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Roughly one-third (34.6%) of children in the city of Baltimore live in poverty (US Census Bureau, 2004.) With increasing health care, housing and energy costs- and other environmental factors such as a crime rate almost five times the national average and unemployment rates as high as 21% in some areas- Baltimore City families struggle to make ends meet on a daily basis.
Supported by the Health Commissioner of Baltimore City Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Project HEALTH collaborates with Johns Hopkins University and Hospitals, Loyola College, UMBC, the Baltimore City Health Department, and Baltimore HealthCare Access to mobilize college students to provide sustainable public health interventions in an effort to break the link between poverty and poor health. Project HEALTH Baltimore utilizes the Family Help Desk model established at the other five Project HEALTH sites around the nation to connect families with critical resources such as food, housing, job training, and childcare.
The Family Help Desk is a resource and advocacy program that helps families access community resources critical to their health, safety, and economic survival. Volunteers talk with families at the desk about their resource needs and connect them with appropriate local services and benefits related to food, housing, health insurance, immigration, childcare, adult education, and job training. Volunteers then follow-up with clients and service providers to ensure that families receive the necessary resources and to troubleshoot or provide additional services as necessary.
Locations
The Harriet Lane Clinic: This pediatric clinic associated with Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, serves roughly 7,000 children annually. A dedicated team of renowned health professionals including pediatricians, pediatric residents, nurses, social workers and lawyers, provide comprehensive care and services to Baltimore City families.
Druid Health District: Approximately 15,000 people from the most impoverished neighborhoods in Baltimore pass through the doors at the Druid Health District annually. This facility offers family planning services, dental services, STD and HIV/AIDS testing, and the nations first Men’s Clinic.
Eastern Health District – “La Carolina”: As one of the primary facilities serving the Spanish-speaking population in Baltimore City, “La Carolina” offers STD and HIV/AIDS testing, dental services, and family planning services to roughly 15,000 people annually. Students will be working with bi-lingual staff to help provide information and resources to the city’s expanding Latino population.
Daybreak Rehabilitation Program: A Methadone outpatient clinic located in the south-side of Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood; offers unique programs such as art, painting, health and parenting class for over 3,000 clients annually.
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center – Center for Addiction and Pregnancy: An outpatient and residential program that provides a comprehensive, coordinated and multidisciplinary approach for drug-dependent mothers and their drug-affected babies including pediatric care, oby/gyn care, child care, and family planning programs.
IBR Reach Mobile Health Services: This methadone outpatient clinic provides access to treatment through the use of a mobile van unit and offers a variety of other services including alcohol abuse programs, workforce development, mental health services and acupuncture services.
Johns Hopkins Hospital – Broadway Center: This drug and alcohol rehabilitation center offers detox and outpatient services as well as a community education program, and facilitates programs for specialized programs including individuals with HIV and women’s rehab in the Comprehensive Women’s Center.
Baltimore Medical Systems at St. Agnes Hospital: This ambulatory community clinic provides a wide range of services on a sliding-scale fee system to nearly 25,000 diverse patients annually. Physicians, medical residents, nurses and other clinic staff provide care in adult medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, and many sub-specialty services.