 | September 2025 | Issue No. 41 |
| MCares Report Highlights System Improvements In FY25, the Montgomery Cares (MCares) program served 24,813 participants in 76,064 primary care visits, according to PCC’s recent FY25 MCares Annual Report to the Montgomery County DHHS. This uninsured patient population includes 61% with household incomes below the federal poverty level and represents more than 80 primary languages. In addition to service statistics, this year’s report added details to reflect the broader contours of our work, highlighting improved system collaboration and progress on service innovation. |
| | | Faaiza Ahmed – The Quiet Engine Driving Big Projects Every achievement at PCC is the result of the team's collective efforts, and Faaiza Ahmed, Program Manager, truly embodies this collaborative spirit. For the past two years, she has worked behind the scenes as a senior program coordinator, coordinating the various moving parts, managing details, and ensuring action steps keep initiatives moving forward. “We are fortunate to live in a community with such a strong safety net, but if we don't actively work to improve and strengthen it, it will eventually fall apart,” Faaiza says. “That’s where I see my responsibility: ensuring everything runs smoothly so it can continue to serve the community.” |
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| |  | The Primary Care Coalition’s 2025 Storytelling Show is almost here! Join us on Thursday, November 6, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building (One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910). This beloved annual event is more than just an evening together—it’s a celebration of community through stories that inspire, move, and entertain. Expect laughter, heartfelt moments, and narratives that will stay with you long after the night ends. Tickets are now available! Click here to purchase yours today. Mark your calendar—you won’t want to miss this unforgettable evening. We can’t wait to see you there! |
|  | Let the County Executive Know Your Budget Priorities The Montgomery County Executive is holding a series of community budget conversations for residents to express their FY27 budget priorities. We know that County funding is likely to be strained in coming budget years, while the need for safety net healthcare services is likely to grow. If providing health care to uninsured residents is a priority for you, please attend one of these sessions and let the County Executive know. -
Older Adults Community Conversation at The Beacon 50+ Expo. Sunday, Sept. 28. 3-4:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Fenton Room, Silver Spring. In-person only. -
African-Caribbean Diaspora Community Conversation. Monday, Sept. 29. 7-8:30 p.m. Montgomery College, East County Education Center, Community Event Room, 2221 Broadbirch Drive, Silver Spring. Click here to participate virtually. -
East County Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 6. 7-8:30 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, Social Hall, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring. Click here to participate virtually. -
Mid-County Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 13. 7-8:30 p.m. Wheaton Community Recreation Center, Social Hall, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton. Click here to participate virtually. -
Spanish Language Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 27. 7-8:30 p.m. Gaithersburg High School, Auditorium, 101 Education Blvd., Gaithersburg. Click here to participate virtually. -
MCPS Educators, Parents and Students Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 3. 7-8:30 p.m. Carver Educational Services Center, Auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. Click here to participate virtually. -
Black/African American Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 10. 7-8:30 p.m. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 608 North Horners Lane, Rockville. Click here to participate virtually. -
Older Adults Community Conversation. Thursday, Nov. 13. 12:30-2 p.m. Leisureworld. -
Multilingual Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 17. 7-8:30 p.m. Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), 9318 Gaither Road, Suite 215, CCACC Art Gallery, Gaithersburg. This forum will be conducted in English with interpretation services provided in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Click here to participate virtually. -
Silver Spring Community Conversation. Tuesday, Nov. 18. 7-8:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall, Silver Spring. Click here to participate virtually. |
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| Sandra Benitez – Giving Back and Moving Forward Sandra Benitez has a natural gift for caring for others. Readers may remember her from our August feature, where she was highlighted as a participant in PCC’s Workforce Capacity program. This program, part of PCC’s Nexus Montgomery initiative, partners with local hospitals, provides scholarships to county residents like Sandra who aspire to work in health care. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, the initiative is especially meaningful in Sandra’s case—she grew up in Montgomery County and is now pursuing a career that allows her to give back to the community that raised her. “My interest in caring for others began when I watched my grandmother navigate the health care system. I saw the incredible work the staff did to support her, but I also felt there was more I could contribute. That experience sparked my desire to pursue a career in caring for others,” Sandra shared. Her professional path started at Proyecto Salud Clinic, where she worked as an administrator from 2020 to 2025, focusing on facilitating patient care. Yet, Sandra’s true passion has always been to work directly with patients. “I loved helping people solve problems and creating opportunities for them, but deep down I knew what I really wanted was to be at the bedside—providing comfort, safety, and relief.” |
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| | Partner Profile: Catholic Charities Center Dental Clinic Catholic Charities Center Dental Clinic served 417 patients over 878 visits between April and June of 2025 alone. The numbers are impressive, but they cannot adequately convey the impact access to care makes on quality of life. Behind those figures, for instance, is the story of a patient we’ll call Lucas, who came in with debilitating tooth pain that required an extraction. Mobility challenges would make a return dental visit difficult for him, so the dentist devised a same-day solution by adding an acrylic tooth to existing dental work. Catholic Charities didn’t just solve the immediate problem—they considered the whole person and came up with a care plan to meet all of Lucas’ needs. |
| | | Montgomery County, Fire and Rescue – File for Life Program: Simple Step to Assuring Safety at Home Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service is pleased to offer the "File of Life" program, a community initiative meant to save time in emergencies. The File of Life is a red, magnetic package containing your important medical information, which rescue responders may easily obtain if you or a family member are unable to supply it. Inside, you can document your medical history, prescriptions, doctor and family contact information, insurance information, and any particular conditions that responders should be aware of. Montgomery County residents receive free File of Life packets. To request one by mail, call 311. |
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|  | Community Events MCDOT - Bike Donation Drive – Friday, October 3rd, 7:00am – 2:00pm, Montgomery County Council Office Building Parking Garage at the corner of East Jefferson Street and Monroe Street in Rockville, Maryland 20850 American Diversity Group’s Free Medical Clinic in East County – Saturday, October 4th 9:00am – 3:00pm, 12210 Plum Orchard Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20904 Appointments for help with public benefits - HHS Navigation Program - Thursday, October 23, 2025, 9:00am – 4:30pm, 11002 Veirs Mill Road, Suite 506, Wheaton, MD 20902 Flu Vaccine Clinic at MKHC - Friday, October 24, 2025, 1-4pm, 9420 Key West Avenue, #400, Rockville, MD 20850 Training Opportunities Harvesting Healthy Choices: A Substance Use Education Workshop – Saturday, Oct 25th 11:00am - 2:00pm, 9201 Scott Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 Advancing Health Literacy in Partnership with Community Health Workers - Monday, Oct 27, 2025 10:00 AM, virtual event |
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| | A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting: 8757 Georgia Ave 10th Floor| Silver Spring, MD 20910
Question? Email us at stephanie_narayanan@primarycarecoalition.org or call 301-628-3456 Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary. |
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