True Progress Is Measured by Our Communities

Johns Hopkins HealthCare (JHHC) envisions a world where everyone — not just our health plan members — can achieve their best health. Beyond healthy habits, preventive care and condition management, that requires a population-level focus. Communities must have the resources and support to enable proper health. Individuals must have other social, financial and environmental needs met. Far more than a health plan provider, JHHC is an active community partner invested in the well-being and potential of the people who live in them — our neighbors.

We understand the impact we can have and the real difference we can effect in the lives of our diverse population by supporting their health, families and communities. Keeping community members connected to accessible care, information and resources is an ongoing effort, but it’s an integral part of who we are as an organization. We know that true progress is measured by the health of the communities in which we live, work and serve.

So how do we achieve this progress? Over the course of our growth, JHHC has established strong relationships with like-minded community organizations who share our mission to support and uplift individuals and communities, particularly those that historically have been underserved. We understand that these organizations often have services, resources and personnel to serve individuals and communities more directly. Collaborating with these organizations, we broaden our reach and enhance the impact of our efforts.

Far more than aspirational in nature, JHHC has a strong track record supporting our communities, from being a community educator and advocate to providing funding grants for projects and local organizations that share our commitment. We strive to be a trusted resource, recognized through our community partners by the positive impacts we generate by way of our investments, institutional influence and sustained presence.

Over the last year alone, JHHC has provided grants, funding, scholarships and other forms of community support to multiple community organizations. From taking on food insecurity by building community pantries to supporting compassionate services and resources for our immigrant communities, our funding activities are aimed at alleviating the health inequities that result from social determinants such as income, race, education and immigration status.

Recent Grants Awarded by JHHC

In November, JHHC granted $20,000 to the Franciscan Center of Baltimore in support of the Providing Healthy Meals to Baltimore’s Most Vulnerable program. The Franciscan Center’s mission is to provide assistance and supportive outreach to persons who are economically disadvantaged, in an effort to assist them in realizing their self-worth and dignity. The purpose of the grant was to provide homeless, indigent and working poor residents of Baltimore City greater access to scratch-made meals and pantry items with healthy ingredients, particularly locally sourced fruits and vegetables. The funds are being used to support the salaries of the kitchen team and Culinary Director and the provision of healthier meals.

Previous to that event, in September, JHHC and Priority Partners awarded a $2,500 grant to The Esperanza Center. The donation was made possible through the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), a national trade association that represents not-for-profit Safety Net Health Plans. These plans work in support of the Medicaid program to provide high-quality health care to people with low incomes and complex health care needs. ACAP’s mission is to work to ensure that accessible, affordable, high-quality care, regardless of income, is provided through coordinated care entities.

The Esperanza Center is a comprehensive resource center whose mission is to welcome immigrants by offering hope, compassionate services and the resources and tools needed to improve their lives. Since 1963, the Esperanza Center staff and volunteers have been helping immigrants learn how to navigate life in a new country, providing services to assist with education, health care, legal issues, family reunification, anti-trafficking and general community support. We are proud to support this significant community resource.

Taking on health inequity is the great health care challenge of our time. In February of this year, JHHC presented a $20,000 grant to the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center (ESAHEC) in support of their ongoing commitment to eliminate health disparities in underserved areas of the Eastern Shore region. JHHC and ESAHEC share a common commitment to improve access to health care and develop solutions that alleviate social determinants of health, such as a person’s race, sexual orientation, income or education level.

ESAHEC provides educational resources and support through equitable community-based activities and services in order to recruit, train and retain health care professionals on the Eastern Shore through collaborative and innovative partnerships. Taking advantage of available federal, state and local resources, ESAHEC supports health careers promotion, health professions student rotations in underserved rural communities, continuing education and community health activities.

JHHC’s grant is helping to support ESAHEC’s objective to increase the number of health care providers servicing rural and underserved areas and eliminate health disparities among diverse populations of the Eastern Shore. We are honored to provide funding support be a part of ESAHEC’s mission to improve the health of our communities.

One low-visibility but important need in many communities is equitable access to dental care. Last year, JHHC awarded $20,000 to the Maryland Dental Action Coalition in support of equitable access to care for Maryland adults. In urban areas like Baltimore, barriers to good oral health outcomes include a lack of nutritious foods and limited transportation and health literacy. The grant money will be used to facilitate the rollout and implementation of the adult dental benefit in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.

JHHC’s initiative to combat food insecurity made great strides in 2022 through the Priority Partners Cupboards Project, a multiyear program of community partners aimed at providing food and resources to remote or underserved neighborhoods. Following the installation of three custom-built mini pantries in Maryland neighborhoods earlier this year, Priority Partners launched a small fleet of three custom-converted “Club On The Go” mobile pantries.

Operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and Harford and Cecil Counties, they are now bringing free healthy food and nutrition resources to Maryland neighborhoods. Unveiled at a family-friendly launch celebration in Annapolis, the new mobile pantries mark yet another successful chapter in the Cupboards Project and another meaningful step advancing our ambition to eliminate food insecurity and improve the health and well-being of our communities.

Education plays a big part in the health inequity picture. Early this year, JHHC’s Johns Hopkins Employer Health Programs (EHP) gave a $1,000 donation to the Washington English Center (WEC). The donation was part of an initiative called CATCH (Community Action that Cares About Health), which aims to advance efforts to overcome social determinants of health. WEC is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization that supports adult immigrants with workforce development and English literacy. EHP’s donation sponsored the spring term graduation ceremony.

And last spring, with the enthusiastic help of about 100 golfers, JHHC raised $25,000 for the United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) during the Healthy Drives Golf Tournament at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland. Through golfer registration, sponsorships, a raffle and silent auction, JHHC raised money for its annual support of UWCM while enjoying a day of collaboration, fun and generosity.

Meaningful and sustained progress requires collaboration. Ongoing relationships with community organizations and future grants to support our neighbors will continue to be a commitment of JHHC.

Interested in grant opportunities or how JHHC can work with your organization? Please contact JHHC's Community Relations team at JHHCCommunityRelations@jhhc.com