The Ausherman Family Foundation (AFF) has deepened its investment in mental health services in Frederick County with a significant multi-year grant of $356,638 to support the Mental Health Association of Frederick County’s (MHA) 24/7 Call Center. This critical funding, approved in 2022, is designed to stabilize and strengthen what local leaders have called “the most important and underfunded asset in Frederick.”

The grant represents a transformative opportunity for MHA to address systemic challenges that have long strained the Call Center’s ability to meet growing and increasingly complex community needs. With call volume quadrupling over the last two decades – now approaching 50,000 calls annually – the funding enables MHA to execute a three-pronged improvement plan: implementing a fair and sustainable salary structure, expanding supervisory and support roles, and developing robust data-sharing systems to strengthen partnerships across the county.

This investment allows MHA to support their incredible call center specialists with wages and career pathways that reflect the life-saving work they do every day. It’s not just about answering more calls; it’s about answering them well, with the right training, support, and systems in place.

Currently operating 24/7/365 and accredited by the American Association of Suicidology, MHA’s Call Center handles 211, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Frederick County Hotline, and several other lines providing essential crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and referral services.

The AFF Multi-Year grant is helping with staff development, adding critical supervisory positions, and supports full implementation of a data system that improves the coordination of services and tracks community outcomes. These upgrades will enable MHA not only to reduce staff turnover and improve caller experience, but also to serve as a stronger partner in the county’s growing crisis care continuum, helping divert individuals from emergency departments and connect them to more appropriate care.

In tandem with this strategic investment, the Ausherman Family Foundation also supported MHA’s 2025 Catoctin Affair with a $30,000 matching grant to help bolster the Multi-Year Grants impact by raising additional funds for the Call Center. Celebrating both the event’s 27th year and MHA’s 60th anniversary, the Foundation’s match helped catalyze over $240,000 in donations during the sold-out gala held on April 12, 2025. The Catoctin Affair continues to be one of Frederick County’s most impactful fundraising events, drawing wide participation and serving as a vital tool for donor engagement and education.

The Ausherman Family Foundation is proud to support the growth of MHA in both immediate needs and its long-term vision for improved mental wellness in Frederick County. Supporting the Call Center ensures that when someone in our community reaches out in crisis, there’s a professionally trained responder ready to help.

Looking ahead, MHA’s leadership is confident that the combined investments from AFF and other community partners will lead to systemic improvements in call response, workforce sustainability, and data-driven service coordination. As the call center continues to play a central role in Frederick County’s mental health response system, AFF’s support is helping ensure that this lifeline remains resilient, responsive, and rooted in local care.