Nonprofit will receive funding through the SFY 2027 Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program to launch the Military Personnel Recovery Pathway, expanding veteran-focused substance use treatment and peer recovery support in Baltimore City
Baltimore (July 14, 2026) –Tuerk House, a growing nonprofit care provider specializing in community and behavioral health, announces it has been awarded $225,000 from the Maryland Department of Health through the SFY 2027 Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program. Administered by the Maryland Department of Health – Behavioral Health Administration, the grant will fund Tuerk House’s new Military Personnel Recovery Pathway (MPRP), expanding the organization’s existing veteran-focused behavioral health services in Baltimore City.
The Military Personnel Recovery Pathway will serve Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF), including active U.S. Armed Forces service members, U.S. Armed Forces veterans, and the spouses, children, and stepchildren of service members or veterans. The program addresses a clear and growing need across the state.
Maryland is home to more than 362,000 veterans. Up to 20 percent of combat veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder, which significantly increases their risk for substance use disorders. Veterans account for 18 percent of all U.S. suicide deaths, despite representing only 6.6 percent of the population. Long wait times, the stigma surrounding behavioral health care, distrust of civilian providers, and a shortage of veteran-competent services outside the VA all stand in the way of recovery.
The $225,000 award will allow Tuerk House to break down those barriers. Through the MPRP, the organization will:
Serve a minimum of 200 new, unduplicated SMVF clients in SFY27
Establish a Veteran-Priority Referral Pipeline
Provide six months of post-discharge peer follow-up for every discharged SMVF client
Hire a full-time Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) to lead veteran-focused outreach, community engagement, and post-discharge follow-up
Hire a full-time Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) to expand clinical capacity for veteran-specific substance use disorder counseling and group therapy
Distribute harm reduction kits, including Narcan and educational materials, during outreach
Conduct targeted veteran outreach through both in-person engagement and digital media
This new investment builds on a proven track record. In FY25, Tuerk House served 157 SMVF clients under the previous Hixson grant, achieving an 81 percent residential treatment completion rate, a 38 percent reduction in emergency room recidivism, and a 68 percent outpatient linkage rate for SMVF clients.
“We are deeply grateful to the Maryland Department of Health and the Behavioral Health Administration for this support, which allows us to meet our veterans and military families where they are,” said Bernard Gyebi-Foster, CEO, Tuerk House. “Too many of those who served carry the weight of trauma and addiction in silence, held back by stigma and a system that wasn’t built for them. The Military Personnel Recovery Pathway gives us the people, priority access, and follow-through to change that. With dedicated peer specialists and counselors who understand the military experience, we can help these heroes find recovery, reclaim their health, and rebuild their lives.”
To learn more about Tuerk House and the Military Personnel Recovery Pathway, including how to support the organization’s mission, please visit TuerkHouse.org.
About Tuerk House
Tuerk House is a growing community and behavioral health provider that never stops at “good enough.” We go beyond traditional care and offer comprehensive services to meet our patients’ whole-health needs—from routine medical care to addiction and mental health treatment. Since 1970, Tuerk House has been a trailblazer in drug and alcohol treatment in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, as we expand locations, broaden services, and step in wherever healthcare falls short, we pour our time, talent, and heart into closing critical gaps for individuals and families throughout the United States. Serving nearly 300 patients a day regardless of their ability to pay, we create real, lasting well-being in the communities we serve—so everyone can achieve true wellness. To learn more, please visit TuerkHouse.org.