Mental Health Needs: Meeting the Challenge
Marsha G. Ansel, LCSW-C
Howard County Mental Health Authority
Licensed social worker, LCSW-C
provides:
 consultation
 education
 technical assistance
 promoting specialized services in
aging and mental health to meet the
needs of the geriatric population
Consultation/Transition:
 community discharge from state
psychiatric hospitals
 comprehensive individualized plan
evaluation, aftercare assessment, and
planning services
 identification of community resources,
assistance with linkage and access to
service
Consultation/Transition regarding
community settings and services:
 nursing homes, assisted living, adult
medical day care, hospitals
 Residential Rehabilitation Programs
and Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Programs (mental health)
 county, state, and private
agencies/providers and the public
Coordination and Collaboration to
promote aging and mental health
services:
 planning and development of services
 interagency coordination for individual
planning as well as service delivery
systems
 networking, partnerships, and
advocacy with local, state, and private
agencies, statewide and national
organizations
Training and Education regarding
mental health and aging for direct
caregivers, aging providers, mental
health providers, other public agency
staff and the community at large.
Marsha G. Ansel, LCSW-C
mansel@hcmha.org
410-313-5706
Howard County Mental Health Authority
A professional staff position in the Health & Wealth
Division of Howard County Office on Aging, who:
administers the SPRING (Senior Peer
Resources: Individuals, Networks &
Groups) Program, a preventive mental
health peer support program;
 develops resources and oversee
programs designed to meet the
mental health needs of the senior
population in Howard County;

counsels and/or identifies the
appropriate referral for individuals in
distress/crisis;
 networks with community mental
health providers and collaborates on
related older adult projects;
 provides mental health trainings in the
community;

serves as an advocate for older adult
mental health issues in the community
and at the interagency level;
 serves as an ex-officio Board member
of the Howard County Mental Health
Authority, the local core service
agency.

Karen Hull
Howard County Office on Aging
khull@howardcountymd.gov
410-313-7466
A Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program:
services in an individual’s home
 medication and symptom
management
 budgeting
 socialization
 crisis intervention
 case management services
 limited transportation

The program’s basic requirements are:
 psychiatric diagnosis must meet the
Maryland’s Public Mental Health
System, Priority Population, which is
the cause of significant psychological,
personal care, and social impairment
 must have Medical Assistance and live
in Howard County (program also
functions in Baltimore City.)
(Basic requirements - continued)
 must have Medical Assistance, and must live
in Howard County. They have a program in
Baltimore City as well.
Vanessa Conaway
410-381-7171, ext 2322
cell: 410-733-6581
vconaway@humanim.com
provides services to adults with
serious mental disorders
 designed to meet the needs of
individuals who are unable or
unwilling to engage in traditional,
facility-based outpatient psychiatric
treatment and rehabilitation services.

Mobile Treatment is provided as a
comprehensive service. The team
provides :
 nursing services
 psychiatric treatment
 therapy, case management
 resource coordination
 advocacy
 and many other services.
Admission criteria:


The consumer has a Public Mental
Health System specialty mental health
DSM-IV diagnosis included in the
Priority Population, which is the cause
of significant psychological, personal
care, and social impairment.
Inability to engage in traditional
outpatient treatment
(Admission criteria – continued)

Inability to form therapeutic
relationships on an ongoing basis as
evidenced by: frequent use of
Emergency Room for psychiatric
reasons, psychiatric hospitalizations,
arrest for reasons associated with the
individual’s mental illness.
The goals of the program include:
 Preventing or reducing incidents or
hospitalization, incarceration, and
homelessness.
 Improving the functioning, quality of
life, and community integration of the
individuals served.
Kristin Ucciardo, Manager
410-740-1901 x 7728
kucciardo@waystationinc.org


MCT consists of 2 licensed mental health
professionals (LCSW-C or LCPC) and we work
in collaboration with Howard County Police.
MCT goes to an individual's home or
anywhere else in the community to assist an
individual and/or family in crisis.


Crisis can include psychiatric,
behavioral, family, trauma (sudden
death), community disaster (fire, etc).
The objective is to intervene in the
crisis and alleviate stress and trauma
in the least restrictive way.



MCT also provides resources and
referrals
follows up with clients to assess if
they were able to connect to
resources, follow safety plan
assesses if further support/resources
are needed.



The police call MCT but anyone in the
community can request MCT response.
MCT always responds with police.
MCT does not typically respond to
standard domestics between husband
and wife.

Hours of operation are M -F 9am to 11pm
and Sat and Sun 12 pm to 11pm.
Mobile Crisis Team
Call Grassroots and
request MCT
410-531-6677
Group Practices:
 Clinic appointments
 Multidisciplinary staff
 In-home visits in designated settings
Private Practitioners:
 In home therapy
 Office appointments for therapy and
medication management
CONTACTS
Marsha G. Ansel, LCSW-C
Howard County Mental
Health Authority
410-313-5706
mansel@hcmha.org
Kristin Ucciardo, Manager
Way Station, Sheppard
Pratt - Mobile Treatment
410-740-1901 x 7728
kucciardo@waystationinc.org
Karen Hull
Howard County Office on
Aging
410-313-7466
Vanessa Conaway
410-381-7171, ext 2322
cell: 410-733-6581
vconaway@humanim.com
khull@howardcountymd.gov
Mobile Crisis Team
Call Grassroots and request
MCT
410-531-6677