Baltimore Healthy Start 2020-2021 Annual Report

Adapting and

Expanding 2020-2021 ANNUAL REPORT

dear partners & friends

A 30 year legacy of investment: Established in 1991, Baltimore Healthy Start has been investing in the health and well-being of Baltimore's families by working

Last year marked the 30th Anniversary of

community to be doulas. The graduates will

With your help and the help of others who

Baltimore Healthy Start! In the face of the

be contracted to provide Doula supportive

believe all infants deserve to start and stay

direct services to the most vulnerable citizens in Baltimore- pregnant and post

ongoing pandemic, we embraced the ideas

services to Baltimore Healthy Start Families

healthy, Baltimore Healthy Start served 1,215

partum women and their families, living in socially, economically and medically

of adapting and expanding this past year –

upon completion of their training.

people last year. The Board of Directors,

disadvantaged communities.

two perfect words critical to our longevity at Baltimore Healthy Start. The pandemic made it necessary for us to adapt existing services for the safety of our staff and the families we serve. It also created opportunities to expand our reach and provide services we had not offered pre-pandemic.

Our teams have had great success transitioning our visits, Pregnancy and Wellness groups, classes, and other programs that support healthy families to virtual platforms.

We also received funding to support our Community Action Network’s priority of improving housing for families in Baltimore City. Our Housing Truths Project will get input and implementation ideas from tenants, landlords, and developers on what we can do to make housing affordable, healthier, and safer for Baltimore families.

mothers to tell their birth stories to the staff at

expanded our services to provide COVID-19

patient care. Our Dyad Care partnership at

outreach and education and serve as a site

Total Health Care Clinic removes some of the

for pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Our

barriers for moms accessing post-partum

outreach Ambassadors, the COVID-19 Dream

care by combining mother/baby doctor visits

Team, gave information about the vaccine to

during the first year of the child’s life.

Our comprehensive Case Management and Care Coordination remain at the heart of our

Baltimore Healthy Start knows that health

work. We work with families to establish goals

starts in the community. With a grant

and identify supports and resources that will

from the Health Resources and Services

result in a healthy pregnancy, healthy delivery,

Administration, we are working with partners

and a well-child. Our hope is that all babies

to train, certify, and mentor women from the

make it to their first birthday and beyond.

to reduce infant mortality and poor perinatal health outcomes by providing

We are a leader in raising awareness on how social determinants of health-access

Healthy Start thank you for your continued

to health insurance, education, job opportunities and a safe living environment-

support! We understand that in order to

impact health and drive inequities in health outcomes.

meet the needs of families, adaptation and expansion are necessary. We accept the challenge and look forward to many more years of service to families.

Mission Statement Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc. is committed to reducing infant mortality by utilizing a Life Course Perspective for improving the health and well-being of women and their families through the provision of comprehensive, supportive services in the

Warm Regards,

communities where they live.

Where We Are

initiative has had much success with engaging Baltimore area hospitals in order to improve

getting vaccinated in our communities.

Leadership Team, and Staff at Baltimore

On the clinical front, our Patients as Partners

With the support of various funders, we

over 4,000 people and assisted 522 people in

BHS Execu tive Direc tor, Lashelle S tewart, wit h Baltimo Health Co re City mmissione r Letitia D zirasa

Who We Are

Lashelle Stewart

We work in communities with rates of infant mortality at least one and a half times the U.S. national average, and high rates for other adverse perinatal outcomes (e.g., low birth weight, pre-term birth, maternal morbidity and mortality), in order to address the needs of high-risk women and their families before, during, and after pregnancy.

Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc. promotes health and wellness by providing expectant and new mothers and their families with the health care and resources they need to nurture their children. We operate out of one full-service community center and two satellite locations.

Middle East/Highlandtown 610 North Chester Street Baltimore, Maryland 21205

Forest Park/Walbrook 2300 Garrison Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21216

(Full Service)

Total Health Care 1501 Division Street Baltimore, MD 21217 (Total Health Care clients ONLY)

2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

1

our Covid Outreach Program Making a difference during a difficult time Trust plays a key role in the work we do

she walks down the street. People remember

here at Baltimore Healthy Start (BHS).

her from when they were new mothers and

This has been all the more apparent ever

she was enrolling them and their babies in

since we started navigating the daily sea of

Baltimore Healthy Start. Now, they ask her

information, regarding COVID-19 that needs

questions about testing, vaccines, and how to

to be shared with our community. Like all

sign up for them.

other organizations and families, our day-today processes and expectations can change suddenly and frequently. In July of 2021, we geared up a COVID-19 Dream Team by hiring 10 Outreach Ambassadors to work within the community sharing important facts and resources.

PREGNANT? HAVE A BABY? WE CAN HELP!

410.675.2125

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2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

and began by distributing pamphlets with COVID-19 facts. Ms. Washington explains, “We are working out of hair salons and barbershops. We give out brochures, we give out masks, we give out hand sanitizers, we talk.” BHS partners with Kaiser Permanente and the Baltimore City Health Department to host pop up clinics at our Headquarters on Chester Street.

Hearing COVID-19 facts from a familiar face gives residents confidence in the information they are receiving and removes some of the fear associated with the vaccine. “I still work in the same communities – Sandtown, Winchester, Edmondson Village, Rosemont, and part of Harlem Park.” Ms. Washington

HEARING COVID-19 FACTS FROM A FAMILIAR FACE GIVES RESIDENTS CONFIDENCE IN THE INFORMATION THEY ARE RECEIVING AND REMOVES SOME OF THE FEAR ASSOCIATED WITH THE VACCINE.

Even in the face of challenges brought on by

shares fondly. One of the questions she is

the pandemic (shut downs, shortages, stay-

asked most frequently is “Why should I get

at-home orders, and school closings), we

the vaccine, if I’m still going to get COVID?”

continue to exceed our outreach goals. This

Ms. Washington explains, “Because even if

BHS also helps people find vaccine locations

success is, to a great extent,

you get it, once you have been vaccinated,

near them and make appointments. By year’s

due to the trust residents

you're not going to be as sick as you would've

end, 4,641 people received information on the

place in our neighborhood

been had you not gotten it.”

vaccine, 278 received vaccines on site, and

health

advocates

and

ambassadors.

Our

East/West

In more traditional times, we respond to referrals, and our teams of two make regular

WANT TO GET THE

COVID-19 VACCINE?

OUR COVID OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

Dream Team recruited from the community

Baltimore

home visits. The spread of COVID-19 though,

Recruiter, Sheila Washington,

meant that we had to begin offering more

has been with Baltimore

than

Healthy Start since 1992,

transportation to wellness appointments, and

and she is recognized when

classes, along with our other programs. The

our

regular

services

–

education,

by-the-numbers

4,641

PEOPLE RECEIVED INFO ABOUT THE VACCINE

244

WERE REGISTERED FOR THE VACCINE AT OTHER SITES

278

RECEIVED VACCINES ONSITE In addition to street canvasing and doorto-door outreach in 2021, BHS launched a bus and billboard campaign to assist people with finding vaccine opportunities.

244 people were registered for the vaccine at other sites. Although, like everyone else, we hope to see an end to the pandemic very soon, we will continue this program as long as necessary.

2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

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2020-2021 DONORS

Dream Team profile

Neesie Thomas

We rely on our wonderful donors, and we thank them for their generosity.

Our COVID-19 outreach program has been

Abrams, Leah

Berkowitz, Bernard L.

Chesley, Breye L.

Dale, Grady

a success because we've recruited team

Adams, Nicole

Bess, Margaret B.

Childs, Francine

Darling, Charles

members directly from the communities we

Allen, Jonetta

Blackwell, John & Joyce

Chissell, Carolyn K.

Davis, Anne S.

serve – people like Neesie Thomas. Getting

Allen, Juanita

Blaney, Lisa J.

Claes, Delores

Day, Brendan

information from someone we know, a

Allik, Bethany

Blount, Bridget

Clark, Sandra

Denney, Cara

neighbor, a friend – increases the feeling of safety and trust.

Alston, Joseph W. & Lillian

Blount, Edith G.

Coakley, Frank B.

Dennis, June

live in West Baltimore where there’s a lot of

Annie E. Casey Foundation

Bond, Karen Y.

Cobb, Leigh

Dicembre, Elizabeth

homelessness. Poverty is extremely high. This

Antonio, Ingrid

Boston, Charlene C.

Cohen, Joel

Dietz, Jed

Neesie was one of our ten COVID-19 Dream

program offers the opportunity to rise above

Coleman, Larry G.

Donovan, Timothy

that line of poverty.”

Argenbright, Adam S. & Lynn

Bosworth, Gaynes

Team Outreach Ambassadors, and she knows

Boulware, Derrick

Cook, Regina D.

Donovan, Thomas C.

what it is like to be on the other side of that

Asner, Ilene

Bronner, Yvonne L.

Cooper, Charles R.

Dunston, Odessa

door when Baltimore Healthy Start (BHS)

Associated Black Charities

Brown, Felecia

Cornish, Michael A.

Dyett, Elizabeth P.

Bailey, Gail

Brown, Michelle

Cover, Randy

Downey, Bernadette

Barnes, Eugene C. & Japonica R.

Brown, Susanne

Craig, Elizabeth E.

Ervin, Mary L.

Burden, Angela

Craig, Jesse

Farinholt, Kathryn

Bunting, Mary C.

Crockett, Erin L.

Farrington, Joyce

Chance, Edward M. & Shirley

Crooms, Rita C.

Fastow, Peter

Crosby, Barbara A.

Field, Bruce & Lisa

comes calling. She first learned about BHS when Miss Lillian and Miss Sheila came to her house to tell her about a program for pregnant women. “I enrolled in Healthy Start when I was three months pregnant.”

Neesie attended every BHS program, including

NEESIE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ALL THE PROGRAMS AND BEGAN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF BHS — AT FIRST TO INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL GROUPS, AND THEN AT LOCAL CONFERENCES.

Barr, Kellie Beckham, Stewart Benjamin Marsh & Born To Praise

the parenting and financial literacy programs.

“I felt very safe in those groups.” Neesie successfully completed all the programs and began speaking on behalf of BHS – at first to individuals and small groups, and then at local conferences. “It’s a phenomenal program and I took the job to show the other mothers

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2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

Neesie’s role as a Dream Team member entails going out into the community, educating people

about

COVID-19,

offering

them

information about clinic locations, where to get walk-in shots, and places to get tested.

it’s not just a program to get free stuff.” For

“I promote all things Healthy Start because

Neesie, it has been about learning skills,

they gave me a start; they employ from their

forging bonds, and giving hope to others. “I

community.”

30 Years of BHS helping families in Baltimore communities is our passion and legacy.

1991

1993

1994

1999

2000

Baltimore begins as one of the original 15 Healthy Start sites across the country

Added Men's Services, and transportation to clinic visits

Started breastfeeding training and support groups

Lead agency for Safe and Sound United Way Campaign — Success by 6®

Perinatal mood disorder screening (ie depression, anxiety) for all enrolled clients and making proper referrals

2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

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Flowers, Jacquelyn

Hedhund, Linda

Kantziper, Lori

Malveaux, Floyd J.

Novey, Michael

Rothschild, Jennie

Tufts, JoAnn

Fraizer, Deborah

Heffern, Margaret R.

Kaplan, Maury B.

Martin, Donna

Obrien, Pamela

Scott, Shane

Tuttle, Lois M.

Fussell, Glynis A.

Hickman, Debra

Kaplin, Arnold J.

Mason-Forney, Kaylei

Okeefe, William

Seyler, Virginia

Twesigye, Joy

Gainor, Patricia A.

Hitech Services, Inc.

Kaufman, Steven

Mathis, Johnnie W.

Omni Elevator Co., Inc.

Sharfstein, Joshua

Tyler, Vivian B.

Gardner, Tywanna

Holland, Angela

Keating, Joyce S.

Mayden, Ruth W.

Orange, Rodney A.

Shortle, David & Carole

Valdes-Pierce, Chelsea

Gaskins, Dana

Howard, Gwendolyn M.

Kennedy, Ann T.

McCarthy, Lucille

Pakula, Lawrence C.

Sieglein, Kelly

Walters, Ronald G.

Gaskins, Geneva H.

Hughes, Terrainia

Kent, Townsend

McChriston, Brenda

Panitz, Caroline H.

Smith, Linda

Wayman, Gloria E.

Gaskins, Vernon

Hussein, Carlessia A.

Kirk, Avisa

McGowan-Smith, Vickie

Patrick, Doristine F.

Smith, T

Weeks, Francie

Gaughan, Denise A.

Irvine, Jacqueline J.

Kitchen, Kevin E.

McMullen, Judith

Pennington, Leonard J.

Sovereign, Christina

Welcome, Mary

Gillard, Leroy

Jackson, Elaine

Kreitner, Kimberly

Merrick, Buzz

Phillips, Carolyn O.

Squires, Barbara N.

West, James

Goldseker Foundation

Jakusz, Patricia

Krumm, Sharon K.

Metzger, Amy

Pickworth, Wallace

Stemley, Betty

Williams, Bettie

Gordon, Janice

Jandorf, Ross A.

Lane, Kimberly D.

Miranda, David

Pittman, Marshall

Stewart, Lashelle

Wilson, Jane

Green, Aaron

Jennings, Katrina

Lapides, Suzanne

Mitchell, Joyce

Porter, Sarah

Stewart, Pamela D.

Wilson, Janice E.

Griffin, Cardrienne P.

Jerkins, Sara L.

Lawyer, Cyrus

Prater, Bonnie

Stodden, Mark

Winikoff, Stephen E.

Guyer, Bernard

Johnson, Addie E.

Lee, Pamika

Mobley, Magda C. & Mark C.

Prettyman, Tracey D.

Stokes, Shirley H.

Wolman, Susan

Hanson, Christine

Johnson, Bernadette

Lee, Veris R.

Modarressi, Anne

Preller, Rita M.

Suskind, Jerina W.

Wood, Hilda

Leonard, Yvonne

Moore, Ralph

Reed, Dorothy

Lynn, Kathryn

Reed-Vance, Maxine

Szanton, Peter & Eleanor L.

Wood, Roslyn C.

Mt. Caramel Baptist Church

Talbott, John & Susan

Yoder, Carol

Harris, Jean M.

Johnson, Charles S.

Harrison, Naomi

Joyner, Sameka R.

Harrison, Philip A.

Judd, Edwin J.

Lubic, Ruth W.

Hartzelius, Irmgard

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan

Macht, Amy

Haskins, Beatrice W.

Riley, Connie D.

Murphy, Thomas V.

Rivers, Christopher

Nelson, Andrea

Malson, Julia A.

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Thomas, Anthony

Rose, Sarah

Nicholls, Edward J.

Young, Pamela P.

Taylor, Penelope

Roberts, Carolyn M.

New Hope Ministries

Kane, Erica

Wyatt, Littleton B.

Trout, John R.

2002

2003

2004

2005-2008

2009

2011

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Added evidenced based child development curriculum – Growing Great Kids

Began a 7 year Care Coordination and Supportive Employment initiative with Baltimore Substance Abuse

Initiated the onsite Early Childhood Development program

Expanded program to additional neighborhoods

Initiated Belly Buddies® a stress reduction prenatal care program

Added evidenced based Healthy Families America as a home visiting program

Selected as a Service Delivery Innovation by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Placed community health workers in 2 federally qualified health centers and the Healthy Families America program became accredited

25th Year Anniversary

Partnership with Kaiser Permanente for Good Health Great Hair initiative, Birth Resilience Symposium

Housing and Health Symposium, Fatherhood Total Health Symposium, Breast Feeding Friendly Award

New Five year HRSA grant, Merck Safer Child Birth Cities Grant, American Academy of Pediatrics Child Advocate Award

Maryland State Department of Education Promoting Positive Outcomes for Infants and Toddlers Grant

COVID-19 Dream Team Established

2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

Partnered with Oh Taste Lactation to offer breast feeding education and support

COVID Outreach grants from: CDC, Kaiser Permanente and Open Society

2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

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Our impact 2020/2021

Our Board

1,215 PEOPLE SERVED

TAMIRA DUNN, MS VICE PRESIDENT

THROUGH BHS SERVICES

97.7% OF MOMS DID

NOT SMOKE IN THEIR 3RD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY

86.2% OF PREGNANT

CLIENTS REPORTED FATHER INVOLVEMENT

100% OF MOMS HAD A

REPRODUCTIVE LIFE PLAN

70.8% INITIATED

1%

REGINA WEBB, MA, CHES PRESIDENT

BRIDGET BLOUNT, MA TREASURER WHITNEY KAMIRAH SECRETARY

MEMBERS

2020 Financials

17%

TOTAL REVENUE & SUPPORT $2,466,860

Francine Childs Robert Oliver Atlas, MD Angela Burden, MA, BSN, RN

47% FEDERAL

Sarah Wallace

35% STATE

Mia Matthews

17% LOCAL

Terrance Lindsey

1% DONATIONS/PRIVATE

Heather Ross

47% 35%

BREAST FEEDING

81 PACK-N-PLAYS GIVEN OUT FOR SAFE SLEEP

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2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

2020/2021 ANNUAL REPORT

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610 N. Chester St. Baltimore, MD 21205 410.675.2125 (phone) 410.327.6181 (fax) baltimorehealthystart.org