FY 2023 Call for Proposals

CHRC Commissioners will hold their next meeting on Monday, October 3 to consider the Fiscal Year 2023 Call for Proposals. The RFP is expected to include the following four areas of focus: chronic disease, maternal and child health, behavioral health, and dental.  

The Call for Proposals will be released in early/mid October, and will be posted on the Commission’s website. A Frequently Asked Questions call will be held on October 20, and Letters of Intent will be due November 10 at 12:00 noon.  Full applications will be due December 14 at 12:00 noon. The CHRC anticipates soliciting independent reviewers to assist in evaluating proposals.  

More information about the FY 2023 Call for Proposals will be posted here.

UPDATE: Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports 

The Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, a new initiative to support student behavioral health and wraparound needs, held its second meeting on September 22. Meeting presentations and a recording of the meeting can be found here.  The next two Consortium meetings have been scheduled for Tuesday, October 18 and Tuesday, November 15.  

The Consortium’s Framework and Data Subcommittees will begin meeting soon to discuss key issues and seek input from the public. Meeting information will be shared on the website.

To sign up for the Consortium’s mailing list, click here.

UPDATE: Pathways to Health Equity

The nine Pathways to Health Equity grantees awarded earlier this year have begun to implement their projects.  

September is Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

In recognition, this month’s newsletter highlights the Pathways to Health Equity grant awarded to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine that targets sickle cell disease.  This program addresses disparities associated with the high prevalence of sickle cell disease and lack of access to comprehensive sickle cell care in Prince George’s County.

The program aims to reduce the number of adults who have to travel outside of Prince George’s County for treatment of acute pain.  The project also seeks to improve access to sickle cell disease modifying treatment and transition services for adolescents and young adults.  A new infusion clinic will be established at University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center.  Community Health Workers will work with individuals to facilitate access, coordinate their care, and provide sickle cell disease education. Community based organizations that support people living with sickle cell disease will assist with transportation and needs related to food insecurity.  For more information contact Wanda Snell wsnell2@jhu.edu.

The St. Mary’s County Health Department held a ribbon cutting event earlier this month for a new behavioral and primary care Health Hub in Lexington Park supported by their Pathways grant. CHRC Commissioner Robbie Loker (pictured to the left) gave remarks at the event and presented an oversized check. Currently, the Health Hub offers substance use disorder services, as well as COVID-19 testing and vaccine appointments. Future Hub services will include: primary care, behavioral health crisis stabilization, and jail diversion programs that emphasize mental health and harm reduction services. Coaching, workshops, and other trainings at the Hub will support violence prevention, conflict resolution, housing stability, employment and financial well-being, literacy and academic tutoring, and youth mentoring. 

To sign up for the Health Equity Resource Community (HERC) Pathways Mailing List, visit Sign Up.

Grantee News

Rales School-Based Health Center Completes CHRC Obesity Grant

The Johns Hopkins University Rales Health Center at KIPP Harmony and KIPP Ujima Village Academies in West Baltimore recently completed a two-year CHRC grant to address childhood obesity and diabetes.  Funding supported enhanced opportunities for healthy nutrition and physical activity. School-wide activities included universal nutrition education and campaigns. 78 nutrition and physical activity lesson plans were developed, and 16 students received a referral to food resources.

The program also facilitated early clinical identification of children who were overweight and obese, who were then engaged in guidelines-based weight management clinical care. 29 students received intensive clinical weight management services including monthly clinician visits and weekly coaching communications with a Family Advocate.  Program impact was not limited to students.  Families participated in a weekly walking group, and several parents reported changes to their own diet and physical activity as a result of their child’s involvement in the program. 

Going forward, the program will be sustained by additional grant funds leveraged from the Abell Foundation and the Maryland Department of Health, as well as support from the Johns Hopkins Department of Pediatrics. To learn more about the Rales Health Center, visit the Rales Center website and follow them on Instagram @raleshealthcenter. 

The CHRC has awarded 45 grants totaling more than $7.5 million to promote food security, reduce obesity, and address diabetes. For more information about these grants, click here.

Horizon Foundation Diabetes Advocacy Grant Opportunity

The Horizon Foundation has announced new grant funding for diabetes advocacy programs in Howard County.  The purpose of this grant is to support the Healthier Choices Coalition to create policy change that will 1) make fresh produce more available and affordable, 2) improve school meals, and 3) warn residents about the health risks of consuming sugary drinks. The deadline to apply is Thursday, October 27.  

For more information, click here.