MHAMD’s annual Legislative Briefing and Reception brings together hundreds of legislators, behavioral health professionals, business and nonprofit leaders, advocates, and concerned citizens to learn about the most important public policy issues impacting mental health in Maryland and the actions necessary to drive meaningful change.
Date & Time: Wednesday, February 12th, from 3 – 9PM EST
Location: Graduate Annapolis Hotel, 126 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401
In 2024, the Maryland General Assembly enacted Moore Administration legislation to advance assisted outpatient treatment in Maryland, providing $3 million to launch the program in five jurisdictions in 2025 before expanding statewide in 2026. The debate over court-ordered treatment versus patient choice has challenged our community over many decades, with tragic outcomes on both sides of this painful divide. Yet the goal is one we all share: improving lives and outcomes among individuals we care for and love. This event will open a timely and necessary dialogue toward achieving that goal.
Open Dialogue Model Keynote Presentation with Dr. Mary Olson
We are excited to launch a conversation to advance this goal with Dr. Mary Olson, Founding Director of the Yale-sponsored Institute for Dialogic Practice. Pioneered in Finland in the 1990s, the Open Dialogue model has been shown to dramatically reduce incidence of long-term disability, with 80% of participants experiencing psychosis working, looking for a job or in school after 5 years, and just one in five experiencing long-term disability. Variations of this model have since been replicated in a growing number of countries including the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Germany, Poland, Norway, Denmark and Australia. A 2016 pilot study at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts demonstrated positive results, particularly among individuals experiencing severe paranoia and disorganization.
As the founder of the first center in the U.S. providing world-class training in this SAMHSA-recognized care model, Dr. Olson leads efforts to bring elements of Dialogic Practice to existing systems of care. Dr. Olson will:
- share practical pathways to adoption of Dialogic Practice and lessons learned from prior implementations, and
- offer recommendations for an incremental approach that builds upon the strengths of existing service delivery models.
Her keynote presentation will be followed by a response panel and opportunities for audience Q&A.
Please note: Schedule is subject to change. Any changes will be communicated with registrants in advance of the event.
Thank you to our Gold Sponsor:
