Maryland Special Secretary of Overdose Response visits mid-shore to learn about local recovery efforts

EASTON – Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. (MSBH) was honored to welcome Special Secretary Emily Keller, Maryland’s Special Secretary of Overdose Response, on September 23rd for a regional visit focused on learning about the challenges and accomplishments regarding recovery efforts in the mid-shore region. The visit was part of a statewide initiative to connect with organizations providing substance use prevention, awareness, and treatment programs across Maryland.

Special Secretary Keller began her visit at Foundations Recovery House, where she met with alumni, current residents, and Executive Director/Owner Tabitha Gross, CPRS. Conversations centered on the role of peer support, the importance of trauma-focused care for substance use and mental health disorders, and the need for wraparound services to support families. Residents and staff emphasized how Maryland Recovery Net (MDRN) funding and extended stay resources have been critical in helping individuals during the early stages of recovery, and stressed the importance of continued, accessible funding to ensure sustainability. Following this visit, Special Secretary Keller toured Chesapeake Voyagers, Inc., where she spoke with Peer Support Specialist James Carter about the organization’s mission to foster peer wellness, advocacy, and connection for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. Their discussion highlighted the importance of sustainable funding, workforce support, and continued collaboration to strengthen peer-led recovery services across the mid-shore region.

At MSBH, Special Secretary Keller participated in a briefing that highlighted the wide scope of regional programming addressing substance use and behavioral health needs across the mid-shore. The discussion included updates on crisis bed availability, the expansion of harm reduction strategies, the success of problem-solving courts, and the ongoing development of coordinated recovery initiatives aimed at ensuring individuals and families receive the right support at the right time. In addition to the presentation, Local Addiction Authorities (LAAs) and Health Officers from each of the five mid-shore counties—Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot—shared jurisdiction-specific updates, outlining both the challenges their communities face and the successes achieved through collaborative strategies. Secretary Keller actively engaged with these leaders, asking questions about the unique

issues in each county and recognizing the dedication of local teams to overcoming barriers. She commended the cohesiveness of the region’s unified response, applauded the effectiveness of strong cross-county partnerships, and expressed her continued support for the mid-shore’s innovative efforts to expand access, reduce stigma, and improve outcomes for individuals living with substance use disorders.

"Organizations in the mid-shore are demonstrating the tremendous power of collaboration as we work to reduce overdose in Maryland," said Special Secretary Keller. "I applaud our local partners in the mid-shore and across the state for their tireless efforts to support individuals on their recovery journeys and for showing what we can accomplish when we work together."

For more information about MSBH’s harm reduction and recovery initiatives, visit www.midshorebehavioralhealth.org/harmreduction, or learn more about MSBH’s regional programming at www.midshorebehavioralhealth.org/programs.

Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. (MSBH) is the region’s Core Service Agency charged with continually improving 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.