Children’s Behavioral Health Coalition
The Children’s Behavioral Health Coalition brings together a wide range of behavioral health advocacy organizations to ensure Maryland policies recognize and address the unique mental health and substance use needs of children, youth and families.
Coalition Members
Mental Health Association of Maryland
Our Impact
The Children’s Behavioral Health Coalition has realized a great deal of success since its re-establishment in 2017.
- School Mental Health – Spearheaded the effort in 2025 to prevent over $100 million in proposed cuts to school mental health funding, preserving resources the coalition secured in 2020 as part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform initiative.
- Home- and Community-Based Services – Passed legislation in 2023 expanding access to High Fidelity Wraparound, the gold standard for treating youth with high-intensity behavioral health needs.
- Residential Treatment – Led a successful effort in 2022 to streamline the process of establishing educational funding for youth referred to residential treatment centers and reduce the need for voluntary placement agreements.
- Transparency – Passed legislation in 2018 requiring the state to publish annual comprehensive data reports detailing the availability of mental health and substance use care for Maryland youth.
For More Information
Ann Geddes
Director of Child and Older Adult Policy
ageddes@mhamd.org