 | |  | Introducing Grace Townsend Grace Townsend is a Senior Program Manager with the Primary Care Coalition’s Population Health team. Since joining the organization in March 2021, she has worked with Nexus Montgomery and delved into various public health initiatives. Her newest responsibility is leading the organization’s new maternal health grant, which seeks to integrate and improve systems that connect high-risk birthing parents with supportive services during pregnancy and postpartum. “My work at PCC is exactly what I entered the public health field to do,” said Townsend. “The organization aligns perfectly with my interests and passions for equity and access to care, and it’s exciting to design programs that impact people at the community level.” |
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|  | PCC to Partner with State To Improve Perinatal Health Services There are a multitude of factors that increase risk to parents and babies during the pregnancy and postpartum period, from social factors like housing instability or intimate partner violence to behaviors like substance use and clinical conditions like hypertension or low birth weight. Maryland has a system in place to flag many of these risks and refer patients to additional support coordinated through local health departments. However, that system has relied on fax transmission of completed referral forms from clinical providers to health departments—creating challenges at all stages of the client support workflow and, ultimately, with data collection. Recognizing these challenges, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is working to digitize the referral forms, and it is capitalizing on that inflection point to improve overall systems for screening, referral, and coordination through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). |
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| |  | Workforce Program Graduate Profile – Fatima Afshar's Step Forward! Fatima Afshar's remarkable journey—from arriving in this country seven months ago to becoming a dedicated Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Holy Cross Hospital’s Intermediate Care Unit—exemplifies her unwavering determination and perseverance. And the impact of receiving a CNA degree through the Primary Care Coalition's (PCC) Department of Labor (DOL)-funded Workforce Capacity program. "I left my home country with few opportunities to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse,” Afshar says. “When I moved here, PCC helped me to enroll at Montgomery College. I was unsure of my ability to pursue the certification, but I was determined to try. Through a friend, I found out about the scholarship. It made all the difference in the world. I had found a way.” |
| |  | Vahe Hovian Begins Term Representing PCC on the Montgomery Cares Advisory Board PCC Board Member Vahe Hovian has been appointed to represent PCC on the Montgomery Cares Advisory Board (MCAB). Currently Managing Director (Partner) for Life Sciences AI at Accenture, Hovian has put his deep experience in healthcare data analytics, data integration, systems design, and life science AI into work assisting populations in the U.S. and around the globe. From his experiences with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) ensuring the information technology effectively supports facility operations and clinical process workflow to his work with data and intelligent automation, Mr. Hovian will bring his knowledge of performance indicators and his experience with health systems and services to MCAB. The Montgomery County Council approved his appointment on July 16th. |
| |  | Psst – Don’t Miss PCC’s Storytelling Show Mark your calendar for Primary Care Coalition'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 9:00 pm at the Great Hall, Civic Building of Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4681. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a storytelling experience that celebrates the power of community service and the impact of personal narratives. Be part of an evening filled with warmth, connection, and meaningful stories that resonate with the heart. So, keep an eye out for the invite. See you there! |
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 | June 15th -August 11th, Summer Season for Montgomery County’s outdoor pools. Weekday hours are 1-8 p.m. (except the Upper County Outdoor Pool, which is closed Fridays) and weekend hours are 12 noon-8 p.m. In addition to the seven outdoor pools, the Montgomery County Department of Recreation manages five indoor pools, open year-round. August 2-30, 6–8 p.m., Free Friday Summer Concerts, live music sponsored by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, corner of Norfolk and St. Elmo Aves., Bethesda. August 3 and 4, 10–10:45 a.m., Storytime in the Garden, for children ages 3-7, located in the outdoor children’s garden area, weather permitting. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue Wheaton, MD 20902. The fee is $5. August 12, 10–2 p.m., 32nd Annual VIP Day at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair for children ages 5-14 with a disability or life-threatening illness and their families. Free admission and rides, lunch, a swag bag, and a 4-H escort are provided. VIPs must be Montgomery County residents. If you know a child who has not previously been a VIP and would benefit from this special program, request an application by emailing Charles.butler@montgomerycountymd.gov or calling 240-777-6884. |
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| | Meet July's Pet of the Month: Maggie! Meet July’s Pet of PCC, Maggie! She is the beloved companion of Elizabeth Dutta, PCC’s Director of Behavioral Health Program Design and Strategy. Originally from North Carolina, Maggie was discovered as a stray. Shortly after, she was transported to DC to be adopted through the City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue, a volunteer-run organization that operates a network of foster homes in the DC area. Elizabeth agreed to foster her until the adoption was finalized. However, as fate would have it, the adoption fell through, and Maggie became an official member of the Dutta family adopting the new name: Maggie Sweet Potato Silly Goose Dutta. Maggie is the perfect work-from-home companion, always ready and willing to attend PCC conference calls. When she's not at work Maggie enjoys cuddling, taking walks, and greeting every single human she encounters! Learn more about fostering through City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue and find out about upcoming adoption events here! Dad Joke via TODAY. |
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