The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) voted on February 15 to award nine grantees under the new “Pathways to Health Equity” program, investing a total of $13.5 million in new resources in underserved communities across the state. The new projects will address health disparities, expand access to health services, and improve health outcomes in urban, rural, and suburban communities. Specific health disparities targeted by the new projects include: diabetes, asthma, heart disease and hypertension, mental health, Substance Use Disorder, maternal and child health, and Sickle Cell Disease.
“Pathways to Health Equity” is a new grant program that will provide $13.5 million for new grant investments in underserved communities to reduce health disparities. The funding is made available under recent legislation approved by the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Health Equity Resource Act of 2021. Pathways grants are place-based grant awards that will bring new grant resources and technical assistance to underserved communities.
“The CHRC appreciates the opportunity to implement the Maryland Health Equity Resource Act,” commented Ed Kasemeyer, CHRC Chairman. “We congratulate the new Pathways to Health Equity grantees and we look forward to working with them in the coming weeks and months as they implement these important programs.”
The nine Pathways projects awarded by the CHRC are: Baltimore Healthy Start; Greater Baltimore Medical Center; the University of Maryland School of Nursing (Baltimore City); Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Prince George’s County); Prince George’s County Health Department; La Clínica del Pueblo (Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties); Tidal Health (Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties); St. Mary’s County Health Department; and Horizon Goodwill Industries (Washington County). Summaries of their programs can be found HERE.
“The Maryland Department of Health appreciates the work of the Commission in advancing health equity,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “The Department looks forward to working with the Commission and its grantees as they report the results of this important program.”
Since its inception in 2005, the CHRC has awarded 648 grants totaling $111.9 million, supporting projects in every jurisdiction of the state. These projects have collectively served more than 517,000 Marylanders. Earlier this month the CHRC released its annual FY 2022 Call for Proposals, which will provide an additional $7.0 million in funding. The Call for Proposals can be found on the CHRC’s website at: https://health.maryland.gov/mchrc/Pages/notices.aspx
For more information about the Pathways program, the FY 2022 Call for Proposals, or the work of the CHRC, please visit their website at: https://health.maryland.gov/mchrc/Pages/home.aspx.
This press release was provided by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission.