#United States #mental health #Sheppard Pratt #Howard County

Sheppard Pratt Begins New Residential Crisis Program in Howard County

Sheppard Pratt, a renowned leader in mental health care, marked a pivotal moment with the groundbreaking of its new 16-bed Residential Crisis Program on the Baltimore/Washington Campus. This ceremony took place on June 9, 2025, and represents a major advancement in providing immediate, high-quality mental health support to those in crisis in Howard County and its neighboring regions.

Dr. Harsh K. Trivedi, the president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt, emphasized the collaborative effort that has made this project possible. The initiative is a response to the pressing need for community-based mental health services that can significantly cut down on unnecessary hospital admissions and visits to emergency departments. The goal is to support local residents during their mental health crises, enabling them to receive help closer to home while strengthening their networks of support and easing their return to community life.

The program is anticipated to be completed by the summer of 2026 and will operate around the clock. It is strategically designed to prevent individuals from having to seek higher levels of care, such as emergency rooms or inpatient treatment, thereby enabling quicker transitions back for those who do require more intensive intervention.

In recognition of the diverse needs within the community, the program will specialize in caring for individuals facing both mental health challenges and substance use disorders. Being located near the existing Sheppard Pratt Baltimore/Washington Campus allows for shared staffing and integrated care approaches, thus providing seamless transitions for service users.

Significantly, the State of Maryland has allocated $2.8 million in capital funding for this initiative, including $1.6 million from a legislative bond initiative and $1.2 million through a Maryland Department of Health Community Bond Grant. Additionally, Howard County will contribute $2.25 million, reflecting a shared commitment to addressing the urgent need for additional behavioral health resources.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball highlighted the necessity of expanding behavioral health care services, stressing that investment in this area is crucial for ensuring all community members have access to the support they need to lead healthy lives. The groundbreaking of Sheppard Pratt’s new facility is viewed as an essential step in realizing this vision and building a healthier, more supportive community.

The program plans to employ a federally endorsed model known as Dual-Diagnosis Capability in Mental Health Treatment, becoming one of Maryland's few residential crisis programs to do so. All clinical personnel will be provided with extensive training through Case Western Reserve University, recognized for its excellence in behavioral health education.

Additionally, this initiative will follow a harm-reduction treatment philosophy, featuring qualified psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners authorized to prescribe medications used in treating substance use disorders—like suboxone for opioid addiction—a vital service currently scarce in Maryland’s mental health framework.

As the new facility takes shape, voices from the community, including local leaders like Senator Guy Guzzone and Senator Chris Van Hollen, are reaffirming the urgency of expanding accessible mental health services. They agree that timely interventions are critical in improving the lives of individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

Through the establishment of this Residential Crisis Program, Sheppard Pratt aims to bridge existing gaps in the mental health care system, facilitating smoother transitions for those affected by crises. This initiative is not just a construction project; it is a community commitment to fostering a stronger, healthier demographic in Howard County and beyond.

For additional information on Sheppard Pratt’s services and their extensive residential programs, visit www.sheppardpratt.org.

About Sheppard Pratt

Sheppard Pratt is the largest private, nonprofit mental health service provider in the United States, catering to individuals with diverse needs since 1853. The organization excels in offering a comprehensive continuum of care across both hospital and community settings, continually recognized for its leadership in mental health treatment by U.S. News & World Report for over three decades.