MABHA Announces the Appointment of Our Inaugural Executive Director

Elizabeth (Liza) Guroff, MA, LCMFT

Maryland (July 25, 2022) – The Maryland Association of Behavioral Health Authorities (MABHA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth (Liza) Guroff, MA, LCMFT as the inaugural Executive Director of MABHA. 

“The membership of MABHA is delighted to welcome Liza Guroff as MABHA’s inaugural Executive Director,” stated Kathryn Dilley, MABHA Board Chair and Executive Director of Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. “MABHA is confident that under Liza’s leadership, MABHA will strengthen its footprint and leadership of the local behavioral health systems in Maryland.” Over the course of the last year, MABHA has been working to develop and implement a new infrastructure with its Board and organizational structure. One of the key components to the success of the implementation of the new structure was the recruitment of the Executive Director position. 

Ms. Guroff, a resident of Sykesville, MD, joins MABHA with 30 years of experience in the behavioral health field where she has provided therapy, treatment, program and resource development for children, youth, adults, and families living with serious mental illnesses and serious emotional disturbances.

She joins us from her most recent position at The National Council for Mental Wellbeing where she was a nationally recognized Subject Matter Expert on numerous topics related to trauma, trauma-informed, resilience-oriented, equitable (TIROE) care, diversity, equity and engagement practices, organizational change management, TIROE leadership and TIROE supervision. 

“I am humbled to be chosen as MABHA’s inaugural Executive Director, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead to support our local jurisdictions’ efforts to work collaboratively with Maryland’s Behavioral Health Administration as we look to continually improve the behavioral health systems and services in our amazing State” stated Guroff. “As we come out of the pandemic, the need for collaborative, innovative and locally driven behavioral health services have never been greater. MABHA is in the ideal position to help meet that need and drive local community efforts for all Marylanders to support not only our recovery from the toll of the pandemic, but to come out stronger and more committed to mental wellbeing in communities than ever before. I look forward to partnering with other community stakeholders in making Maryland the place where people thrive.”  

MABHA’s primary mission is to:

  • represent members to external groups including Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), the General Assembly and Governor, statewide advocacy organizations, and the public;
  • promote the professional development of member agency staff;
  • provide a system of communication and a structure for collaboration among members and with BHA and other partners; and
  • identify system needs and promote resolution to ensure effective quality behavioral health services.

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As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, founded in 1997, MABHA represents the local Core Service Agencies, Local Addictions Authorities and Local Behavioral Health Authorities for all 24 counties in Maryland. MABHA promotes and supports the development of accessible, high-quality community-based comprehensive behavioral health services throughout the state of Maryland.