5th Annual State Summit on Behavioral Health and the Justice System: Full Schedule

8:00am EDT

Wednesday September 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Registration and networking will take place during the first hour of the event. A complimentary breakfast will be available while attendees connect with peers, speakers, and partners. This time also allows for check-in, picking up materials, and getting settled before sessions begin.

Wednesday September 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

Opening Session: Welcome & Keynotes

Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

Speakers

Deena Hausner

Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Matthew F. Fader

Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Maryland

Matthew Fader is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland. He joined the Court, then known as the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and was named Chief Judge in April 2022. Previously, he served on Maryland’s intermediate appellate court, now named the Appellate Court of Maryland... Read More →

Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

9:30am EDT

Learning Across the Intercepts: Turning Uncertainty into Insight

Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:30am - 9:45am EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

This opening presentation introduces the Summit’s theme, Learning Across the Intercepts: Turning Uncertainty into Insight, and sets the stage for a day of shared learning across the Sequential Intercept Model.

Speakers

Tatiana Reyes, LMSW

Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Tatiana Reyes serves as the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for the Centers of Excellence within the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. Since joining the Office in 2022, she has worked at the intersection of behavioral health, policy, and the criminal legal system... Read More →

Rachel Ames

Mental Health Coordinator, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Rachel Ames initiated her work in the behavioral health continuum of care in 2005, providing trauma-informed and culturally responsive counseling services to individuals, couples, and families in several school and clinic settings in San Antonio, TX. Her prior experience as a research... Read More →

Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:30am - 9:45am EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

9:45am EDT

Exploring Civil Options for Behavioral Health Crises

Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

This session will explore involuntary treatment options across the continuum of crisis prevention, intervention, and postvention, with a focus on emergency petitions and Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT). Participants will gain a clearer understanding of the legal, ethical, and public safety considerations that guide these civil processes while addressing common misconceptions surrounding...
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Speakers

Cynthia Major Lewis

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Grace-Kelly Anoma

Director, Office of Assisted Outpatient Treatment, Maryland Department of Health

Grace-Kelly Anoma, M.S., MBA, is a seasoned behavioral health leader with over a decade of experience spanning clinical operations, program development, policy implementation, and stakeholder engagement. She currently serves as the Director of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT... Read More →

Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

10:45am EDT

Officer Safety and Wellness

Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

This session will examine first responder safety and wellness as a critical component of both public health and public safety, highlighting its impact on individual responders, their colleagues, agencies, families, and the communities they serve. Participants will explore the foundational health and wellness training provided to first responders, including occupational risks such as injury,...
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Speakers

Vernon Herron

Director, Officer Safety and Wellness Section (OS&W), Baltimore City Police Department

Vernon Herron is the Director of Officer Safety and Wellness for the Baltimore City Police Department, where he spearheads a nationally recognized program. He is a prominent advocate for law enforcement mental health, utilizing his own past experiences with trauma to build comprehensive... Read More →

Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

11:45am EDT

The Court's Role in Involuntary Commitment Proceedings

Wednesday September 16, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

This session will examine the involuntary commitment process for individuals involved in the criminal legal system from the judicial perspective. Participants will gain an understanding of the legal standards, due process protections, decision-making factors, and the roles of the courts and other stakeholders throughout the commitment process. The presentation will address common misconceptions...
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Speakers

Stacy W. McCormack

Associate Judge, Anne Arundel County Circuit Court

Stacy W. McCormack has been an Associate Judge for Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, 5th Judicial Circuit, since December 29, 2015. Assistant Public Defender, Office of Public Defender, 2001-2013 (appellate division, 2001-
2008; felony division, 2008-2013). Born in Fort Meade, Maryland. University of Maryland, College Park, B.A. (criminology), 1993. University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1996. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1996; District of Columbia Bar, 2014. Law clerk to Judge Charles... Read More →

Marina L. Sabett

Coordinating Judge, Maryland Judiciary/Associate Judge, District Court of Maryland, Montgomery County

MARINA L. SABETT has been an Associate Judge for the District Court of Maryland, District
6, Montgomery County, since January 20, 2017; Presiding and Coordinating Judge, Mental
Health Court, 2017-2023. As of October 2023, she was designated as the Coordinating
Judge for Behavioral H... Read More →

Wednesday September 16, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

12:30pm EDT

Lunch

Wednesday September 16, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

Preakness Function Area

Wednesday September 16, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Preakness Function Area 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208

1:30pm EDT

Maryland State Psychiatric Hospitals in 2026

Wednesday September 16, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

This session will provide an update on the current organization and status of the Maryland Department of Health Healthcare System, with a particular focus on the five psychiatric hospitals and their role in the state's behavioral health system.

Speakers

Anita Everett, MD.DFAPA

Director, Maryland Department of Health, Healthcare System

Dr. Everett currently is the Director of Maryland Hospitals and Facilities in the Maryland Department of Health. There she leads 5 hospitals and 6 facilities that provide inpatient and residential services to adults and children with serious mental illnesses and/or developmental disorders... Read More →

Marie Rose Alam

Chief Executive Officer, Spring Grove Hospital Center

MARIE ROSE ALAM has been the Chief Executive Officer at Spring Grove Hospital Center
since 2022 after having been Chief Medical Officer since 2018. She has also been a
psychiatric consultant at Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc (BCRI) since 2015. She previously
worked as lead psychiatr... Read More →

Wednesday September 16, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

2:15pm EDT

Maryland Medicaid Reentry Programs

Wednesday September 16, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

This session will provide an overview of Medicaid reentry initiatives, including Maryland's justice-involved reentry programs and the Justice-Involved Adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of Medicaid as a federal and state program, with a focus on eligibility and enrollment, the Medicaid suspension...
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Speakers

Nancy Brown

Deputy Director, Office of Innovation, Research, and Development, Maryland Department of Health

Nancy Brown is the Deputy Director of the Office of Innovation, Research, and Development at the Maryland Department of Health. Since 2016, Nancy has worked on implementing new programs and evaluating existing programs within Maryland’s Medicaid Program. Nancy is currently collaborating... Read More →

Wednesday September 16, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

3:00pm EDT

Occupational Training Program

Wednesday September 16, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

This session will explore the development and evolution of the occupational training program, highlighting its growth, future goals, and ongoing challenges. Participants will examine how correctional staffing shortages affect training, operations, and service delivery, while learning strategies that have supported program implementation and sustainability. The presentation will also identify key...
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Speakers

Unique Alexander

Maryland Department of Labor

Tamara L. Barron, M.A., M.S., OWDS, RPS, LGPC

Occupational Coordinator & Local CTE Director, Maryland Department of Labor

Wednesday September 16, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

3:45pm EDT

Closing Remarks

Wednesday September 16, 2026 3:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

Speakers

James Rhoden

Director, Centers of Excellence, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Wednesday September 16, 2026 3:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

4:30pm EDT

Networking Event

Wednesday September 16, 2026 4:30pm - 6:30pm EDT

Fountainside Restaurant & Lounge

Join us after the event for a relaxed networking experience at the Fountainside Restaurant & Lounge, located inside the host hotel. Connect with peers, exchange ideas, and meet potential collaborators in an informal and welcoming atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wednesday September 16, 2026 4:30pm - 6:30pm EDT
Fountainside Restaurant & Lounge 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

8:00am EDT

Check-In, Breakfast & Networking

Thursday September 17, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

Welcoming Remarks

Thursday September 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

Welcome back for day two of the 5th Annual State SIM Summit! We’ll begin the morning by reconnecting as a full group and setting the stage for the day ahead.

Speakers

James Rhoden

Director, Centers of Excellence, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Thursday September 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

9:15am EDT

From Shared Insights to Shared Action

Thursday September 17, 2026 9:15am - 9:45am EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

Building on insights from SIM mapping workshops across jurisdictions, this segment will highlight key themes that consistently emerge at the statewide level. These shared topics, often complex and cross-cutting, provide important context for the day’s discussions. Participants will be guided on how to bring these broader themes into their focus groups in ways that encourage practical thinking...
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Speakers

Tatiana Reyes, LMSW

Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Rachel Ames

Mental Health Coordinator, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Thursday September 17, 2026 9:15am - 9:45am EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

10:00am EDT

Intercepts 0-1 Focus Group

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom A

This focus group session will explore intercepts 0 and 1, focusing on the critical role of community-based services, crisis response systems, and law enforcement in supporting individuals before deeper involvement in the justice system occurs. Facilitators will guide participants through a discussion on current practices, emerging challenges, and opportunities to strengthen early intervention,...
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Moderator

Rachel Ames

Mental Health Coordinator, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Facilitators

Daniel Jarvis

Director, Special Populations, Behavioral Health System Baltimore

Dr. Daniel Jarvis is the Director, Special Populations. He directs and oversees services within Baltimore City’s public behavioral health system, including peer support services, wellness and recovery services, criminal justice programs, supported employment, and support services... Read More →

Taylor Nickerson

Behavioral Health Grant Manager, Division of Behavioral Health, St. Mary's County Health Department

Taylor Nickerson is the Grants Manager for the St. Mary’s County Health Department’s Local Behavioral Health Authority. She supports the Division of Behavioral Health by overseeing and coordinating multiple behavioral health grant funding streams from federal, state, and local... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom A

10:00am EDT

Intercepts 2-3 Focus Group

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom B

This focus group session will explore intercepts 2 and 3, focusing on the critical points of initial detention, court processes, and correctional settings within the behavioral health and justice continuum. Facilitators will guide participants through a discussion on current practices, challenges, and opportunities to improve identification, treatment, and support for individuals involved in these...
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Moderator

Tatiana Reyes, LMSW

Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Facilitators

Kristy E. Blalock, LCPC, LCADAS, MAC, NCC, BCPC, CADS, KAP

Senior Vice President of Operations, Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.

Kristy E. Blalock serves as Senior Vice President of Operations at Pyramid Healthcare, Inc. and is an accomplished behavioral health executive with more than 20 years of experience in clinical operations, strategic growth, and program development. She has extensive expertise in expanding... Read More →

Shannice Anderson

Community Engagement & Reentry Administrator, Office of the Public Defender

Shannice Anderson is a native Baltimorean and a graduate of Bowie State University that currently serves in the inaugural position of Community Engagement & Reentry Administrator for Maryland's Office of the Public Defender. She builds and maintains partnerships with agencies and... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom B

10:00am EDT

Intercepts 4-5 Focus Group

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Triple Crown Rooms

This focus group session will explore intercepts 4 and 5, focusing on reentry, community supervision, and the long-term community supports needed to promote stability and successful reintegration after justice involvement. Facilitators will guide participants through a discussion on current practices, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen transition planning, continuity of care, and...
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Moderator

Alexandra Smith

BJAG & BSCIP Policy and Data Analyst, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Facilitators

James Rhoden

Director, Centers of Excellence, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Tammy Loewe, LCSW-C

Director, Behavioral Health Division, St. Mary's County Health Department

Tammy Loewe is the Division Director of Behavioral Health at the St. Mary’s County Health Department. As Director, her responsibilities include providing system management for behavioral health services in our community which refers residents to local behavioral health resources... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Triple Crown Rooms

12:30pm EDT

Lunch

Thursday September 17, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

Preakness Function Area

Thursday September 17, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Preakness Function Area 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208

1:30pm EDT

Intercepts 0-1 Focus Group

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom A

Moderator

Rachel Ames

Mental Health Coordinator, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Facilitators

Daniel Jarvis

Director, Special Populations, Behavioral Health System Baltimore

Taylor Nickerson

Behavioral Health Grant Manager, Division of Behavioral Health, St. Mary's County Health Department

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom A

1:30pm EDT

Intercepts 2-3 Focus Group

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom B

Moderator

Tatiana Reyes, LMSW

Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Facilitators

Kristy E. Blalock, LCPC, LCADAS, MAC, NCC, BCPC, CADS, KAP

Senior Vice President of Operations, Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.

Shannice Anderson

Community Engagement & Reentry Administrator, Office of the Public Defender

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom B

1:30pm EDT

Intercepts 4-5 Focus Group

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

Triple Crown Rooms

Moderator

Alexandra Smith

BJAG & BSCIP Policy and Data Analyst, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Facilitators

James Rhoden

Director, Centers of Excellence, Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy

Tammy Loewe, LCSW-C

Director, Behavioral Health Division, St. Mary's County Health Department

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Triple Crown Rooms

2:45pm EDT

Focus Group Highlights: Priorities and Themes

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:15pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

Facilitators from each concurrent focus group will present the key priorities and insights identified in their discussions. This session provides an opportunity for all attendees to hear diverse perspectives, understand common themes, and set the stage for collaborative action moving forward.

Facilitators

Daniel Jarvis

Director, Special Populations, Behavioral Health System Baltimore

Kristy E. Blalock, LCPC, LCADAS, MAC, NCC, BCPC, CADS, KAP

Senior Vice President of Operations, Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.

Shannice Anderson

Community Engagement & Reentry Administrator, Office of the Public Defender

Tammy Loewe, LCSW-C

Director, Behavioral Health Division, St. Mary's County Health Department

Taylor Nickerson

Behavioral Health Grant Manager, Division of Behavioral Health, St. Mary's County Health Department

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Preakness Ballroom C & D 1726 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208, USA

3:15pm EDT

Next Steps

Thursday September 17, 2026 3:15pm - 3:30pm EDT

Preakness Ballroom C & D

The Centers of Excellence will wrap up the event by sharing how insights and discussions from this two-day summit will shape future initiatives and projects. Attendees will learn about upcoming opportunities to stay engaged and contribute to ongoing efforts aimed at improving diversion and support systems.

Speakers