Health and Mental Hygiene/211
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE

Adele Wilzack, R.N., M.S., Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene

John Staubitz, Deputy Secretary for Operations

Mack Bonner Jr., M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services

Vacancy, Deputy Secretary for Policy, Financing, and Regulation

Varda N. Fink, Acting Principal Counsel

300 W. Preston Street

Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 225-6500
Public Information: 225-6860
TTY for Deaf: 225-5072

Although the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene was created in 1969, its historical develop-
ment began in the nineteenth century. The Department of Health originally was established in 1874
(Chapter 200, Acts of 1874). The separate development of the Department of Mental Hygiene, however,
dates from 1886, when the State Lunacy Commission was formed (Chapter 487, Acts of 1886). In 1922,
the Commission was replaced by the Board of Mental Hygiene (Chapter 29, Acts of 1922). The Board,
in turn, was succeeded by the Department of Mental Hygiene in 1949 (Chapter 685, Acts of 1949). By
1961, the State Board of Health and Mental Hygiene was created to maintain authority over the De-
partment of Health and the Department of Mental Hygiene (Chapter 841, Acts of 1961). The present
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene replaced the State Board in 1969 (Chapter 77, Acts of
1969).

The mission of the Department is to assure the people of Maryland their inherent right to a healthful
environment and a high level of physical, mental, and social health. Through the development of a
comprehensive, continuous and accessible system of health services for the State, the Department em-
phasizes the promotion of health and the prevention of disease and disability.

Many programs are by their nature public functions and cannot be performed effectively by the pri-
vate sector. Prime among these is the responsibility for dealing with the epidemiological dimensions of
hazards to health affecting the community, such as communicable diseases, and the organization of
community efforts to prevent or control their impact.

Twenty-four local health departments report to the Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services and
have access to all Departmental officials as well. Local health departments are the focal point in the de-
livery of services.

The Department provides or purchases direct care services primarily through residential and outpa-
tient care for the mentally ill, the mentally retarded, the chronically ill, including those with tuberculo-
sis, the impaired elderly, and persons with addictive conditions. It directly provides several community
health services and also provides comprehensive health care services for the indigent and medically in-
digent.

In 1987, the Department was reorganized under three deputy secretaries who are responsible for dis-
tinct programmatic areas: Operations; Public Health Services; and Policy, Financing, and Regulation.
The Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene also directs and coordinates numerous boards, commis-
sions, and various citizen advisory groups.

Informational brochures and other publications useful to the public are available from the various
subdivisions within the Department. These may be obtained either at no cost or for a small fee by con-
tacting the appropriate agency.