December 10, 2019
Media Contact:
Scott L. Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today joined the Grassroots Crisis Intervention to officially open the “New Beginnings Crisis Stabilization” facility. This facility is an important component of Howard County’s opioid intervention strategy to meet immediate needs for assessment, treatment, referrals and brief overnight housing and food. Pictures from the event can be found here. Video can be found here.
“Howard County is seeing progress on the fight against opioid related addiction, overdoses, and fatalities,” said Ball. “This year we are seeing a 42% decrease in opioid related fatalities and a 14% decrease in non-fatal overdoses as compared to last year. This success is built on the partnerships and engagement from the Howard County government and non-profits such as Grassroots. As we work toward fostering the best quality of life for our residents, we will continue to make progress on combating opioid use and overdose with the New Beginnings Crisis Stabilization Facility. I thank our Congressional Delegation, Governor, Lt. Governor, Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center and the state and local Health Department for making this facility a reality. The Grassroots Crisis Intervention team deserves a lot of credit for their unwavering dedication and compassion to help the residents of Howard County.”
Steven Schuh, the Executive Director of the Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center shared, “I’m so delighted to see the progress Howard County has made, and that is due to great leadership by County Executive Ball, providers all over the county, and especially Grassroots, which is having a tremendous impact.”
Crisis stabilization is an essential service to provide so that individuals in need of a referral for substance use disorder treatment can receive immediate screening and intervention services so that they do not experience a delay in entry into residential or outpatient treatment. The period between referral and admission can result in a return to use, overdose, or the individual may need to seek services at an emergency department (ED), which is what crisis services aims to avoid.
This grant and treatment facility will help improve outreach efforts, keep needed services in our community and will continue to build on the successes that the Health, Police, and Fire departments have achieved.
“The Grassroots New Beginnings Center addresses the gap in the continuum of crisis services offered in Howard County. Residents needing help now have 24/7 access to crisis stabilization with specialized medical staff, a care coordinator and peer specialist who are able to connect them to the appropriate care. The center provides residents in crisis a place to go no matter what time, what day, or behavioral health need, resulting in more people accessing treatment and entering recovery,” said Dr. Maura J. Rossman, Howard County Health Officer.
Today’s opening of the New Beginnings Crisis Stabilization Facility is a critical part of improving Howard County’s continuum of care services. Earlier this year, the County opened the Howard House, a half-way house for men and the first Howard County-owned service provision for substance abuse treatment in the county; allowing for 16 beds to be filled at any given time and serving more than 30 clients per year.
Finally, to address the lack of inpatient detox services in the county, the County has partnered with Delphi Behavioral Health Group to bring the first residential treatment facility to Howard County. This arrangement includes a $3 million investment over four years to form this first-of-its-kind partnership in Maryland between a local jurisdiction and a private treatment provider, which will guarantee placements for Howard County residents and reserve beds for individuals who are publicly insured or uninsured.
County Executive Ball’s efforts toward combating opioid misuse is part of the “Thriving and Healthy Residents” pillar - an integrated health and human services delivery system to support our vulnerable populations focused on providing facilities and services for our aging residents, improve healthcare opportunities, advance affordable housing, treat substance misuse and mental health issues.
With the New Beginnings Crisis services at Grassroots, Howard County’s nearly 20 outpatient providers, seven sober living facilities, the new Howard House, and the upcoming Residential Facility, the County is building a full continuum of care. Howard County is becoming better equipped to help address all types of substance use disorders for all types of needs.