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Click here to view this email as a URL. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDDHMH/bulletins/410e523
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Maryland Community Health Resources Commission
Dr. Destiny-Simone Ramjohn, Chair, Dr. Sadiya Muqueeth, Vice Chair
Commissioners: Dr. Bryan Buckley, U. Michael Currie, Flor Giusti, LCSW-C, David Lehr, Robbie Loker, Dr. Terris King, Dr. TraShawn Thornton-Davis, Jonisha Toomer, LCPC,
Crystal Carr Townsend, MPA
Mark Luckner, CHRC Executive Director
March 31, 2026 - Issue 125
CHRC News
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 Crystal Carr Townsend, MPA
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Commissioner Spotlight
Crystal Carr Townsend, MPA
Crystal Carr Townsend, MPA was appointed to the Community Health Resources Commission by Governor Moore in July 2025. Commissioner Townsend brings to the Commission more than 20 years of expertise in community-based service delivery and grantmaking experience.
Commissioner Townsend currently serves as Chief Executive Officer at The Washington Home, where she leads efforts to expand innovative programs and services to improve the quality of life for older adults and/or terminally ill residents.
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After three years of dedicated public service as our Chief Financial Officer, Bob Lally has announced his retirement.
Since joining the CHRC in January 2023, Bob has been a cornerstone of our growth. Bob successfully managed an annual budget that expanded to over $150 million and played a pivotal role in launching the Health Equity Resource Communities (HERC) and the Consortium for Coordinated Community Supports. Beyond the balance sheets, Bob’s legacy is defined by his steady leadership, outstanding level of customer service, and genuine kindness.
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Bob will transition to a part-time role starting April 1 in order to help onboard key fiscal staff and assist in the search for his successor. Please join us in thanking Bob for his exceptional service and wishing him a very happy retirement!
Annual RFA Update
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The CHRC released its FY 2026 Annual Request for Applications on March 6, 2026. The RFA will support projects in the following six areas of focus: hospital-community partnerships, medically vulnerable populations including older adults and individuals with disabilities, chronic disease, maternal and child health, dental, and behavioral health. |
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Mandatory Letters of Intent (LOI) were due March 30 and are currently under review. CHRC staff will contact applicants regarding their eligibility as soon as determinations are made over the next few weeks. Complete proposals are due April 23 at 3:00 EDT. Late proposals will not be accepted.
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Updated Impact Statement
The Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports has released an updated impact statement for services delivered during July - December 2025. Over 138,000 students received behavioral health services in 84% of Maryland schools. More than 81% demonstrated positive behavioral health outcomes. Click on the image to download the impact statement.
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Consortium RFA Update
The Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports’ most recent Request for Applications (RFA) generated 58 proposals requesting $152 million. Proposals are currently under review. Awards will be announced later this spring, and grants will be implemented during the 2026-2027 school year.
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Resource Guide for Culturally Responsive Care |
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The Consortium and its technical assistance partner, the National Center for School Mental Health, have released a new guide to resources that support healing-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices for behavioral health in schools. Topics include:
- Affirming youth and family cultures and identities
- Navigating intergenerational and interlinguistic parent-child dynamics
- Healing from historical & racial trauma
- Supporting immigrants and refugees
- Fostering cultural humility
- and more
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Health Equity Resource Communities (HERC) News
Maryland Public Health Association Presentation - April 7
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The Maryland Public Health Association will feature the Reducing Inequities in Cardiovascular and Mental Health (RICH 2.0) program at a webinar on April 7. The panel will highlight how collaborative approaches improve access to care, address health-related social needs, and strengthen community health across Maryland.
RICH 2.0 is funded through the HERC program. Led by the University of Maryland School of Nursing, RICH 2.0 addresses hypertension, mental health and SDOH disparities for adults in the West Baltimore and North Avenue corridors of Baltimore city. Interventions include nurse managed health centers, mobile health, remote patient monitoring and care coordination. SDOH support includes housing, transportation, access to health and economic stability barriers.
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LIVES TRANSFORMED
Karla’s Story: Talbot County HERC Grant
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 Stock image
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Karla (not her real name) didn’t know where to turn. The Talbot County resident was pregnant with her first child. She didn’t speak English, lacked health insurance, and had no transportation. On top of everything else, her husband had just been deported.
Everything changed when Karla was referred to the Talbot County Health Department’s SPOT (Supporting Pregnancy Outcomes in Talbot) Doula program, funded by the
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CHRC’s Health Equity Resource Communities (HERC) initiative. Karla finally found the prenatal support she needed -- support that soon became a lifeline.
When Karla’s baby was born with a congenital heart abnormality and rushed to Baltimore for emergency surgery, the SPOT team jumped into action. They secured regular transportation to Baltimore so Karla could breastfeed and bond with her newborn. With Karla on unpaid leave, they coordinated with local food banks to help her stay nourished. When WIC processing lagged for a specialized formula, the team bypassed the red tape to source it directly from the manufacturer.
Today, mother and baby are back home in Talbot County. The SPOT team continues to walk beside them, facilitating breastfeeding support, physical therapy for oral dysfunction, and a support group for parents of children with special needs. In Karla’s words (translated), “My heart was broken when my baby was born sick. The staff were angels and took care of me and my baby. Now we are together and we are doing great.”
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Karla is just one of hundreds benefiting from Talbot County's HERC-funded services, which range from prenatal care and vaccinations to cancer screenings and diabetes management. Services are available at the health Department's clinic as well as through mobile integrated health. For more information or to enroll, contact Stacy Ewing at stacy.ewing@maryland.gov or 410-819-5694.
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Other News
CHW Program Accreditation Webinar - April 6
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National Public Health Week
National Public Health week is April 6-12, 2026. Take a moment to recognize how public health has improved our daily lives, safeguarded our families, expanded our life spans, and strengthened our communities. This week we also celebrate and thank the public health workers who support our communities.
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To contact the CHRC, email mdh.chrc@maryland.gov or call 410-260-6086. The reply-to mailbox for this newsletter is not monitored.
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