 | August 2024 | Issue No. 28 |
| PCC Concludes Cross-Sector Pilot for Referral Pathways Despite having some of Maryland’s best health outcomes and a comprehensive set of community resources available to its residents, Montgomery County has many disparities across its 81 ZIP codes. To address some of them, the Nexus Connect Program piloted pathways to community resources in a hyper-targeted region of the County: ZIP codes 20877 (Gaithersburg) and 20886 (Montgomery Village). PCC and our partners strove to connect 1,000 residents of the area to resources within their immediate community over the two-year initiative. By June 2024, we had done just that. Program Structure With grant funding from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC)*, the program focused on five main pillars of access to address social determinants of health impacting community members: access to primary care, health education & disease management, food insecurity, financial assistance, and early childhood education. |
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|  | Introducing Mary Jane Joseph Mary Jane Joseph is a project manager for the Primary Care Coalition (PCC), overseeing cancer screening programs for our community’s most vulnerable residents. She serves uninsured individuals facing various challenges that make it difficult to seek and access healthcare. Joseph works hard to ensure that life-saving cancer screening is as easy as possible for everyone. She is also the chair of the Maryland Cancer Screening Workgroup, helping to spread the need for cancer screening and best practices across the state. Giving “glory to the clinics” for their hard work in increasing colorectal cancer screening rates by as much as 50 percent under an initial one-year state grant that is now ongoing, Joseph notes that the clinics welcome all process improvement efforts and are committed to providing the best care to the patients they serve, despite being stretched in budget and staffing. Joseph is also proud of new efforts to offer all Montgomery Cares patients Cologuard test kits at no cost to detect colorectal cancer and for a partnership with Luminis Health that will provide 100 additional colonoscopies for patients in need. |
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| | No Obstacle Can Deter Determination! For years, Tiffany took care of her ailing mother, providing her with the support she needed to live a comfortable life. This past May, Tiffany's mother passed suddenly, leaving her in a challenging situation. "Taking care of my mother was my full-time job," said Tiffany. "So, when she passed away, I not only lost the person I loved the most, but also my primary source of income, which was her. And on top of that, her landlord gave me two weeks to move out. So here I was, no mother, no job, and no home." Ever resourceful, Tiffany was able to find a temporary solution by registering at the shelter at the IW Women’s Center at Crabbs Branch. It gave her somewhere to stay temporarily while she decided what to do next. "I wanted to carry on caring for people. Considering my background, I believed I could find a job in healthcare, but I discovered that I needed a certificate." |
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| |  | PCC’s Storytelling Show – Tickets Available! Click here to reserve your tickets for the PCC’s exclusive Storytelling Show, where secrets are unveiled, and heartfelt stories take center stage. Join us for an unforgettable evening of entertainment on Thursday, November 7, from 6:30 pm to 9:00pm at the Great Hall, Civic Building of Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, MD. Experience an evening filled with warmth, connection, and meaningful stories that deeply touch the heart. |
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|  | Meet August's Pet of the Month: Calypso! Meet August’s Pet of PCC, Calypso! He is the treasured companion of Tabitha Long, PCC’s Grant Writer and Senior Development Coordinator. As part Bengal, Calypso is full of energy with a playful demeanor, and he makes sure everyone knows he’s in charge. He is always the first at the door to greet visitors, establishing himself as the boss of the home. Despite being born a cat, Calypso has the heart of a dog—his favorite pastimes are taking walks and basking in the sun outdoors. |
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 | August 26-September 9, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Online Native Plant Sale. Learn about native plants and support your backyard ecosystem while supporting the Maydale Nature Center classroom fundraiser. Maydale Nature Center, 1638 Maydale Dr., Colesville, MD, 20905. Register here. Plant pickup is September 14. August 31 (and most Saturdays), 12 noon-5 p.m., National Capital Trolley Museum, ride a piece of transportation history and enjoy the exhibits and presentations. $12 general admission, $10 seniors and children (2-17), 1313 Bonifant Road, Colesville, MD 20905. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance. August 31-September 2, Labor Day Weekend Montgomery County Recreation Department Pool Schedules. Outdoor pool hours on Saturday and Sunday are noon to 6 p.m., and on Monday, the last day of the season, the hours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. Indoor pools will be closed on September 2. For more information, go to the Montgomery County Aquatics website. September 5 (and most Thursdays), 11 a.m.-12 noon: Pony Rides at Wheaton Stables for children 3-7. $10 per ride; no reservations needed. Kids must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes: no Crocs or sandals. Pony rides are also offered on Sundays, 1:30-2:30 p.m., at the stables, 1101 Glenallan Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20902. |
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