Public Justice Center, Inc.
The Public Justice Center’s Health and Benefits Rights project works to ensure access to critical services through a combination of research, education, advocacy,and litigation. The project will focus on three key priorities: 1) reducing maternal mortality disparities, with a specific focus on increasing access to doula care; 2) monitoring and enforcing state and federal laws requiring Maryland to pay for treatment of Hepatitis C for individuals on Medicaid; and 3) ensuring that state agencies and private healthcare providers are complying with state and federal language access laws that require the provision of translation and interpretation services for people with limited English proficiency. This grant supports the salary of the Health and Benefits Rights attorney, and associated project expenses.
MOMCares, Fiscally Sponsored by Fusion Partnerships, Inc.
MOMCares provides prenatal and postpartum doula support to women who have complicated pregnancies and/or deliveries, particularly women whose newborns require neonatal intensive care treatment. MOMCares doulas work closely with each client to develop a holistic care plan based on the needs and desires of the new mother. The organization focuses on serving Black women, who have disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality due to a variety of factors, including the impact of systemic racism and chronic stress. By providing comprehensive support to new mothers who have had high risk pregnancies and deliveries, MOMCares aims to reduce the stresses that can result in maternal mortality. This grant provides general operating support for MOMCares.
Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative Education Fund, Inc.
This grant supports two of Maryland Citizen’s Health Initiative’s current efforts: 1) The “Easy Enrollment” program, which uses individual tax returns to identify people who are eligible for, but not enrolled in, health insurance, and expand it to unemployment applications; 2) Advocate for the formation of and funding for Health Equity Resource Communities, which would be a state-funded grant program focused on reducing disparities in chronic health.
I AM MENtality Youth Male Empowerment Project
I AM MENtality is a mentoring and youth development program for boys and young men in Baltimore City. This grant supports the I AM MENtality Leadership Development Academy, its community-based program in the Irvington and Liberty Heights neighborhoods, which provides group-based and individual mentoring to youth and their families.
Springboard Community Services
Springboard Community Services provides mental health and case management services to families and youth throughout Central Maryland who have been impacted by trauma. This grant provides capital support for the creation of a new youth resource center in Springboard’s main office building in Baltimore City.