Behavioral Health Bureau

The Bureau of Behavioral Health provides comprehensive mental and behavioral health services to Harford County residents. Behavioral Health has integrated services within the county through partnerships with Harford County Public Schools, the Department of Social Services, the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, and other valued community service providers. In March 2023, the bureau was informed of their successful 3-year Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) reaccreditation.

Programs: 

• Treatment Services
• Psychiatric Services 
• Recovery Support Services - The Peer Recovery and Support Services program provides continuing care services, support services, and education to clients in an effort to support retention in treatment and long-term recovery. Services are provided by peer recovery specialists.
• Teen Diversion - a behavioral health day treatment program located at Swan Creek School. Treatment is provided to adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 who have significant mental health and behavioral challenges and have not responded to long-term outpatient treatment or psychiatric hospitalizations. The focus of treatment is to divert teens from a more restrictive therapeutic or educational placement and reintegrate them back into the community. Adolescents typically participate in Teen Diversion for 12 - 16 weeks, although the length of treatment may be longer or shorter based on treatment progress.
• Local Addictions Authority - The health department’s Local Addictions Authority provides a local connection between the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration and county-based public behavioral health treatment. The Local Addictions Authority supports the strengthening and expansion of substance use and addiction counseling services and assists in bringing statewide behavioral health initiatives and program awareness into the county.