Bmore Healthy Blog

Early Head Start Facility Opens in Baltimore

The first few years of a child’s life are a critical developmental period, directly connected to lifelong success and health.  Early Head Start programs that combine education, health, and family services not only prepare children enter school ready to learn, but also ensure that our children and their families have the services education, and support they need to be healthy and stay healthy. On Tuesday, Dr. Wen joined Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, representatives from LIGHT Health and Wellness Comprehensive Services, and members of the community to celebrate the grand-opening of Baltimore City’s newest Early Head Start Program.

Early Head Start Facility Opens in Baltimore

BCHD Efforts Highlighted at World Bank Youth Forum

On Wednesday, Dr. Wen was a keynote speaker at the World Bank Youth Forum 2016, highlighting the ways that Baltimore is working to improve health and development by combatting poverty, violence, and inequality. Dr. Wen joined a coalition of NGOs, CSOs, World Bank and government officials, and young people to discuss ways for the World Bank and other agencies to work to build sustained peace and development.

BCHD Efforts Highlighted at World Bank Youth Forum

Dr. Wen Speaks About Being an Accountable Physician and Health Commissioner

Being an “accountable” physician is a difficult term to define. It implies a willingness to extend health beyond the immediate clinical situation by also focusing on patient wellness. Patients hear so much about preventative medicine in doctor’s office posters reminding them to wash their hands, trifold brochures about exercise, and handouts expounding the benefits of a good diet, but these are often not the focus of clinical practice, which tends to be curative rather than holistic. Last Thursday, Dr. Wen leant her voice to the Council of Accountable Physician Practices (CAPP) Better Together 2016 series, titled “Patient Expectations and the Accountability Gap.”

Dr. Wen Speaks About Being an Accountable Physician and Health Commissioner

Dr. Wen Discusses Opioid Epidemic at Clinton Global Initiative America

On Tuesday, Dr. Wen joined President Bill Clinton, President Jimmy Carter, CEOs, government officials, philanthropists, Nobel laureates, NGO executives, and community leaders for a panel discussion at the sixth annual Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) America meeting. During the panel titled “Communities in Crisis: The Cost of the Opioid Epidemic,” Dr. Wen spoke with Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Volkow, and other experts to discuss the national opioid epidemic and shared Baltimore’s innovative approach to combatting the public health crisis.

Dr. Wen Discusses Opioid Epidemic at Clinton Global Initiative America

BCHD Hosts Annual Food Justice Forum as Virtual Supermarket Program Expands to Two New Sites

This past Saturday, BCHD’s 3rd Food Justice Forum brought together community members, activists, farmers, organizers, non-profits, and government agencies to discuss ways to improve access to healthy, affordable foods across Baltimore. The annual forum, hosted by the Baltimore Food Justice Committee and the BCHD Baltimarket program, highlights ongoing efforts to tackle food injustice and the systemic inequities that affect the diets —and health—of Baltimoreans.

BCHD Hosts Annual Food Justice Forum as Virtual Supermarket Program Expands to Two New Sites

BCHD Celebrates Baltimore City Trauma-Informed Care Learning Community Advocates and Volunteers

Earlier this week, Dr. Wen joined representatives from city agencies and partners from across the city to celebrate the accomplishments of the Baltimore City Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Learning Community program. For the past year, BCHD has joined with Behavioral Health System Baltimore (BHSB) to train thousands of volunteers through this organizational structure and treatment framework that involves that provides care and counseling services to victims of trauma.

BCHD Celebrates Baltimore City Trauma-Informed Care Learning Community Advocates and Volunteers

Baltimore Health Committee Considers Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Warning Labels

On Tuesday, Dr. Wen joined a coalition of health advocates, parents and community leaders at city hall for a hearing on legislation that would require warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on advertisements, menus, and at the point-of-sale within the city. This effort, highlighted across the country including by CBS Evening NewsThe Wall Street JournalThe Baltimore Sunthe Baltimore Business Journal, and many others, aims to help Baltimore residents make more informed decisions, reduce caloric intake, encourage a healthier diet, and improve overall health.

Baltimore Health Committee Considers Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Warning Labels

Dr. Wen Joins Leaders at the Whitehouse to Highlight Baltimore City as a Model for Social Innovation

On Monday evening, Dr. Wen joined community leaders, government officials, and nonprofit partners from across Baltimore for a White House event entitled: “The Front Lines of Social Innovation,” which highlighted how local efforts can advance innovation and address social inequality. During the event, Dr. Wen spoke about the challenges that Baltimore faces, and what BCHD has done to combat deep-rooted problems of inequality, poverty, and racism, including efforts to combat infant mortality, address opioid overdose, and expand vision care for youth.

Dr. Wen Joins Leaders at the Whitehouse to Highlight Baltimore City as a Model for Social Innovation

Fight for Your Right for Veggies!

What social justice issues are related to food?  If you created a Baltimore that was “food just”, what would it look like? Nearly 100 residents came to the recent Baltimore Food Justice Forum to discuss these very questions. The answers were compelling.  One person wrote, “adequate quality and affordability of produce.” Another simply wrote, “equal access to food in every Baltimore neighborhood”.

Food Justice Forum Baltimore City Health Department

Addressing Heroin and Opioid Abuse a Top Priority for Mayor and Health Commissioner

One day in 1997, a man woke up in the ER after experiencing a heroin overdose. He was scared and homeless, unsure of how to access services to manage his addiction. Soon after this experience, the man encountered “the nicest people in the world” at a Baltimore City Health Department Needle Exchange Van. The peer recovery staff built a relationship with this man based on shared experiences and successfully encouraged him to go into—and stick with—a treatment program that worked for him.

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