UpperBay.org - Mental Health Services, About Us

We are the largest provider of behavioral and mental health services in Cecil County.
Our staff includes psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed professional counselors, and clinical nurses.
We serve over 4,000 individuals annually with behavioral/mental health concerns and provide nearly 2,000 individuals with community education services.
We accept medical assistance and Medicare, most commercial insurances, and private pay clients.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization—donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Board of Directors

Upper Bay is governed by a Volunteer Board of Directors comprised of local community members:

Linda Tipton - President of the Board
(Delmarva Power)

Michael Gordon - Vice President
(Independent Consultant)

J. Scott Sturgill - Treasurer
(Vice President, Harford Bank )

Karolyn Bowe, Esq. - Secretary
(Attorney at Law)

Jason L. Allison, Esq. - Attorney at Law

Richard Bayer, Ph.D. - CEO, UBCSS

Nelson K. Bolender - Retired CCPS, Former Cecil County Commissioner

Patricia D. Folk - Political/Community Advocate

Nancy Hall- Amazing Non-Profits

Dinah G. Hanson, CPA - Executive Vice President & CFO,
Elkton Supply Company, Inc.

Liz Leoni-Monti - Aberdeen Proving Ground FCU

Patricia Pannill, R.N. - Union Hospital of Cecil County

Erika L. Quesenbery - Main Street Havre de Grace

Kevin Urick - Assistant Maryland State's Attorney

History

Upper Bay Counseling & Support Services, Inc. is a not-for-profit, mission-based organization headquartered in Elkton, Maryland. Formerly part of the Cecil County Health Department, the agency separated from the state system in 1997 when the public mental health system changed from a grant-based system to a managed-care (fee for service) system. In July of 1997, UBCSS was awarded the contract to provide pubic mental health services to the residents of Cecil County. The agency provides a comprehensive array of behavioral health services to the community. The programs provided by UBCSS include:

Outpatient Programs & Services

individual & family assessment
medication evaluation & management
case coordination/management
short-term therapy groups
school-based therapy
intensive outpatient programs
intensive summer programming
crisis intervention services
community awareness & education

Rehabilitation Programs

child psychiatric rehabilitation
supported employment programs
adult psychiatric rehabilitation
adult residential rehabilitation
community & specialized services
parenting education & support
mental health case management
customized EAP programs

pre-employment screenings
employee workshops
professional growth workshops
anger management workshop
transitional aged youth programs

Upper Bay Counseling & Support Services, Inc. is fully licensed by the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).

Mission Statement

Upper Bay Counseling & Support Services, Inc. provides a broad and expanding range of high quality behavioral health and community services.

Vision Statement

Upper Bay Counseling & Support Services, Inc. will improve the quality of life of everyone we serve through excellent behavioral health and supportive community services, excellent management and operational supports, and an inviting environment, that results in highly satisfied and healthier clients.

Value Statement

The values of Upper Bay Counseling & Support Services, Inc. guide and shape the actions of staff and clients. The primary values are respect and integrity.

Respect is demonstrated by professional interactions which display dignity, compassion, and sensitivity. Services are client-centered, strength-based, and grounded in personal choice.

Integrity is demonstrated by unity of purpose and method throughout the system of care. It is accomplished through coordination of effort, flexibility in responsiveness, and accountability at every level of the organization.

Staff

Our staff includes psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed professional counselors, and clinical nurses.

Urgent Care Clinic

What is Urgent Care?

Upper Bay Counseling’s (UBCSS) Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) is a grant-based service. The purpose of the UCC is to ensure the availability and provision of one “urgent” behavioral health evaluation each business day within 24 to 48 hours of the referral.

Adults & children may be referred to the Upper Bay Counseling & Support Services’ Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) for a rapid mental health assessment.

Common UCC referrals may result from:

Family crisis
Separation of family members
Becoming a victim of a crime
Witnessing a traumatic event
Verbal/physical aggression
School suspension

Referrals to UCC may be received from community agencies, local professionals, family members or individuals in Cecil County.

Persons struggling with active suicidal or homicidal ideation would not be appropriate for UCC. These persons should be referred to a local hospital or calling 9-1-1 for immediate assessment.

How Does UCC Work?

Anyone can make a referral by calling UBCSS directly at

(410) 996-3450 or toll free at (800)467-0304

by contacting the Eastern Shore Operations Center’s 24/7 helpline toll free at

(888)407-8018

After a referral has been received and meets the urgent care criteria, the client will have an initial evaluation. Upon completion of the initial evaluation, the client may be recommended for treatment by UBCSS or referred to another provider.

Recommendations may include:

Counseling
Psychiatric evaluation to assess for use of medication
Rehabilitation services and/or
other community resources

If more than one referral a day is received, a UBCSS professional will assess the level of clinical urgency and schedule accordingly.

Confidential Services Statement

Client records and interactions shall be maintained in confidence, and all records shall be kept confidential. A client's records or other information pertaining to the client shall only be released to persons or agencies other than the client upon the client's written authorization of release. This holds true except where disclosure without authorization of release is permitted or required by law, including but not limited to the duty to report allegations of child abuse/neglect or abuse/neglect of vulnerable adults. This disclosure without authorization is also required when an adult reports abuse occurring as a child.

Client Equal Opportunity Statement

Every client shall be treated with consideration, respect, and recognition of his or her dignity and individuality. Clients are eligible for the appropriate treatment services regardless of race, sex, age, handicapped status, national origin, marital status, religion, and/or political opinions or affiliations.

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