DIGEST Newsletter
April 2023
HCLHIC Quarterly Meetings
Register for the next HCLHIC Quarterly Meeting on April 20, 2023 at 8:30am to 10:30am (in-person or hybrid).

or call 410-313-6204 with any questions.
HCLHIC Community Corner
New HCLHIC Co-Chair - Jeanette Nazarian, M.D.
The Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (HCLHIC) is pleased to welcome our new Co-Chair, Jeanette T.M. Nazarian, M.D. Dr. Nazarian is the Vice President of Medical Affairs/Chief Medical Officer at Howard County General Hospital where she is the designated medical safety and quality officer, and leads in the critical tasks of integrating services and quality care standards with those of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Nazarian as HCLHIC Co-Chair.
Owen Brown Place Apartments Pop-Up Market
The Community Action Council of Howard County, in collaboration with the Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (HCLHIC), is hosting a Pop-Up food pantry for residents of Owen Brown Place, Columbia on April 22, 2023.

Food items such as produce and staple items to make meals along with recipes and additional resources and giveaways will be provided to the residents. Volunteers will provide on-site assistance in addition taking food and resources to home-bound residents. Email: LHIC@howardcountymd.gov with any questions.
Healthy Beginnings
Maternal Health Fair - Restoring Joy in the Family!
The Howard County Health Department, in partnership with St. John Baptist Church, Sankofa Yoga & Wellness, and MomCares, is hosting an event celebrating Black Maternal Health Week on Saturday April 22nd at St. John Baptist Church from 10am to 12pm. Activities will include a panel discussion focused on maternal wellness and a health fair dedicated to connecting individuals to services that promote overall family wellness. Register!
Car Seat Safety Class
Join the Howard County Health Department Cribs & Car Seats Program to boost your car seat safety knowledge. Taught by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), the class covers car seat basics, correct car seat use based on ages and stages, and how to keep kids safe in a variety of vehicles. Observe a car seat demonstration and get hands-on practice placing children safely in their car seats. Note: This is not a car seat check-up event. Share this FREE event on April 29, 1:00 to 1:45pm at the Elkridge Library, Belmont Room / Register
Parent's Guide to Howard County
Check out and share the Office of Children and Families 2023 Parents Guide that provides parents and caregivers with a wide variety of information and local resources to support their children. It also provides a comprehensive listing of child care and early education programs. View the digital edition of the Parent's Guide or call 410-313-1940 to request a copy in an alternate format.
Move & Groove Children's Activity Class
Families are welcome to join a fun, free, summer class offering at HCLS Elkridge Branch Library starting June 1st to August 31st every Thursday at 10am. During the 30-minute class period children of all ages will enjoy a variety of music, dance, movement and interactive stories with their grownups. Free tickets are available 15 minutes before class at the Children's Desk.
HC Executive Calvin Ball Announces Youth Engagement Grants
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced the impactful Youth Engagement Programming (YEP!) Grants during a rally at the People Tree in Columbia. These grants promote youth activities and engagement in Howard County through free, accessible, and supportive programming developed by nonprofit and community organizations. Pictures can be found here, and video can be found here. 
Stewards of Children: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training
Join HopeWorks of Howard County in a training to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. This FREE training is for parents, communities and youth serving organizations and is in honor of child sexual abuse prevention month. Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023, Noon to 2:30pm at the NonProfit Collaborative. Childcare is provided! To register visit: Stewards of Children Training 
Healthy Living
2023 County Health Rankings are Now Available
The Howard County Health Department is pleased to share that, according to the Robert Wood Johnson/University of Wisconsin County Health Rankings, Howard County is the second healthiest county in Maryland! The 2023 National Findings Report highlights the connection between civic health and thriving people and places. Check out the report!
American Lung Association COPD Educator Course
The American Lung Association is pleased to share the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Educator Course. This three partial-day course provides healthcare professionals with a thorough overview of COPD information to better support their patients living with COPD. Registration fee is $300 with scholarships available for healthcare professionals in Howard County to register for FREE. Email JaKaiya Frisby at jakaiya.frisby@lung.org with questions.
Spring Into Wellness Community Health Fair
The Continental Societies Inc,. Southeastern Howard Laurel Chapter invites you to enjoy a full day of health and wellness activities and information sessions for youth and adults. Strengthen your mind, body and soul. Highlights include the Colgate Dental Van for children’s dental screenings, a sickle cell blood drive, fun games, fitness activities and health information from the Howard County Health Department. Register. For more information, email SEHLCSIchapter@gmail.com
Horizon Foundation's Community Summit
Join the Horizon Foundation for the community summit, Reimagining Good Health for All: Dismantling Systemic Racism in Howard County at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center. This summit will focus on breaking down systemic barriers to good health – featuring award-winning journalist and storyteller Soledad O’Brien! Register.
Healthy Minds
Stress Management Series: Stress Surfing
Join the Maryland Department of Health's Office of Suicide Prevention in the Stress Surfing series. This is a free four-part stress management series that provides 1 CEU credit per training on the following dates and times: Tuesday, April 4th Balancing Brain & Body, Thursday, April 6th Self-Care Conditioning, Tuesday, April 11th Breath Surfing with the Power of Mindfulness, and Thursday, May 11th Grief and Narratives of Resilience. Register!
Join a SAVVY Caregiver Virtual Class!
Join the Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence for the next SAVVY Caregiver class. This 7-week training meets online every Thursday, April 13 through May 25 at 6 PM. This training is for those caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's or Dementia and provides the most relevant dementia knowledge, skills, and mastery to support family members. Register to attend the FREE workshop for SAVVY Caregivers®.
HC DrugFree Medication & Sharps Disposal Day
HCFrugFree is pleased to share the next drive-thru medication and sharps collection on Saturday April 22, 2023 from 10am – 2pm in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot. Items that will be accepted are prescription and over-the-counter medications, sharps (needles, syringes, EpiPens, etc.), vapes, inhalers and more. Teen, adult and medically-trained adult volunteers needed. Learn more: https://hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day-1/
Howard County Office on Aging and Independence Newsletter
The Howard County Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) has a wide variety of programming is offered each day. Check out the latest 50+ Center newsletter. Click to subscribe and receive information on activities at 50+ Centers, OAI programs, and health and wellness offerings. Check out the OAI digital newsletter!
Opioid Overdose Response Training
The Howard County Health Department offers FREE Opioid Overdose Response Program monthly virtual trainings. In-person training and Narcan distribution also available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-2pm at the Harm Reduction RV in the Health Department parking lot. Call Bureau of Behavioral Health at 410-313-6202, email orpresponse@howardcountymd.gov.