Latest news with #SheppardPratt
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Sheppard Pratt Breaks Ground on New Residential Crisis Program in Howard County
BALTIMORE, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheppard Pratt celebrated the groundbreaking of its future 16-bed Residential Crisis Program on its Baltimore/Washington Campus with a ceremony on Monday, June 9. The program represents a significant step toward expanding access to high-quality mental healthcare for individuals in Howard County and surrounding areas experiencing behavioral health crises. "This initiative is the result of a strong collaborative approach between Sheppard Pratt, state leaders, and Howard County to address an urgent need for community-based mental health services that reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency department visits," said Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt. "This program will support Howard County residents through their mental health crises and aims to empower individuals to seek help closer to home, ultimately fostering a stronger support network and a smoother transition back into their communities." With a construction completion date of summer 2026, this 24/7-staffed program is designed to help individuals avoid higher levels of care such as emergency departments or inpatient units and help other county residents transition from those higher levels of care sooner than they otherwise could. It will have special expertise in serving individuals with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders. With proximity to Sheppard Pratt's Baltimore/Washington Campus, the program will benefit from shared staffing and smooth transitions of care. The State of Maryland has committed $2.8 million in capital grants—$1.6 million through a legislative bond initiative and $1.2 million from a Maryland Department of Health Community Bond Grant. Howard County is providing an additional $2.25 million in capital support, underscoring the urgency and importance of this initiative. "Behavioral health care for people who are experiencing an emergency needs to be expanded across Howard County and our region. As a community, we must continue to invest in our behavioral health infrastructure to ensure that every resident has the resources and care they need to live a healthy and supported life," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. "Today's groundbreaking for Shepard Pratt's new residential crisis facility is yet another bold step toward a healthier, more supportive community, and future for all. Through our investment of $2.25 million, we are ensuring that all our residents have access to strong, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health services." The program will implement a federally endorsed, evidence-based model called Dual-Diagnosis Capability in Mental Health Treatment, one of the only residential crisis programs in the state to do so. All clinical staff will receive intensive and ongoing training through Case Western Reserve University, a national leader in behavioral health education and research. In contrast to many existing residential crisis programs, this program will also embrace a harm-reduction treatment model. It will include psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners trained to prescribe medications for substance use disorders, including suboxone for opioid use disorder, another uncommon and much-needed feature in Maryland's mental health infrastructure. "This project reflects what is possible when state, local, and nonprofit partners come together with a shared commitment to improving lives. Sheppard Pratt's new Residential Crisis Program is a direct investment in the well-being of our community and will provide timely, compassionate support for individuals in crisis. Sheppard Pratt is building a stronger, more responsive treatment option in Howard County utilizing the right level of care to address the community's overall health," said Senator Guy Guzzone. "Accessible and timely care can make all the difference for people struggling with behavioral health crises. That's why I've worked to support Sheppard Pratt's efforts to expand its residential program in Maryland. This new facility in Howard County will make much needed behavioral health care more readily available for Marylanders, helping to build a healthier and safer community for all," said Senator Chris Van Hollen. By expanding its residential crisis services, Sheppard Pratt aims to bridge gaps in the mental healthcare system, ensuring a smoother transition through the continuum of care. For more information about Sheppard Pratt's residential programs or to learn more about the organization's services, please visit About Sheppard Pratt Sheppard Pratt is the largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, developmental disability, special education, and social services in the country. A nationwide resource, Sheppard Pratt provides services across a comprehensive continuum of care, spanning both hospital- and community-based resources. Since its founding in 1853, Sheppard Pratt has been innovating the field through research, best practice implementation, and a focus on improving the quality of mental health care on a global level. Sheppard Pratt has been consistently ranked as a top national psychiatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years. 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CBS News
10-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
Maryland family describes devastation of massive rowhome fire: "We lost everything"
A Maryland woman, whose family was displaced after a massive fire damaged more than a dozen homes last week, told WJZ they had only been in their home a month before it went up in flames. Monique Awkwaid said her family of five lost everything when the four-alarm rowhome fire consumed 15 homes and displaced at least seven residents on North Fulton Avenue in West Baltimore on Friday, March 7. "It's a total loss. We lost everything," Awkwaid said. "It's devastation, complete devastation." Awkwaid said her family was placed in a hotel, but they only have a week. After that, she's not sure where they will go. "We don't even know what our next move is going to be," Awkwaid. "We have seven days there, and after that, I don't know. I don't wish this on nobody." The family is calling on community members to help with clothing and school supplies, and to contribute to their fundraising website. "I'm trying to be tough because I have kids, and I'm trying to be strong," Awkwaid said. "My hope is that the community can help me with the GoFundMe that me and my son had started." Through the pain and loss, Awkwaid says she is thankful her family is still alive. "It's going to be OK, things happen for a reason," she said. "We are going to be OK. We still have our lives. We all made it out safely." Destructive fire Baltimore City firefighters responded shortly before 4:30 a.m. to the fire that demolished a block of buildings used for a mixed occupancy of homes, businesses and apartments above. Some of the homes were vacant, officials said.. The blaze affected a few businesses as well as the Good Samaritan Church, in the 2200 block of North Fulton Avenue. The fire left some buildings beyond repair, causing crews to demolish them, leaving a pile of rubble. Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said the buildings were marked with Code X, which means they have severe structural or interior hazards and high risks of collapse. "They're no-go buildings. We do not do interior firefighting in Code X buildings," Wallace said. The fire, which officials say was spread by the wind, was ultimately controlled around 7:16 a.m., roughly three hours after the fire started. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Battling wind-fueled fires Windy and dry conditions in the area have created a risk for fires in the Baltimore area. On March 1, a brush fire broke out at Sheppard Pratt's Towson campus, according to Baltimore County Fire officials. The fire, which started around 7 p.m., engulfed about 1.5 acres of land. On the day of the fire, parts of the Baltimore region were under a Fire Weather Watch due to low humidity and strong winds. 58% of Baltimore County faced a moderate drought last week, while 41% of the county faced a severe drought, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDS). In January, a large fire at a Baltimore County recycling plant led to a partial building collapse. The fire at Owl Metals on Rettman Lane in Dundalk smoldered for days, caused residents in the community to complain about the air quality. "You can just taste it. It gets stuck in your mouth," neighbor Kelsey Evans said. "Just like breathing it in burns your nose, burns your throat, makes your eyes water." In December 2024, Camp Small, a Baltimore wood recycling plant, was on fire for more than 24 hours and smoldered for several days. The wind-fueled fire spread and temporarily shut down roadways, schools, and businesses. Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said the wind posed some problems as crews worked to control the fire. "The challenges are that it's a wind-driven fire, it's a very deep-seated fire and we are very limited in access, so our tactics have to somewhat change," Wallace said. Rowhome fire tragedies Overall, rowhome fires have also been an ongoing challenge for Baltimore City. In November 2024, a fire in the city's Greektown neighborhood left a woman dead and several people displaced. That fire, which happened in the 300 block of South Newkirk Street, displaced residents from eight to 10 homes. Over 100 firefighters responded to the blaze. In October 2023, two Baltimore City firefighters died after battling a two-alarm rowhome fire on Linden Heights Avenue in Northwest Baltimore. The firefighters who died in the fire were identified as 31-year-old Rodney Pitts, III, of Engine Company #29, and Dillon Rinaldo, of Engine Company #46, according to the department. In January 2022, three firefighters were killed in a vacant rowhome fire on Stricker Street. The cause of the fire was determined to be criminal activity, according to an investigation by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Lt. Paul Butrim, firefighter/paramedic Kelsey Sadler, and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo were killed when they became trapped in the vacant rowhome.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Wes Moore pitches tax plan as defense against Trump. Republicans say it's a ‘bad deal' for Maryland
BALTIMORE — Gov. Wes Moore — pitching his tax reform proposal directly to lawmakers on Thursday — framed his plan almost entirely as a salve to President Donald Trump and the torrent of executive actions that the Democratic governor believes could cripple Maryland's economy. 'Marylanders are being squeezed by rising prices, from the cost of groceries to the cost of energy, and policies that we're seeing from D.C. are only making things worse,' Moore said, pointing to the president's plans to extend federal tax cuts enacted under his first term and the hit to the state's tax base from the firing of federal workers. 'We need to make sure that our people are protected and can get tax relief at a time of economic uncertainty.' The governor — who has testified each session only on his top priority bills — said during a joint hearing with members of the House of Delegates that his plan to raise $1 billion in new tax revenue to help resolve a $3 billion deficit is designed to give most filers a modest tax cut and encourage business growth. Republicans and business groups that make up the loudest opposition to Moore's budget, meanwhile, continued to say Thursday it's Moore's tax plan that will put the squeeze on Marylanders. 'I can say with absolute certainty these tax proposals will harm the very businesses Maryland claims it wants to attract and keep,' Kimberly Prescott, who owns a human resources consulting firm based in Columbia, said at a Chamber of Commerce event before the hearing. Moore did not directly face tough questions during the hearing. But Republicans and some Democrats targeted their concerns to his top advisors as more than 100 others signed up to testify over several hours. The testimony ranged from local officials asking about costs shifting to their own, already-tight budgets to advocates and lobbyists upset about tax hikes or spending cuts to state programs. 'Why are mental health services disproportionately targeted?' Damian Lang, a lobbyist for the nonprofit organization Sheppard Pratt, asked regarding a 'drastic' 70% cut to school mental health services provided through the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. While Moore proposed resolving most of the deficit with spending cuts, his testimony Thursday centered on the tax reforms. His plan would increase the tax rate for people making more than $500,000, consolidate the tax brackets for lower earners, eliminate the option for itemized deductions, double the standard deduction and add a 1% surcharge on capital gains income over $350,000. It would also impose a 75-cent fee on online deliveries and increase the taxes on cannabis products, table games and sports gambling. About two-thirds of taxpayers would see an average $173 decrease in their tax burden while one in five would see an average increase of $1,458, according to an analysis by the Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates. Using the 2023 tax year as a guide, roughly 12,400 taxpayers who reported earning more than $1 million would pay an additional $20,800, according to BRE. House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, in one of the few moments of pointed questions direct at Moore, asked the governor whether he disagreed with the revenue board's additional analysis that one-quarter of filers who make between $75,000 and $100,000, as well as one third of those making between $100,000 and $200,000, would see a tax increase. Those increases would be primarily for the minority of filers who used itemized deductions rather than the standard deduction. In a press conference before the hearing, Republicans were more forceful — with Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey calling the budget 'a bad deal for Marylanders' that would 'increase the cost of living for Maryland families that are already struggling.' 'Before looking to Maryland families and businesses for a bailout, Democrats in Annapolis need to cut spending,' Hershey said. Moore, in the hearing, did not reject the analysis showing some in the middle class could pay more. He said he decided to propose eliminating itemized deductions because it would make Maryland more competitive with neighboring states and it would benefit the most taxpayers. 'My fidelity is to those goals but not necessarily to the tactics,' he said, stressing to both Republican and Democratic leaders that he's willing to work with them on adjusting the details. Moore's advisors responded similarly when Democrats questioned them about elements that could harm their districts. Del. Malcolm Ruff, a Baltimore Democrat, said changes to local tax collections could result in a $40 million loss to the city over the next five years. Another Democrat from the city, Del. Mark Edelson, said another change — the phasing out of state-backed enterprise zone tax credits — could mean a $100 million hit to Baltimore over a decade. 'This administration has made such unbelievable investments in the city of Baltimore and I would hate to see us walk back some of those investments as a result of not being able to fully fund this program,' Edelson said. Eric Luedtke, a senior policy advisor to the governor, said the administration is open to talking about those tax credits and other changes before the budget is finalized in early April. More intense pushback on the enterprise zone tax credits came from the state's biggest lobbying force for businesses.. Mary Kane, the president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, said the combination of phasing out those tax credits, expanding corporate taxes through a method known as combined reporting and increasing personal income taxes — which some businesses use instead of the corporate rate — 'could do serious harm to Maryland's business community.' Kane and others have applauded Moore for stressing that the core of Maryland's budget problem is its poor economic growth. But they say his strategies for improving it are not enough. 'Our state is debating tax proposals that threaten to push Maryland in the wrong direction, an approach that is short-sighted and will only make things worse,' Kane said. Moore was scheduled to testify again Friday as the Senate similarly vets his plan publicly before negotiating a final version at the end of March. -----------
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Wes Moore pitches tax plan as defense against Trump. Republicans say it's a ‘bad deal' for Maryland
BALTIMORE — Gov. Wes Moore — pitching his tax reform proposal directly to lawmakers on Thursday — framed his plan almost entirely as a salve to President Donald Trump and the torrent of executive actions that the Democratic governor believes could cripple Maryland's economy. 'Marylanders are being squeezed by rising prices, from the cost of groceries to the cost of energy, and policies that we're seeing from D.C. are only making things worse,' Moore said, pointing to the president's plans to extend federal tax cuts enacted under his first term and the hit to the state's tax base from the firing of federal workers. 'We need to make sure that our people are protected and can get tax relief at a time of economic uncertainty.' The governor — who has testified each session only on his top priority bills — said during a joint hearing with members of the House of Delegates that his plan to raise $1 billion in new tax revenue to help resolve a $3 billion deficit is designed to give most filers a modest tax cut and encourage business growth. Republicans and business groups that make up the loudest opposition to Moore's budget, meanwhile, continued to say Thursday it's Moore's tax plan that will put the squeeze on Marylanders. 'I can say with absolute certainty these tax proposals will harm the very businesses Maryland claims it wants to attract and keep,' Kimberly Prescott, who owns a human resources consulting firm based in Columbia, said at a Chamber of Commerce event before the hearing. Moore did not directly face tough questions during the hearing. But Republicans and some Democrats targeted their concerns to his top advisors as more than 100 others signed up to testify over several hours. The testimony ranged from local officials asking about costs shifting to their own, already-tight budgets to advocates and lobbyists upset about tax hikes or spending cuts to state programs. 'Why are mental health services disproportionately targeted?' Damian Lang, a lobbyist for the nonprofit organization Sheppard Pratt, asked regarding a 'drastic' 70% cut to school mental health services provided through the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. While Moore proposed resolving most of the deficit with spending cuts, his testimony Thursday centered on the tax reforms. His plan would increase the tax rate for people making more than $500,000, consolidate the tax brackets for lower earners, eliminate the option for itemized deductions, double the standard deduction and add a 1% surcharge on capital gains income over $350,000. It would also impose a 75-cent fee on online deliveries and increase the taxes on cannabis products, table games and sports gambling. About two-thirds of taxpayers would see an average $173 decrease in their tax burden while one in five would see an average increase of $1,458, according to an analysis by the Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates. Using the 2023 tax year as a guide, roughly 12,400 taxpayers who reported earning more than $1 million would pay an additional $20,800, according to BRE. House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, in one of the few moments of pointed questions direct at Moore, asked the governor whether he disagreed with the revenue board's additional analysis that one-quarter of filers who make between $75,000 and $100,000, as well as one third of those making between $100,000 and $200,000, would see a tax increase. Those increases would be primarily for the minority of filers who used itemized deductions rather than the standard deduction. In a press conference before the hearing, Republicans were more forceful — with Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey calling the budget 'a bad deal for Marylanders' that would 'increase the cost of living for Maryland families that are already struggling.' 'Before looking to Maryland families and businesses for a bailout, Democrats in Annapolis need to cut spending,' Hershey said. Moore, in the hearing, did not reject the analysis showing some in the middle class could pay more. He said he decided to propose eliminating itemized deductions because it would make Maryland more competitive with neighboring states and it would benefit the most taxpayers. 'My fidelity is to those goals but not necessarily to the tactics,' he said, stressing to both Republican and Democratic leaders that he's willing to work with them on adjusting the details. Moore's advisors responded similarly when Democrats questioned them about elements that could harm their districts. Del. Malcolm Ruff, a Baltimore Democrat, said changes to local tax collections could result in a $40 million loss to the city over the next five years. Another Democrat from the city, Del. Mark Edelson, said another change — the phasing out of state-backed enterprise zone tax credits — could mean a $100 million hit to Baltimore over a decade. 'This administration has made such unbelievable investments in the city of Baltimore and I would hate to see us walk back some of those investments as a result of not being able to fully fund this program,' Edelson said. Eric Luedtke, a senior policy advisor to the governor, said the administration is open to talking about those tax credits and other changes before the budget is finalized in early April. More intense pushback on the enterprise zone tax credits came from the state's biggest lobbying force for businesses.. Mary Kane, the president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, said the combination of phasing out those tax credits, expanding corporate taxes through a method known as combined reporting and increasing personal income taxes — which some businesses use instead of the corporate rate — 'could do serious harm to Maryland's business community.' Kane and others have applauded Moore for stressing that the core of Maryland's budget problem is its poor economic growth. But they say his strategies for improving it are not enough. 'Our state is debating tax proposals that threaten to push Maryland in the wrong direction, an approach that is short-sighted and will only make things worse,' Kane said. Moore was scheduled to testify again Friday as the Senate similarly vets his plan publicly before negotiating a final version at the end of March. -----------
