The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), formerly the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS), assists people who are uninsured or have inadequate health insurance coverage to meet their need for mental health and substance use disorder services.
Mission: OBH is committed to supporting a complete and coordinated behavioral health continuum of care that serves the whole person, the whole community.
Vision: Ensure that all Maine residents with mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders are not simply managing symptoms, but are living independent lives of dignity, hope, and meaning.
Values: Inclusive · Trauma-Informed · Accepting · Proactive · Responsive · Diverse
We strive for an evidence-based behavioral health system that recognizes the importance of meeting people where they are, and is trauma informed, inclusive, consumer driven, and proactive. This system aspires to keep Mainers experiencing mental health and substance use challenges supported in the community – and out of jails, prisons, and hospitals.
OBH supports this mandate by:
- Promoting wellness, prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery, and holistic supports;
- Funding mental health and substance use disorder services, training and technical assistance, housing, and evaluation;
- Providing direct service through our Intensive Case Management Program and State Forensic Service; and
- Working closely with the Governor’s Director of Opioid Response to oversee a wide array of contracted programs and set public policy regarding behavioral health in Maine.
OBH is a member of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), and the American Public Health Association (APHA).