Maryland Hunger Solutions
Maryland Hunger Solutions (MHS) is an initiative of the Food Research and Action Center, a national research and advocacy organization that works to eradicate hunger in the United States. MHS works with state and local government agencies and nonprofit partners to maximize participation in federal nutrition programs, increase access to healthy, affordable food in low-income communities, and improve public policies in Maryland to reduce hunger and improve nutrition. This grant provides operating support to MHS as it works to respond to increased demand for assistance in accessing federal nutrition benefits in the wake of job losses caused by COVID-19.
Maryland Dental Action Coalition, Inc.
he Maryland Dental Action Coalition (MDAC) is a statewide dental access advocacy group. In 2019, MDAC and other groups successfully advocated for the creation of a waiver program to provide comprehensive dental benefits to Maryland adutls who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. MDAC launched a collaborative of professionals from the dental, health and social services sectors to support the implementation of the waiver program. This grant supports the collaborative.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The SPARC Center is a drop-in center designed to meet the needs of female sex workers and other vulnerable women in Baltimore City. Part of a federally-funded research study on the needs of female sex workers, the center provides a range of health and social services to address the many challenges and barriers to service that these women face. This grant provides funding for a case manager and a part-time psychiatrist so the center can better meet clients’ mental health and social service needs.
HealthCare Access Maryland
HealthCare Access Maryland (HCAM) is a critical healthcare non-profit that enrolls Maryland residents in health insurance and provides care coordination to special populations. Due to Covid 19, HCAM employees began working remotely in March 2020. This grant enables HCAM to purchase laptops for employees who currently are not able to telework, specifically those staff members who verify Medical Assistance applications for eligibility and provide health care coordination for children placed in foster care.
Benefits Data Trust
Benefits Data Trust (BDT) is a national nonprofit organization that assists low income individuals to access state and federal aid programs to meet their financial needs. BDT leverages partnerships with government agencies to conduct outreach to individuals who may be eligible for government assistance programs that they are not currently receiving. Using highly trained screening and enrollment staff and customized technology, BDT screens these individuals to assess their eligibility for a range of public benefit programs, and assists them to enroll in those programs for which they are eligible, helping to lift them out of poverty. This grant supports BDT’s Maryland Benefits Center.