Larry Folk came to Friendship Place in April 2009 after serving fifteen years as Director of Disability Crisis Services for the Affiliated Santé Group in Silver Spring. He directed a Montgomery County grant that provided emergency services for unfunded individuals with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities.

In this capacity, Larry became familiar with Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, working closely with the continuum of homeless services in the county. As part of his advocacy work he collaborated with a colleague from the Joseph P. Kennedy Institute in developing and publishing a manual for direct care shelter staff which provided direction in working with individuals with disabilities in shelter settings.

Prior to his work in Maryland, Larry was the Coordinator for the Dual Diagnosis Service (mental health and intellectual disabilities) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry.  He was part of a team that developed a nationally recognized inpatient service dedicated to the support of individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and mental illness.