Dave Ryan
Dorchester Banner/Dave Ryan
Executive Director of Mid-Shore Behavioral Health Katie Dilley gave her organization’s annual report to the Dorchester County Council on June 19.[/caption] CAMBRIDGE – Executive Director of Mid-Shore Behavioral Health (MSBH) Katie Dilley reported to the Dorchester County Council on June 19 on her organization’s work over the past year, including its fight against opioid addiction. She said, “MSBH’s mission is to continually improve the provision of behavioral health services for residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties through effective coordination of care in collaboration with consumers, their natural support systems, providers and the community at large.” MSBH is a private, nonprofit agency. A statement on the group’s website says, “Our primary responsibility is for community planning, management, and monitoring of publicly funded medically necessary health services in the five-county region for consumers across the life span: children, adolescents, adults and the aging population.” Ms. Dilley said the group’s annual funding has reached $4,220,144, up from $3,702,055 last year. The increase is used to benefit individuals affected by the opioid-abuse crisis, she said. There are four beds in a Kent County facility dedicated to their care. Among the organizations funding MSBH’s activities is the Dorchester County Health Department, which is also involved in fighting opioid abuse. “We’ve been very pleased to have a collaboration with the head of the local addiction authority, Donald Hall,” Ms. Dilley said. Kathy Stevens is MSBH’s behavioral health coordinator for crisis services. She said, “Dorchester County really has been the example for the Mid-Shore” in terms of addiction treatment. Ms. Stevens also noted her agency’s support of the annual “Out of the Darkness” suicide prevention walk. Begun in Queen Anne’s County, the event was picked up by Dorchester, with a walk held last year. Ms. Stevens said the MSBH had also recognized Dorchester’s Department of Corrections Director Joe Hughes, for his work in establishing a prison yoga program. MSBH’s offices are located in Easton at 28578 Mary’s Court, Suite 1. A 24-hour crisis hot line is available, at 1-888-407-8018. For general information, call 410-770-4801.