Advisory Committees

B’MORE FOR HEALTHY BABIES STEERING COMMITTEE: BHB is a multilevel strategy employing a life-course approach to reduce the rate of infant mortality in Baltimore. BHB envisions a City where every baby is born full-term, healthy weight, and ready to thrive in a healthy family. It encompasses more than 150 agencies working together on several high-impact areas that contribute to birth outcomes, including safe sleep, nutrition/obesity, substance use, and family planning. This collaborative effort is directed by the Steering Committee.

  • Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, Baltimore City Health Commissioner, Co-Chair
  • Christopher Thomaskutty, Mercy Health Services, Co-Chair
  • Hosanna Asfaw-Means, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
  • Dr. Yvonne Bronner, Morgan State University
  • Shannon Burroughs-Campbell, Baltimore City Head Start
  • Dr. Shelly Choo, Maryland Department of Health
  • Crystal Frances, Baltimore City Public Schools
  • Brooke Hisle, The Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund
  • Sandra Kick, Maryland Department of Health
  • Traci Kodeck, HealthCare Access Maryland
  • Faith Leach (interim), Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success
  • Demaune Millard, Family League of Baltimore
  • Dr. Gena O'Keefe, Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Judith Poey, United Way of Central Maryland
  • Dr. Judy Postmus, University of Maryland School of Social Work
  • Destiny-Simone Ramjohn, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
  • Melissa Rock, Maryland Family Network
  • Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Dr. Barry Solomon, Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Terry Staudenmaier, Abell Foundation
  • Brandi Stocksdale, Baltimore City Department of Social Services
  • Christa Taylor, Behavioral Health System Baltimore
  • Dr. Megan Tschudy, Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Laura Weeldreyer, Maryland Family Network

COMMISSION ON AGING: The Commission on Aging and Retirement Education (CARE) is a group of public and private individuals appointed and sworn in by the Mayor of Baltimore City. Their core mission is to use their areas of expertise to advocate on behalf of the older adults of Baltimore City. This includes supporting new aging initiatives, spear heading new legislative agendas, and identifying community resources that support aging populations.

  • Dr. Allan Jensen, MedStar Health, Chair
  • Elizabeth (Ibby) Tanner, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Vice-Chair
  • Barbara C. Brody, Social Worker, Retired
  • Stephanie Brooks-Wiggins, Older Women Embracing Life (OWEL)
  • Angela Burrell, Baltimore City Department of Social Services
  • Pastor J. L. Carter, ARK Church
  • Laurie Feinberg, Baltimore City Department of Planning
  • Councilwoman Sharon Green-Middleton, Baltimore City Council, District 6
  • Elizabeth F. Johnson, Zeta Phi Beta Alfa Chapter
  • G.I. Johnson, Seasons Hospice
  • Justin Knight, University of Maryland Baltimore County Erickson School of Geriatrics
  • Patricia Maloney Alt, Towson State University
  • Michael S. Marcus, Consultants for Community Resources
  • Reverend Lee Michaels, Heaven 600 and Lee Michael Show
  • Maureen Mullen Dove, Attorney General of Maryland, Retired
  • Tracey Murray, Coppin State University Helene Fuld School of Nursing
  • David L. Roth, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Betsy Simon, Zeta Phi Beta Alfa Chapter
  • Violet Sloat, Aging Advocate, Retired
  • Dr. Halaevalu F. O. Vakalahi, Morgan State University School of Social Work
  • Kim Washington, Baltimore City Department of Housing
  • Dr. Joseph Zebley, Greenspring Medical Associates
  • Ernest Burkeen, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, Ex-Officios
  • Kevin Davis, Baltimore Police Commissioner, Ex-Officios
  • Paul T. Graziano, Baltimore City Housing Commissioner, Ex-Officios
  • Tom Stosur, Baltimore City Department of Planning, Ex-Officios
  • Molly McGrath-Tierney, Baltimore City Department of Social Services, Ex-Officios

OVERDOSE FATALITY REVIEW: Comprised of experts from public health, substance use disorder treatment, law enforcement, corrections, hospitals, and human services, the Overdose Fatality Review Team conducts confidential reviews of drug and alcohol overdose deaths in Baltimore to identify strategies and intervention to prevent future overdose deaths. Team members meet on a monthly basis to examine detailed information about the circumstances of overdose deaths and previous contacts between agencies and people who have died from overdose. The Team makes recommendations for changes to policies and practices to improve and target interventions to people at risk for future overdoses. Members of the Team work to implement recommendations that come from Overdose Fatality Review within their agencies and systems. 

  • Baltimore City Fire Department
  • Baltimore City Health Department
  • Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office
  • Baltimore Police Department
  • Behavioral Health System Baltimore
  • Health Care Access Maryland
  • Institutes for Behavior Resources, Inc.
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
  • Maryland Poison Center
  • Mayor's Office of Human Resources

FENTANYL TASK FORCE: Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is dozens of times stronger than morphine and heroin. It is being mixed in with heroin and other street drugs and causing hundreds of deaths in Baltimore. Under the direction of former Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Baltimore City Health Department convened a citywide Fentanyl Task Force to make recommendations and assess capacity for a citywide response. The Fentanyl Task Force recommended that the city: implement a real-time overdose spike alert and rapid response system; prepare all frontline city employees to recognize and respond to an overdose with naloxone; conduct widespread public education about the risks of overdose from Fentanyl; distribute rapid drug testing kits so that residents who use substances can test them for the presence of Fentanyl.

  • Baltimore City Department of Public Works
  • Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks
  • Baltimore City Department of Social Services
  • Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court
  • Baltimore City Fire Department
  • Baltimore City Health Department
  • Baltimore City Labor Commissioner
  • Baltimore City Pratt Library
  • Baltimore City State's Attorney
  • Baltimore Convention Center
  • Baltimore Development Corporation
  • Baltimore Housing
  • Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts
  • Baltimore Police Department
  • Baltimore City Department of Transportation
  • Baltimore Police Department
  • Behavioral Health System Baltimore
  • Health Care for the Homeless
  • Institutes for Behavior Resources
  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
  • Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice
  • Mayor's Office of Emergency Management
  • Mayor's Office of Employment Development
  • Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods
  • University of Maryland School of Medicine

FETAL-INFANT MORTALITY REVIEW:  Baltimore City Fetal-Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) is an action-oriented community process that continually assesses, monitors, and works to improve service systems and community resources for women, infants, and families in Baltimore City. The FIMR team, made up of health professionals, city agencies, and community-based organizations, confidentially reviews real cases of stillbirth and infant death that occur in Baltimore City. The team pays special attention to social, economic, and health factors that may have contributed to the deaths and identifies gaps in services and systems. Recommendations made by the team to improve service systems and community resources drive the agenda of B'more for Healthy Babies, our citywide initiative to prevent infant mortality and improve outcomes for young children.

  • Advocates for Children and Youth
  • Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Baltimore Child Abuse Center
  • Baltimore City Department of Social Services
  • Baltimore City Health Department
  • Baltimore City Healthy Start
  • Baltimore Healthy Start
  • Baltimore Medical System
  • Behavioral Health System Baltimore
  • Family League of Baltimore
  • HealthCare Access Maryland, Inc.
  • Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
  • Johns Hopkins Healthcare
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • March of Dimes
  • MedStar Harbor Hospital
  • Mercy Medical Hospital
  • Optum/United Health Care
  • Roberta's House
  • Saint Agnes Hospital
  • Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
  • University of Maryland Medical Center

CHILD FATALITY REVIEW: Made up of health experts and key city agencies, including law enforcement, social services, public schools, and juvenile services, Baltimore City Child Fatality Review (CFR) reviews in detail all “unusual and unexpected” deaths of Baltimore City residents from birth to age 17 – accidents, homicides, suicides, and deaths of an undetermined cause. As a result of these reviews, CFR members take action within their own agencies to strengthen systems and ensure children and families receive high quality services. The team additionally makes prevention recommendations, which are enacted through B’More for Healthy Babies, our citywide initiative to prevent infant mortality and improve outcomes for young children, and the newly launching Youth Health and Wellness Strategy, which aims to ensure Baltimore’s youth are safe, healthy, and in school.

  • Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Baltimore Child Abuse Center
  • Baltimore City Department of Social Services
  • Baltimore City Fire Department
  • Baltimore City Health Department
  • Baltimore City Healthy Start
  • Baltimore City Public School System
  • Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office
  • Baltimore Police Department
  • Behavioral Health System Baltimore
  • Family League of Baltimore
  • HealthCare Access Maryland
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
  • Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice
  • Mercy Family Care
  • Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
  • Roberta's House
  • Safe Kids Baltimore
  • University of Maryland School of Medicine

YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS: The Youth Health and Wellness committee was created to develop the five-year strategic plan in order to support young people across Baltimore. Each of the organizations is a critical member of the community that addresses youth health. The strategy has three impact indicators: reducing teen births, reducing child fatalities, and reducing missed school days. It is organized around four themes: healthy minds, healthy bodies, healthy communities, and healthy systems.

  • Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Baltimore City Health Department
  • Baltimore City Public Schools System
  • Baltimore's Promise
  • Baltimore City Office of Sustainability
  • Baltimore City Recreation and Parks
  • Behavioral Health System Baltimore
  • Chesapeake Center for Youth Development
  • Extraordinary Changes, LLC
  • Family League of Baltimore
  • Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Johns Hopkins University