First Step has been providing behavioral health services to those in need in Baltimore County for 36 years, treating the addicted, the mentally ill, the poor, and the overlooked. Treatment specialties include: Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment (all ages), Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment (adults only), Buprenorphine/Suboxone Treatment (adults only), 12 hour DUI education program, and Outpatient Mental Health Treatment (all ages). 

While services at First Step are covered in part by private health insurance, client's with private insurance represent less than 25% of the population served. The majority of the county residents served are uninsured or qualify for medical assistance.

The ability for First Step to offer these services exists because of funding received from a block grant from the State of Maryland. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is planning to move dollars from these treatment grants to the Administrative Services Organization (ASO)- Value Options/ Beacon Health Options. The loss of the funding equals more than $482,000 and will result in First Step (and possibly other Baltimore County Facilities) having to close their doors- leaving no treatment services for Medical Assistance, uninsured, or financially indigent Baltimore County residents.  It is an erroneous assumption to think that this shifting of funds will expand access to care when Baltimore County alone will lose between 2-4 of its existing 5 treatment facilities. We are asking that you reconsider this movement of funds to the ASO, and continue to provide grant funding for substance abuse treatment that will allow First Step to continue to serve this population as they have for the last 36 years.