LA PLATA, Md. — Charles County’s health department is preparing for a potential 12% cut to the Local Behavioral Health Authority while working to expand access to care for residents.
The state requested a plan for the possible reduction, commissioners learned during a biannual health department briefing Tuesday, Oct. 27. According to the Charles County Department of Health presentation, the cut could affect authority positions, mental health services, the Recovery Community Center, peer programs and support for people with substance use disorders.
The request comes as other public health programs face federal and state funding reductions. In response to a commissioner’s question about the possible loss of state general fund grants, department representatives described an agency already operating with minimal staffing and relying on a mix of funding sources, including grants.
“We learn how to make a dime out of a penny,” a department representative told the board.
The briefing also highlighted efforts to meet residents’ needs, including the county’s first school-based health center in Indian Head and growing use of Spanish interpretation services. Fiscal 2026 figures detailed the reach of school nurses, dental care and family assistance programs across the county.
Indian Head School-Based Health Center Nears State Designation
Charles County’s first school-based health center celebrated its grand opening Thursday, April 16, 2026, on the Indian Head Elementary School campus. The Dr. Chinnadurai Devadasan School-Based Health Center is a partnership between Charles County Public Schools and the Charles County Department of Health.
The clinic offers well visits, immunizations, sick visits and sports physicals, according to the department’s presentation. During school hours, it serves only Indian Head Elementary students, officials said. After school, services are available to Charles County Public Schools students, their families and school employees.
The department is considering opening the clinic to the broader public outside school hours within the next two months. Weekend hours are not currently available, though officials said they hope to expand access as staffing grows and operations become more established. A billboard recently installed in Bryans Road promotes the center.
Spanish Translation Services Grow
The department now has a full-time, in-person Spanish interpreter who assisted more than 470 clients and provided more than 132 hours of interpretation between July and September, according to the presentation.
Responding to a commissioner’s question, officials said word of mouth and referrals from a local medical practice serving Hispanic patients have helped drive demand. The department’s strategic plan also calls for making materials available in additional languages.
By the Numbers
- School nurses are in all 43 Charles County public schools and educational centers, with 257,163 visits to school nurses in the FY2026 school year
- The dental program saw 2,151 patients in FY2026 and screened 852 children at schools and early childhood programs
- WIC enrollment was 4,622 in FY2026
- The Maryland Children’s Health Program received 15,250 applications for children and pregnant women in FY2026, with 13,725 applicants found eligible
Watch the full Oct. 27 meeting on CCGTV.
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Source: thebaynet.com
