specialized treatment programs for children and their families. Services are then provided via contractual arrangement with private mental health and social service agencies (usually non-profit).
Outpatient Mental Health Centers, licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, provide outpatient treatment and serve the largest number of consumers. The centers treat children and adolescents (as well as adults) with emotional and behavioral problems, with a range of severity. Services include individual and family therapy, psychopharmacology, and school consultation. Group therapy and school-based clinics are available at some sites. For a list of Outpatient Mental Health Centers contact MAPS-MD.
Specialized programs, serving a smaller but significant number of consumers, include a wide array of innovative home and community-based services. These services, dependent upon funding, may include:
Case Management
In-home family-focused behavioral counseling
Respite services, home-based and out-of-home
Therapeutic after-school programs
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs (PRP)
Psychiatric residential treatment centers
School-based mental health clinics
Daycare consultations
Community Conferencing
EPSDT-Therapeutic Behavioral Aides
Residential Treatment Centers
Voluntary Placement Diversion Program
Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
Multisystemic Therapy is an intensive community-based therapy for youth with juvenile justice involvement. This evidence-based model program has outcomes including: improved family functioning, increased school attendance, and reduction in recidivism in the juvenile justice system.
Transition Age Youth Project (TAY)
The Bureau of Mental Health Transitional Age Youth Program assists adolescents between the ages of 18 to 21, with a history of severe emotional behavioral problems, towards the goal of indpendent living.
Many, but not all programs require Psychiatric Axis I diagnosis, Medical Assistance Insruance, an IQ of 70 and above and a referral by a mental health professional.
Medical Assistance reimburses on a fee-for-service basis for services authorized by the Public Mental Health System. Some services require this insurance. For consumers without Medical Assistance, some services have a sliding-scale fee system, and some have no fee.
Contact the Bureau of Mental Health at 410-887-2731 and request to speak with a staff member in Child and Adolescent Services.
For copies of referral and other forms for services go to Child and Adolescent Services Forms.
Revised July 18, 2007
Courthouse 