Introducing the 2024 MACo Celebratory Blog Series: Showcasing the Remarkable Achievements of Maryland's Award-Winning Counties!
Join us on this exciting journey as we embark on a special blog series dedicated to honoring the exceptional accomplishments of the counties that triumphed in the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Achievement Awards. Each week, we will shine a well-deserved spotlight on a few remarkable counties, taking a deeper dive into their accomplishments, innovative initiatives, and the profound impact they have had on their communities.
Health
Howard County received five awards in this category.
Howard County Food Connection Map
The Howard County Food Connection Map was created by the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) as part of
the Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (HCLHIC) Food Security Committee's efforts to decrease food and nutrition insecurity. Based on a survey of under-resourced populations in Howard County, 71% of respondents are not aware of places to get free or low-cost food. The mobile-friendly interactive map was created in March 2023 to help people find low-cost, accessible food and nutrition resources with public transportation routes. The tool was adapted from the Maryland Food System Mapping Resource using data from the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future; Howard County, Maryland Data Download and Viewer; and HCLHIC. Through collaboration with partners including the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC-HC) and Howard County Government, support for and promotion of the map became widespread and led to a 37% increase in total HCLHIC website visits. The map accounted for almost half of the total website visits in April 2023 and continues to be one of the most frequently visited pages on the website. The successful launch and utilization of the map highlights how technology can be leveraged to connect residents with food resources.
Howard County Health Department Overdose Response Program
The Howard County Health Department, Bureau of Behavioral Health works to address the substance use epidemic by
assuring a community partnered approach utilizing public health driven staff within the Overdose Response Program (ORP). The purpose of the ORP is to lead and coordinate Narcan trainings, conducts community outreach efforts, and provide overdose prevention strategies and support. The primary outcome is to reduce the number of non-fatal and fatal substance overdoses within our community. As the largest trainer/distributor of Narcan in the county through the Overdose Response Program, the Howard County Health Department is the organization that can best provide the needed response and coordination amongst partner agencies to save lives.
Medically Tailored Home Delivered Meal Program in Howard County
In response to client requests for heart healthy, diabetic, and kidney-friendly meals, the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services' Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) in FY23 identified and
implemented an evidence based nutritional intervention called Medically Tailored Meals (MTM), which has been found in published empirical studies to reduce healthcare expenditures, reduce inpatient admissions, and improve nutritional and emotional status, among homebound and medically frail populations. Howard County OAI is the first Area Agency on Aging in Maryland to fund this innovative intervention, though it has been put into place in some major metropolitan areas through nonprofit organizations (New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore). The program is targeted towards participants with health conditions that require specific diets, such as heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. While not currently reimbursable under Medicaid or Medicare, Howard County has been able to provide this valuable service to vulnerable and homebound older adults using Older Americans Act funds (Title IIIC2). At a cost of less than $12 per meal, the program offers the opportunity of not only improving the health and quality of life for County residents, but also leading to a reduction in overall healthcare expenditures.
P.E.A.C.E. Project
In July of 2023, the Howard County Health Department launched the Perinatal Equity and Care for Everyone (P.E.A.C.E) Project. P.E.A.C.E. is a perinatal care coordination program developed to provide pregnant people, families,
and professionals with information about prenatal, postpartum, and infant resources available in Howard County. The P.E.A.C.E. Perinatal Care Navigator assists clients, families, and providers in determining which services best meet the client's needs and interests, then links the client to community resources and services. The Navigator will follow up on the outcome of the referral to ensure it was successful and to provide any additional assistance. The goal of the program is to improve birth outcomes for both infants and birthing people by ensuring connection to community-based support focused on the social determinants of health. Since its launch, the P.E.A.C.E project has linked 45 pregnant/postpartum clients to much needed services.
School Based Wellness Pediatric Dental Program
The Howard County Health Departments (HCHD) School Based Wellness Centers (SBWC) offer healthcare services to
Title I elementary, middle, and high schools in Howard County Public Schools for children in need. The SBWC nurses refer clients to providers as needed. Staff found that while most students were able to receive general dental services through the local Federally Qualified Health Center, Chase Brexton, (CB), some students attending elementary schools had severe dental issues requiring pediatric specialty care. The Bureaus of Family Services, Assessment Planning and Community Engagement and Access to Healthcare within HCHD worked together to establish a program to ensure appropriate dental care to students in need. Working with the dentist Dr. Woodward at CB, a provider within the community, Dr. Daniel Biederman, from Kids Dental Center was identified. In March 2023 the SBWC Pediatric Dental Program was established. This program provides dental services for uninsured pediatric patients and those with special needs that would otherwise be left without dental care. Since inception, 60 student referrals were processed and all students received their needed dental care, resulting in better outcomes for overall health, confidence, and better learning.
Montgomery County - "Vias de la Salud" Community Health Worker Certification Training Program
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services' Latino Health Initiative (LHI) "Vías de la Salud" Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification Training Program is an accredited program by the
Maryland Department of Health, who's main objective is to train participants to provide health promotion interventions, and enhance clients' access to care and support services, improving the health and well-being of underserved communities. The training program consists of 12 modules delivered in Spanish and includes 100 hours of in-person and virtual instruction, and a 40-hour practicum. The training program curriculum is based on nine core competencies required by the State of Maryland to obtain a Community Health Worker certification. LHI developed this training program with over 20 years of experience in delivering innovative health promotion programs addressing the health, language, economic and professional disparities impacting Montgomery County Latinos. Since its accreditation in November 2023, LHI's CHW Training Program has graduated 41 students across two cohorts.
Human Services
Baltimore County - Empowering Connections with Long Term Care Residents
In March 2020, the world went into isolation from a respiratory disease that was the silent and unseen killer of millions
nationwide, none more dramatically impacted than residents in long term care. Long-term care residents during the Covid-19 pandemic were Isolated in their rooms, bedridden and away from family and friends, and even their neighbors who lived just a few feet away. While the world adapted to a new social connectedness with Apple IPADSs, Zoom and the like, long term care residents fell further behind, in part, due to illness, access and the inability to independently maneuver social technology on their own. Understanding the need for social interaction, the Baltimore County Ombudsman program started "Art with Ombudsman Allen" in October 2022 to engage residents, simultaneously informing them of their Residents Rights while also advocating for psychosocial stimulation. In this art experience, residents discover their inner artist: - Partaking in virtual classes with the help of activity directors via Zoom or other facetime-like technology. - Exercising self-determination and empowerment - Connecting with other residents in and outside their facilities - Rediscovering their former selves or uncovering a new talent This art class serves all residents in assisted livings and nursing homes, no matter the age or economic class. This encounter reminds residents of who they are or events they once enjoyed, while also providing therapeutic benefits. Research shows that art activities improve quality of life and well-being with increased cognitive function, memory, self-esteem, and reduced stress.
Howard County received four awards in this category.
East Columbia 50+ Center
The East Columbia 50+ Senior Center project is a new $17.8 million, 29,400 square foot center dedicated to older adults in
the East Columbia portion of Howard County. This new facility is a response to the growing demand for senior-focused recreational and educational programs, first identified almost 10 years ago by a master plan study for this part of the County where there is a high concentration of older adults. The project was envisioned to provide expanded programs and activities, with features like a social day program, state of the art technology, and commercial kitchen that would serve food for social dining as well as support the community at large in the event that the building was needed as an emergency shelter.
Family Support Center
The Family Support Center, established in Howard County in late 2023, was developed to provide a range of complimentary
preventive services tailored for families, caregivers and their children ages birth to age 5. The Department of Community Resources and Services first envisioned this resource center for families when they applied for a grant. Thanks to the grant award, a project was initiated, in partnership with the Bureau of Facilities, Department of Public Works. Howard County's commitment to early childhood initiatives will not only yield significant educational and economic benefits but will also reduce potential reliance on social services in the future.
Trualta: A Family Caregiver Education and Support Platform
The Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services' Office of Aging and Independence (OAI) provides a
web-based platform via Trualta that can be accessed by caregivers 24/7 to provide educational and social support. This form of psycho-social support has been demonstrated in prior empirical studies to reduce subjective burden (i.e., depression and anxiety) and delay premature institutionalization of disabled family members. In the calendar year 2023, 92 caregivers (including 35 new users) accessed the platform. Based on estimates by the Family Caregiver Alliance, there are approximately 20,000 adults (age 40+) in Howard County who served in a caregiving role at some point in 2023. It can further be estimated that there are about 4,000 caregivers of individuals suffering from dementia in the county. Caregiving, particularly dementia caregiving, is known to have severe consequences for caregivers, including emotional and psychological distress (referred to as burden), deterioration of the physical health of the caregiver, and financial consequences, including people leaving employment in order to fulfill their caregiving duties. Studies (e.g., Mittelman 2002, Generations) have shown that psychosocial educational interventions have significant benefits for caregivers, resulting in a reduction in perceived burden as well as delays in institutionalization of the disabled family member. Other studies have demonstrated that providing social supports (e.g., support groups) that combat the feeling of isolation also has significant benefits for caregivers. The Trualta Family Caregiver Education and Support Platform is a web-based platform that allows 24/7 access to caregivers registered via Howard County DCRS/OAI to locate resources, such as: • Educational information, including articles and videos • Social support, including blogs, chat rooms, and testimonials Based on evidence-based studies, these types of interventions have been shown to reduce caregivers' s subjective appraisals of burden and delay the institutionalization of the family member receiving care.
Using rehabilitation loans to preserve homeownership
The Rehabilitation Loan Fund program (RLF) is administered by the Howard County Department of Housing and
Community Development (DHCD). It is a county-wide home rehabilitation loan program intended to make funds available to homeowners in Howard County. The low interest loan program allows homeowners to upgrade their homes to conform to Howard County Code of Ordinances, to make upgrades to major systems such as heating and cooling systems and make modifications for them to comfortably age in place. The loan may also be used for cosmetic improvements to the interior and exterior of the homes that would support the revitalization of the community. The RLF program is currently undergoing changes to the regulations that could increase the number of qualified applicants by offering deferred loans and forgiveness provisions.
Prince George's County - Language Access Compliance Program
The Prince George's County Language Access Compliance Program (LACP), through the Office of Human Rights,
ensures that individuals whose first language is not English can receive County Government services at the same level as native English speakers. The LACP ensures that all residents are able to receive support and services from County Government programs. Since its implementation in 2020, the LACP has provided language access training and support to more than forty-four Prince George's County Government agencies and four partner non-profits, and have shared information and resources with local governments and non-government organizations have sought our expertise. This enormous effort to ensure equity for all our residents contributes to increased civic engagement, social participation, and a sense of belonging for our large foreign-born population (approximately 25% of the population of Prince George's County).
Together, let's explore the remarkable stories behind these award-winning counties, and draw inspiration from their passion, creativity, and commitment to making a positive difference. View all 2024 NACo Achievement Award winners through their interactive and searchable map.
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