(Annapolis, MD)-The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) announced its grant awards for the current fiscal year that began on July 1, 2010.  The 14 grant awards, totaling $1.3 million in state funds, are designed to expand access to primary care in underserved areas; help reduce infant mortality; increase access to dental care for low-income children; and promote access to behavioral health treatment services.  The grant programs are projected to help provide access to health care for more than 75,000 Marylanders in all regions of the state (see attached list).  In addition to these 14 awards, the CHRC has issued 64 grants over the last four years, totaling $20.5 million, and these grants have provided health care services to more than 60,000 low-income Marylanders, resulting in more than 200,000 patient visits.   

The Prince George's Health Department has received a $300,000 grant to promote an innovative
"re-entry" program that will provide access to behavioral health services for previously incarcerated individuals as they transition into the community.  The three-year grant award will support a partnership between the Prince George's Health Department and County Detention Center, and is projected to serve an estimated 990 individuals.  This is the third grant that the Prince George's Health Department has received from the CHRC, as the Commission has also awarded a grant in 2008 to expand access to dental care and another grant last year to support access to comprehensive women's health services and reduce infant mortality in Prince George's County. 

"The Commission is dedicated to addressing the most pressing health care needs in Maryland," commented John A. Hurson, Chairman, Maryland Community Health Resources Commission. "This grant to Prince George's County will expand access to health care and help drive down runaway health care costs for all of us."  The mission of the CHRC is to expand capacity in Maryland's health care infrastructure by awarding grants to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), local health departments, and safety net providers and reduce non-emergent visits to hospital emergency departments.  The $20.5 million awarded by the CHRC has enabled its grantees to leverage approximately $4.8 million in additional federal and private/non-profit resources.    

"These funds have enhanced the delivery of critical services that help families in need, especially in these difficult economic times," said John M Colmers, Secretary of Maryland Department Health and Mental Hygiene. "Reducing infant mortality, expanding dental care, primary care and substance abuse treatment are among the top priorities of the O'Malley/Brown Administration and we are making progress across the board."

"We are very fortunate that Prince George's County has received this health care grant from the Commission," commented Delegate Jim Hubbard (D-Prince George's County).  "This grant will help expand access to behavioral health services and help promote public safety in our community."  Delegate Hubbard, as Chairman of the Public Health & Long Term Care Subcommittee, Health & Government Operations Committee, helped draft the legislation in 2005 that created the CHRC and he has supported the Commission since its inception.

"The Prince George's County Health Department works side-by-side with our public safety community to provide direct and meaningful services and interventions to help individuals develop the skills and resiliency to stop participating in criminal behavior.  These resources will provide the Prince George's County Health Department with the essential resources to access and counsel offenders with substance abuse and mental health disorders." 

The grants issued by the CHRC for the coming year are designed to address four critical areas: 

Reducing infant mortality- 3 awards totaling $517,000;

Expanding access to dental care- 4 awards totaling $490,000;

Increasing access to behavioral health/drug treatment- 5 awards totaling $500,000; and

Expanding access to primary health care services- 3 awards totaling $475,000. 

Complete listing of FY 11 Grant Awards Attached