Community Health Resources Commission Awards Grants Under New Pathways to Health Equity Program – State of Reform

The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) voted Feb. 15 to award nine beneficiaries under the new Pathways to Health Equity program, investing a total of $13.5 million in new resources in underserved communities. of 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 disorders, 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. Funding is made available under recent legislation approved by the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Health Equity Resource Act of 2021. Pathways grants are location-based grants that will provide new resources and technical assistance to underserved communities.

“The CHRC appreciates the opportunity to implement the Maryland Health Equity Resource Act,” commented CHRC Chairman Ed Kasemeyer. “We congratulate the new Pathways to Health Equity grantees and look forward to working with them over the coming weeks and months as they implement these important programs.

The nine CHRC-awarded Pathways projects 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 and Montgomery counties); Tidal Health (Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties); St. Mary’s County Health Department; and Horizon Goodwill Industries (Washington County). Summaries of their programs are available HERE.

“The Maryland Department of Health appreciates the Commission’s work in advancing health equity,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “The Department looks forward to working with the Commission and its beneficiaries as they report on 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 in the state. These projects have collectively served more than 517,000 Marylanders. Earlier this month, CHRC released its annual call for proposals for fiscal year 2022, which will provide additional funding of $7.0 million. The Call for Proposals can be viewed on the CHRC website at: https://health.maryland.gov/mchrc/Pages/notices.aspx

For more information about the Pathways program, the FY2022 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.