The Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership (HSMP) hosted its first annual meeting on Thursday June 4, 2015 from 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown, Maryland. With over 100 attendees, this meeting was a great success!
Meeting Presentations
The Partnership and Local Health Improvement Planning
Additional Handouts: Access to Care, Behavioral Health, Tobacco Free Living and Healthy Eating & Active Living
Meenakshi G. Brewster, MD, MPH, St. Mary’s County Health Officer and HSMP Chair
Serving as the local health improvement coalition for St. Mary’s County, HSMP members have mobilized through action teams to address local health priorities. Through hard work and dedication, the membership has drafted the first community driven local health improvement plan, Healthy St. Mary’s 2020. Dr. Brewster opened the Inaugural Meeting with an overview of this process and highlights from Healthy St. Mary’s 2020. As Health Officer for the St. Mary’s County Health Department, Dr. Brewster directs activities of the local health department and works with community partners to address population level health issues. Learn more about Meena
Implementing Complete Streets
Jacob R. Day, Assoc. AIA, City Council President, Salisbury MD
In this presentation, participants learned about the benefits of adopting a Complete Streets policy. Complete Streets policies direct community transportation planners and engineers to routinely design and operate the entire right of way to enable safe access for all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation. This means that every transportation project will make the street network better and safer for drivers, transit users, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Jake Day has spent his career revitalizing downtowns and making them more vibrant, livable places. He has served as an Army officer and as the city Planning Commissioner. Learn more about Jake
Mobile Integrated Community Health Pilot Program
Mary Ann Thompson, RN, BSN, Director of Nursing, Queen Anne’s County Health Department
The Mobile Integrated Community Health Pilot Program is a unique partnering program to improve health outcomes among medically vulnerable populations through multi-agency integrated and intervention-based health care. This presentation detailed the development and implementation of this program in Queen Anne’s County. The discussion covered challenges such as partner buy-in, multi-agency collaboration and funding as well as program evolution to address these challenges. Learn more about the program
Trauma-Informed Care
Additional Handouts: Understanding ACEs, Stress and Early Brain Growth
Kathleen M. Connors M.S.W., LCSW-C, University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Program Director, Taghi Moadarressi Center for Infant Study; Project Director, FITT Center
This session focused on the impact of traumatic events and adverse childhood experiences on behavioral health and highlight family-informed trauma interventions. Kay Connors, Project Director at the FITT Center, has over 26 years of experience as a clinical social worker working with traumatized children and their families. Ms Connors has provided mental health treatment to children and families in a variety of settings, including hospital, residential treatment, private practice and clinic, home, school-based programs. Her work has largely focused on the impact and recovery from trauma and family violence. Learn more about Kay
Electronic Cigarettes: Past, Present and Future
Kathleen Hoke, JD, Law School Professor and Director, Legal Resource Center for Public Health Policy
The rapid rise in use of electronic nicotine delivery devices, or e-cigarettes has generated questions and concerns in communities nationwide. This session provided an overview on e-cigarettes, current and anticipated regulations, and opportunities for local action. Kathleen Hoke provides technical legal assistance to Maryland state and local health officials, legislators, and organizations working in the development of public health policy and tobacco control. Learn more about Kathleen
Advocacy and Policy
Additional Handouts: Survey: State Policy Priorities for Maryland Nonprofits, Lobbying Guidelines for 501(c)(3) Public Charities
Henry Bogdan, Director of Public Policy, Maryland Non-Profits
Effective advocates influence public policy, laws and budgets by using facts, their relationships, the media, and messaging to educate government officials and the public on the changes they want to bring to a community. This session provided training on how to utilize advocacy to accomplish community goals. Henry Bogdan joined Maryland Nonprofits as Director of Public Policy in 1997, after a 20-year career in policy analysis, advocacy, and government relations for the City of Baltimore. Learn more about Henry