Maryland’s Behavioral Health Authorities
Each Maryland jurisdiction has at least one behavioral health agency that coordinates directly with the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). These jurisdictional agencies—Core Service Agencies (CSA), Local Addictions Authorities (LAA), and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHA)—function under the authority of the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, see Maryland Annotated Code, Health-General §§ 10–1201 through 10–1203.
CSAs are the designated county or multicounty authority that is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded mental health services.
LAAs are the designated county or multicounty authority that is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded substance-related and addictive disorder services.
LBHAs are the designated county or multicounty authority that is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded mental health, substance-related, and addictive disorder services.
The Maryland Association of Behavioral Health Authorities (MABHA) is the non-profit organization comprised of Maryland’s CSAs, LAAs, and LBHAs. MABHA promotes the development of accessible, high quality, community based, comprehensive behavioral health services throughout Maryland. These agencies promote wellness by improving behavioral health in Maryland through collaborative partnerships.
Click here for a PDF list of local behavioral health authorities.
