This webinar series examines health equity issues and highlights policy and systems-level solutions in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The topic of the fourth session will focus on, “Healthy Planet, Healthy Communities: Public Health at the Intersection of Environmental Justice.”

To register, visit: https://tinyurl.com/5n7t5dfu

Instructions on how to enroll:

1. Visit: IPHI Absorb website
2. Once on the Equity Equation Webinar Series Homepage CLICK “Sessions”
3. Enroll in the “Healthy Planet, Healthy Communities: Public Health at the Intersection of Environmental Justice” on April 22, 2025.

This webinar series examines health equity issues and highlights policy and systems-level solutions in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The topic of the second session will focus on, “Power in Policy: Driving Change for Black Maternal Health.”

This session will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024 at noon.

To register, visit: https://shorturl.at/eqzES

Instructions on how to enroll:

1. Visit: IPHI Absorb website
2. Once on the Equity Equation Webinar Series Homepage CLICK “Sessions”
3. Enroll in the “Power in Policy: Driving Change in Black Maternal Health Webinar” on April 15.

Goal:
Ensure that childcare centers in TCI priority areas promote proper nutrition and developmentally appropriate practices.

Action:
IPHI and School Readiness Consulting conducted a formative assessment among family childcare providers, county leadership, and nonprofits to identify the appropriate policy, system, and environmental change needed to support compliance with Maryland’s Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Act. Reports with assessment results can be found below.

Download (pdf): Healthy Family Child Care Environments in Montgomery County: Supporting Best Practices for Nutrition, Physical Activity and Breastfeeding

• Executive Summary
• Full Report
•  

Goal:
Increase the number of students in priority communities who walk or bike to school.

Action: 
The SRTS strategy increased the number of Montgomery County students who walk or bike to school. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) performed a walkability audit of all Montgomery County public schools to ensure students in the walk zone have a safe way to walk or bike to school. Through a partnership with MCDOT, TCI assessed SRTS within the county. Additionally, TCI collaborated with the MDCOT to develop and promote user-friendly SRTS maps for schools; increase the number of SRTS bicycle and pedestrian educational and safety trainings in priority ZIP codes; and increase collaboration for sustainability between Montgomery County Public Schools and the Department of Transportation for future SRTS programming.

Goal: 
Reduce food insecurity in Montgomery County by creating system-level changes in coordinating and delivering food assistance resources and increasing access to healthy food for our most vulnerable communities. 

Action:  
In April 2017, IPHI released a Request for Proposals to facilitate community-based approaches to the TCI strategy areas. Primary Care Coalition (PCC) and the Montgomery County Food Council (MCFC) were awarded funding to implement innovative approaches to community-based food access.

PCC and a group of community partners implemented “Food is Medicine,” a systems approach to food security screening and referral between safety-net health care clinics and food and nutrition service providers. MCFC funding supported the implementation of the Montgomery County Food Security Plan, including the creation of new training and resources for food assistance organizations, the identification of gaps in services, increased outreach and communication, and the conduct of food security data collection and evaluation.

Goal:
Create and maintain healthy school environments by increasing school wellness policy implementation by forming local school wellness councils (LSWC).

Action:  
Montgomery County Public School staff worked closely with IPHI’s School Wellness Coordinator to implement LSWCs with support from the University of Maryland Extension, Maryland State Department of Education, and School Workgroup Steering Committee. By 2020, there were 110 LSWCs established in Montgomery County Public Schools, many of which received mini-grant funding to support student access to healthy foods, nutrition education, increase physical activity, develop school gardens, and enhance initiatives to support mental health.

Goal:  
Increase the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products to 21 years of age to reduce tobacco use among youth and young adults.

Action: 
The American Cancer Society, Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association, among other local and national organizations, formed the Maryland Tobacco 21 campaign. In October 2019, the campaign successfully advocated for Tobacco 21 legislation that increased the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products to 21 to reduce tobacco use among youth and young adults. The Tobacco 21 strategy included a social media campaign and educational materials to recruit and mobilize youth as legislative champions.

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