Maryland Community Health Resources Commission
June 30, 2021 | Issue 70
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Update on the CHRC’s DDA Relief Act Call for Proposals
The CHRC issued a Call for Proposals for Title 7 Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) providers earlier this spring. This RFP provides a total of $5 million in emergency grant funding made available by the Maryland General Assembly as part of the Recovery for the Economy, Livelihoods, Industries, Entrepreneurs, and Families (RELIEF) Act of 2021, introduced by Governor Hogan. Under the language of the RELIEF Act, the funding is available to support pandemic-related: (1) re-opening costs; (2) transformation; and (3) revenue loss.
The application period for the DDA Relief Act RFP is now closed and the RFP generated 161 proposals. Following a review of the applications that were received, the CHRC Commissioners voted to approve 161 grants totaling $5 million. CHRC staff is working with these DDA grantees as they implement these grants.
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Governor Hogan appoints former Senator Ed Kasemeyer to serve as CHRC Chair
Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer has been named Chair of the CHRC by Governor Hogan, effective July 1, 2021, to succeed Elizabeth Chung as Chair, whose term ended on June 30, 2021. Sen. Kasemeyer was initially appointed to serve on the CHRC last year and his appointment was confirmed by the Maryland State Senate this past legislative session. Click here for a copy of the press release announcing Sen. Kasemeyer’s appointment.
A resident of Howard County, Sen. Kasemeyer has dedicated his life to public service, holding several elected positions in the Maryland General Assembly. He began his political career in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1983, where he served on the Economic Matters Committee. Sen. Kasemeyer later ran for Maryland State Senate, where he served for a number of years, including serving as Chairman of the Budget & Taxation Committee from 2011 to 2019. During his tenure in the Maryland Senate, Sen. Kasemeyer served on Joint Legislative Committees focusing on Health Care Delivery and Financing as well as Universal Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care in Maryland. Sen. Kasemeyer has earned numerous accolades from community organizations across the State, including Legislator of the Year from the Mental Health Association of Maryland.
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Somerset County Health Department Implements CHRC Grant to Promote Food Security and Healthy Lifestyles |
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CHRC grant funds are supporting the Sustainable Change and Lifestyle Enhancement (SCALE) for families project to promote food security and address childhood and family obesity. The SCALE project, a partnership between the Somerset and Wicomico County Health Departments, provides comprehensive weight loss and health improvement plans for low-income and uninsured adults, modeled after an evidenced-based program in West Virginia. Participants include women of childbearing age with a reported BMI over 30, children under 18 at risk for obesity, and minority populations. The program offers a comprehensive approach to reduce obesity and improve health through physical activity programs, nutrition education and pre-diabetes self-management.
The program also works to expand access to fresh produce as the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity for vulnerable populations. To this end, the current CHRC grant helps to support the inmate garden at the Maryland Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI) in Westover, a highly successful multi-year program that provides fresh organic produce each growing season on the grounds of ECI. Under this grant, the inmate garden has produced over 30,000 pounds of fresh produce including over 6,000 pounds from the first harvests this year. The produce has been distributed to over 1,700 low-income individuals and families in the community through local distribution partners.
The SCALE project has been covered recently in several local news outlets. Click here to access one of the articles.
This grant to the Somerset County Health Department is one of 44 grants totaling $7.5 million that support programs to reduce obesity, promote food security and improve health, including 23 programs that address chronic disease and diabetes to help support the Maryland Diabetes Action Plan. For more information about CHRC grants, click here.
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Community Free Clinic Launches an Expanded Transportation Program in Washington County
The Community Free Clinic, in partnership with the Washington County Community Action Council and the United Way of Washington County, received a two-year grant from the CHRC to support an expanded transportation program and upgrades to 211 services to help connect vulnerable residents with critical health and social services. Click here to read a press release about the program.
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Federal Government Issues Grant Opportunity for the Minority Leaders Development Program |
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The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health and Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are currently accepting applications for the Minority Leaders Development Program to provide training in health equity issues. Applications are due August 17, 2021. For more information visit the Grants.gov website here. |
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The Maryland Department of Health and Health Quality Innovators Take Part in Project Firstline |
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The Maryland Department of Health and Health Quality Innovators are proud to be a part of Project Firstline, a collaborative made up of healthcare, public health, and academic partners, as well as 64 state, territorial, and local health departments funded through CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity cooperative agreement.
Project Firstline’s CDC-developed training and engagement opportunities include short, accessible training videos, virtual interactive events, and telementoring to ensure every worker in every healthcare setting is empowered with the science and reasoning behind essential infection control practices, and can apply those practices to protect themselves, their facility, their family, and their community.
Please forward the Learning Needs Assessment survey link below to any employees who might benefit from infection prevention education. This includes staff members at all levels from physicians, nurses, and assistants to environmental services team members. Responses are anonymous and will help direct learning resources to those who can help stop the spread of infectious diseases. Project Firstline Learning Needs Assessment Link: https://redcap.link/lqu3olbl
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Lynne Layug at atllayug@hqi.solutions.
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The Maryland Department of Health Latest Updates on the COVID-19 Pandemic |
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The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) continues to provide daily updates as they become available. Visit the MDH websites for the most current information about COVID-19 and Maryland's ongoing response to the pandemic.
To access the MDH coronavirus disease web page, click COVID-19 Maryland. The web page provides links to information on COVID-19 vaccine availability, the locations of vaccination sites including mass vaccination sites and vaccination clinics, and options for scheduling vaccination appointments. Visit Vaccine.
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July 28th is World Hepatitis Day
July 28th is World Hepatitis Day, one of the World Health Organization's (WHO) seven official public health days. For more information visit the event page at the WHO or the CDC website CDC.
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Larry Hogan, Governor
Boyd K. Rutherford, Lieutenant Governor
Dennis R. Schrader, Health (MDH) Secretary
CHRC Commissioners: Elizabeth Chung, Scott Gibson, J. Wayne Howard, Celeste James, Edward J. Kasemeyer, Karen-Ann Lichtenstein, Destiny-Simone Ramjohn, PhD, Erica I. Shelton, MD, Ivy Simmons, PhD
Mark Luckner, Executive Director
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