BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health this week announced its selection to participate in The Link Center’s newly launched State Policy Academy alongside five other states.
The State Policy Academy, led by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, will provide training and peer learning opportunities to state departments of behavioral health and developmental disabilities services.
The program hopes to bolster efforts to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injury and other cognitive disabilities have access to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Laura Herrera Scott said the state’s selection is an important step in improving health care systems.
“Our participation affirms our dedication to securing treatment and support for every Marylander in need,” Scott said in a statement.
The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services said the program seeks to “formulate robust policies and encourage cross-system collaboration to ensure an inclusive urgent and acute behavioral health care system in each state.”
“Ensuring accessibility to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is crucial,” said Developmental Disabilities Administration Deputy Secretary Marlana R. Hutchinson. “By making this vital resource more accessible, we empower those with intellectual and developmental disabilities to seek the care and understanding they need during times of acute crisis.”
The selected states alongside Maryland are:
- Georgia – Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
- Kansas – Department of Aging and Disability Services
- Ohio – Departments of Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Addiction Services
- Virginia – Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
- West Virginia – Department of Human Services
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo via Pixabay
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