LARGO, MD – Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and the Prince George’s County Health Department announced today that the Health Department’s Behavioral Health Division is the recipient of two vital grant awards from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Healthy Transitions grant and the System of Care grant. The funding from these grants totals $7.75 million over a five-year period and will support behavioral health needs and improve outcomes for children, youth, young adults, and their families. 

“We are proud of our Health Department for securing these grants that will help us continue to expand access to behavioral health services for our residents, especially our young people,” said Alsobrooks. “As we have seen an uptick in youth violence in our County and across the region, we have spared no expense to provide our youth and families with the resources and support that they need. We look forward to successfully launching these new services that will uplift some of our most vulnerable residents.” 

“These grants highlight the Health Department's commitment to the well-being of our youth and families,” said Dr. Matthew Levy, Health Officer. “They are examples of the Department's strong commitment to addressing critical needs, reducing the negative views surrounding mental health, improving training for healthcare providers, and, most importantly, making essential services easier for those who need them the most.” 

Healthy Transitions is a five-year grant with an annual value of $750,000. This grant will strengthen the Prince George’s County Transition Age Youth and Young Adults (PGCTAY) program and will aim to provide critical resources to 275 transition-aged youth and young adults, ages 16 to 25 years, who either have or are at risk of developing severe mental health conditions.

Systems of Care (SOC) is a four-year grant with an annual value of $1,000,000. This grant will provide support to 350 children and youth up to age 21 years who are facing serious emotional disturbances, along with their families. The SOC initiative will focus on improving mental health outcomes for children and youth at risk of entering the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

The County Health Department is now in a six-month planning phase for these grants, diligently working to develop and prepare the necessary infrastructure, resources, and team to ensure the successful launch of these services for youth, young adults, and families. Both grants launched on September 30, 2023, and represent a huge step forward in connecting Prince George’s County residents to valuable healthcare resources and increasing access to behavioral health programs. 

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