From 1922 to 1929, public health services for Wicomico County were directed by a tri-county unit responsible for Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. One health officer served these three counties until September 1929, when Wicomico County established its own public health services unit.
In Salisbury, the Health Department first was located in the Building and Loan Building on Main Street. It soon moved to the Advertiser Building on East Main Street. When the expansion of the Courthouse was completed in 1937, the Department relocated to an office there. In 1941, it moved to Locust Street next to the Peninsula General Hospital. In December 1971, the Health Department transferred to the William C. Fritz Health Center at 300 West Carroll Street. In June 1996, it returned near its original locale to the Seth H. Hurdle Center, its present location, at 108 East Main Street.
Today, the Health Department, under direction of the Health Officer, provides public health services and administers and enforces State and local health laws and regulations within Wicomico County. Programs meet the public health needs of the community and provide services not offered by the private sector (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-202).
Appointed by the Secretary of Health, the Health Officer is the executive officer and secretary of the County Board of Health (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-301 through 3-310).
CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM
The Child Fatality Review Team seeks to develop an understanding of the causes and incidence of child death in Wicomico County. The Team develops plans for and recommends changes within the agencies represented on the Team to prevent child deaths; and promotes compensation and coordination among agencies involved in investigations of child deaths, or in providing services to surviving family members. The Team also advises the State Child Fatality Review Team on changes to law, policy, or practice to prevent child deaths (Chapters 355 & 356, Acts of 1999; Code Health-General Article, secs. 5-705 through 5-709).
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION
The Council develops, submits to the Governor, and implements plans and strategies with which to evaluate, prevent, and treat alcohol and drug abuse in the County.
MENTAL HEALTH CORE SERVICE AGENCY
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DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE COUNCIL
In 2004, a drug and alcohol abuse council was authorized in each county by the General Assembly (Chapters 237 & 238, Acts of 2004; Code Health-General Article, sec. 8-1001).
Under authority of the Secretary of Health, a core service agency is designated by each county government to plan, manage, and monitor the delivery of publicly funded mental health services in the county (Code Health-General Article, secs. 10-1201 through 10-1203).
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