Part Four of the State of Southwest Baltimore Series will focus on another social driver of health – economic stability.Economic Stability is the ability to consistently meet basic financial needs, which includes having stable employment and sufficient income for baseline needs. Economic insecurity often leads to stress and declined mental health conditions, as well as limited access to health-promoting resources, contributing to poorer health outcomes.

Baltimore’s unemployment rate continues to decrease from 8.5% in 2020 to only 2.9% in 2023. The City of Baltimore is also currently experiencing unprecedented levels of economic growth, with its GDP increasing 5.9% between 2021 and 2022. The city’s economy is even growing faster than the U.S. economy and the Maryland economy, which are growing at by 1.9% and 1.6%, respectively.

Catholic Charities provides workforce development training and employment services to those who are un-and under-employed. In 2023, Catholic Charities’ programs delivered workforce development training to 322 individuals, with 224 finding employment thereafter. The Mayor’s Office of Employment Development ‘Job Hub’ located inside My Brother’s Keeper helps connect job seekers to employment on the ground in Irvington.

As a member of the Southwest Workforce Roundtable, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital is a frequent participant at community job fairs and supports local youth-serving entrepreneurial projects.

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines social drivers of health, also known as the social determinants of health, as the “conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.”

The State of Southwest Baltimore Series aims to examine the presence of the six social drivers of health in Southwest Baltimore and how local community organizations are helping create healthier communities.

Part Three of the State of Southwest Baltimore Series will focus on an imperative social driver of health – access to healthcare. Healthcare Access is the ability to obtain appropriate, timely, affordable, and convenient healthcare services such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and illnesses. The ability to obtain healthcare is vital in securing the timely treatment of illnesses, management of chronic conditions, and allows for preventative services.

Inaccessible healthcare can lead to delayed diagnoses, untreated conditions, and poorer health outcomes. In 2021, there was only one primary care physician per 860 people in Baltimore City and more than 3,800 hospital stays (per 100,000 people enrolled in Medicare) might have been prevented by preventative outpatient treatment.

Catholic Charities aims to make healthcare services accessible to uninsured immigrants throughout the Baltimore region through the Esperanza Health Center Health Services Clinic (ECHC). The clinic offers free medical and dental services, as well as no-cost primary and preventive care for adults and children. In 2023, the clinic serviced over 3,500 visits for those in need. Catholic Charities also offers eight outpatient mental health clinics that provide mental health counseling for adults, families, and children, as well as substance use treatment.

In Fiscal Year 2023, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital supported healthcare services for community members in need by providing nearly $20 Million in charity care to the community.

Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital also shows its commitment to managing its healthcare resources as a service to the entire community by providing financial assistance for certain individuals who receive emergency or other medically necessary care at the hospital.

Outside hospital walls, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital sponsors health fairs and wellness programs with St. Joseph’s Monastery Parish and other organizations to improve community health awareness.

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines social drivers of health, also known as the social determinants of health, as the “conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.”

The State of Southwest Baltimore Series aims to examine the presence of the six social drivers of health in Southwest Baltimore and how local community organizations are helping create healthier communities.

Part Two of the State of Southwest Baltimore Series will focus on another essential social driver of health – transportation. Transportation is defined as the availability and quality of transportation options that enable individuals to travel to work, school, healthcare facilities, and other essential services. Lack of reliable transportation can lead to delayed care for health issues, increased stress, and feelings of isolation, all of which negatively impact health outcomes. Inadequate transportation may also restrict access to community, which can further lead to adverse health outcomes.

The City of Baltimore provides the Charm City Circulator bus service for free to all residents and visitors. The Circulator makes over 100 stops along four routes, connecting neighborhoods to food hubs, healthcare services, and entertainment offerings. This service continues to expand and in June 2024 began to serve Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood.

Older adults and those with disabilities can face even larger transportation barriers to access healthcare, which is why Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital developed their Trusted Ride Chaperone Program. The program partners with volunteer chaperones and a ride-share service to transport older adults and those with disabilities to and from non-emergency medical appointments. By bridging this transportation gap, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital ensures that residents can access the medical care they need, as well as providing companionship and reducing social isolation for community members.

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines social drivers of health, also known as the social determinants of health, as the “conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.”

The State of Southwest Baltimore Series aims to examine the presence of the six social drivers of health in Southwest Baltimore and how local community organizations are helping create healthier communities.

Part One of the State of Southwest Baltimore Series will focus on the first social driver of health – nutrition. Nutrition is the access to sufficient, safe, and beneficial food to maintain a healthy and active life. Inadequate nutrition can lead to a range of health issues, including obesity, malnutrition, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. The leading cause of death in Baltimore is heart disease, which has been linked to poor nutrition.

Nearly 40% of Southwest Baltimore qualifies as a food desert, meaning many residents will find it difficult to purchase affordable, good-quality fresh food. Southwest Baltimore’s food deserts have a high fast-food and convenience store density, leading to limited healthy eating options.

Multiple organizations are working to provide these areas of Southwest Baltimore with fresh, nutritious food. Catholic Charities and My Brother’s Keeper operate food pantries and meal serving programs to provide nutritious meals and groceries to residents in need, with Catholic Charities providing 494,469 meals in 2023. Catholic Charities’ My Brother’s Keeper and Our Daily Bread Employment Center provides lunch, case management, behavioral health, benefits access support, and job training to those in need.

All Mount Saint Joseph High School Freshman are required to complete a day of service at Our Daily Bread, with Juniors and Seniors of Mount Saint Joseph High School providing a semester of community service at My Brother’s Keeper.

There is also a push to educate Southwest Baltimore communities on good eating habits and how to meet nutritional needs. Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital is involved in a variety of nutritional and food-focused programs that support local schools and organizations.

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines social drivers of health, also known as the social determinants of health, as the “conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.”

The State of Southwest Baltimore Series aims to examine the presence of the six social drivers of health in Southwest Baltimore and how local community organizations are helping create healthier communities.

Thousands of travelers are getting preventative health readings at the airport. LifeBridge Health launched its “Total Health Kiosk” at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to bring medical resources into the community. The kiosk, which is located in Concourse A between gates A9-11, offers travelers blood-pressure readings among other stats. Since it debuted over the summer, more than 2,700 people have used it.

Baltimore’s Metro subway line will be out of service this weekend as the Maryland Transit Administration continues tests of a new train control system, the agency has announced. All 14 stations between Owings Mills and the Johns Hopkins Hospital will close at 8 p.m. Friday and reopen at 4 a.m. Monday. The MTA will run shuttle buses between Metro stops for riders who would otherwise take the train.

Impact fee experts told Harford County officials that proposed fee increases for developers are a step in the right direction, but will not fully cover the cost of school infrastructure needed for student population growth from new development. Impact fees are one-time fees paid to the county by developers building new residential structures and can only be used to fund school site acquisition, school construction or school renovations.

The Baltimore Department of Transportation could be breaking state and city law by failing to notify residents about towing and then auctioning their cars, according to a report from the city auditor’s office. “Letting people know we have their vehicle and are going to auction it off is a basic service,” Comptroller Bill Henry said in a Thursday news release announcing the results of a biennial performance audit that evaluated the Baltimore Police Department and the DOT since towing is managed by both agencies. “No excuses — we need to do better.”

A surgical program at Frederick Health has been designated a United States Case Observation Site, meaning surgeons from around the U.S. can come to Frederick Health to learn about advanced robotic surgery techniques. Frederick Health’s thoracic oncology program received the designation from the robotic-assisted surgery platform manufacturer Intuitive.

Did you really think the Harborplace redevelopment fight was over? A day after voters approved a crucial ballot question for the overhaul of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, opponents reiterated their plans to keep fighting. Protect Our Parks, the coalition that encouraged residents to vote “F-No” on Question F, said in a statement that it plans to block residential towers from being built on along the Inner Harbor promenade through its own appeal to voters — two years from now.