April 2022  |  Issue No. 1

Our Front-Line Heroes Need Real Support

By Leslie Graham
President and Chief Executive Officer, Primary Care Coalition

For the past two years, we’ve been singing the praises of essential front-line workers who put themselves in harm’s way so the rest of us could stay safe during the pandemic. Thousands became ill or died in the line of duty. Caring for us. Providing for us. Serving us. They are true heroes. 

Unlike their fictional counterparts – Superman, who works for free, and Bruce Wayne, who is independently wealthy – few, if any, of our front-line workers could afford to put their lives on the line for less than a living wage, yet many of them did. That’s why it’s so critical now that we adequately compensate our health and social services heroes. There’s no excuse to do otherwise.

Mary C. Jackson Award – Nominations Now Open!

The Mary C. Jackson “Good Works, Done Well” Award is named in honor of PCC's former Deputy Director. Mary C. Jackson devoted her entire professional life to developing programs to aid underprivileged and underserved children and their families. This award recognizes, rewards, fosters, and honors outstanding effort on behalf of the underserved and overlooked segment of the Montgomery County, Maryland population who need and deserve accessible, professional, and compassionate human services. If you know of someone who should be considered for the award, please go to this page and submit your nominee. Nominations for the 2022 award year must be submitted BEFORE 9:00 AM on May 20, 2022.

 

30th Anniversary – Save the Date!

We'll be celebrating the launch of our 30th Anniversary year with a storytelling extravaganza on November 10th, 2022. Save the date for an evening of looking back to celebrate accomplishments and looking forward to new challenges and opportunities. More event details and ticket information to come. 

 

2021 Annual Report – Hot Off the Presses!

The 2021 Annual Report is available to read online or download. Go here and find out all that we’ve accomplished in this extraordinary year. It includes some of the telehealth lessons learned, along with our strategic plan that will guide PCC through 2024.

Building and Sustaining a Diverse Workforce

By Annice Cody
Chair, Board of Managers, Nexus Montgomery Regional Partnership
President, Holy Cross Health Network, Holy Cross Health

In a symphony, the beauty of the music depends upon the collaboration of every musician. Few people recognize the symphony of care that goes into every delicately orchestrated hospital and nursing home stay. Just like in an orchestra, all of the players – physicians and nurses and supporting roles like lab technicians, certified nursing assistants, and pharmacy technicians – shape the overall tone and quality of a patient's experience. It is fundamentally an ensemble affair, and our local facilities are struggling to fill key supporting roles.

The healthcare field not only needs more workers, we also need diversity. Among Montgomery County residents, there is no racial or ethnic majority population. As health care organizations, we need a workforce that reflects the racial, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our patients, who can communicate in patients' languages and provide culturally appropriate care. 

At the same time, many of our communities need greater employment opportunities. Large numbers of people lost service or hospitality jobs in the pandemic, and many of those jobs have not returned. Healthcare is a growing field with a wide range of opportunities for entry-level jobs and advancement. With the necessary training, there are ready career opportunities in healthcare professions. But many people do not know the resources available to help them access secure employment and a brighter future.

TODAY: April 25, 6:00-8:00 p.m. – 
County Executive Candidate’s Forum, 
hosted by Nonprofit Montgomery at BlackRock Center for the Arts. Candidates for the Office of Montgomery County Executive will share their vision for the county and address questions related to jobs and workforce development, affordable housing, health and mental health care, safety net services, early care and education, and other topics of concern to the nonprofit sector and the more than 500,000 residents who receive services. Please demonstrate to the candidates the strength and impact of our sector by attending. Be sure to invite your board members, staff, and clients. Register here. Contact connect@nonprofitmoco.org 
if you have any questions.

April 27, 4-5 p.m. Adaptive Fitness, via Zoom, hosted by Disability Partnerships for seniors and people with disabilities who are looking for a fun, high-energy fitness class. A personal trainer experienced in training people with limited to no mobility will target muscular strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Click here for more information.

April 28, 1-2 p.m. Housing Seminar: Know Your Rights, via Zoom, hosted by Independence Now. In honor of Fair Housing Month, the seminar will cover tenant rights and responsibilities. Click here for more information.

May 9, 7:30-9:00 p.m. (in Spanish) and May 25, 7:30-9:00 p.m. (in EnglishA Conversation for African American/Black and Brown Caregivers about their experiences accessing care for their loved ones with Down syndrome, sponsored by the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County and Massachusetts General Hospital Down Syndrome Research Team. The free virtual event will include strategies that help caregivers and individuals with Down syndrome in a health care setting, along with a cookie decorating activity for the family (cookies and decorations will arrive at participant homes before the event). Pre-registration is required.

 

Primary Care Coalition
8757 Georgia Ave 10th Floor | Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
301-628-3405 | info@primarycarecoalition.org

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