For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 13, 2021
The joint Committee will review Black, Indigenous and People of Color Health Initiatives and COVID outreach, pre-registration and vaccination efforts
The joint Health and Human Services (HHS) and Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet Wednesday, April 14 at 2 p.m.
The members of the Health & Human Services (HHS) Committee include Chair and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness & Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice.
The members of the Government Operations & Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee include Chair Nancy Navarro and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Sidney Katz.
Briefing: The joint Committee will receive updates from the Asian American Health Initiative, African American Health Program and the Latino Health Steering Committee, which is implementing the Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar (For Our Health and Wellbeing) Program that was spearheaded by GO Committee Chair Navarro and HHS Committee Chair Albornoz. The briefing will include updates on the targeted efforts to address COVID-19's disproportionate impact on residents of color.
In addition, the joint Committee will hear about the targeted outreach and vaccination pre-registration efforts that are being spearheaded by the Office of Community Partnerships with the Regional Service Centers and the Census Outreach Teams that are now COVID Response Teams.
The pandemic has resulted in disparate impacts both in terms of the disease itself and the secondary impacts of COVID-19 on families. All these efforts are targeted to address the disparities faced by different populations and communities in Montgomery County.
Those expected to attend and provide information include: Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); Dr. Nguyen Nguyen, chair, Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), Dr. Hina Mehta, vice-chair, AAHI; Mr. MK Lee, AAHI; Dr. Michael Lin, AAHI; Dr. Sheryl Brissett Chapman, executive director, National Center for Children and Families, Monica Escalante, co-chair, Latino Health Steering Committee; Maria Gomez, president and chief executive officer, Mary’s Center; Dr. Tollie Elliott, chief medical officer, Mary's Center; Dr. Anna Maria Izquierdo, executive director, Care for Your Health; Betty Lam, chief, DHHS Office of Community Affairs; Arlee Wallace, program manager, African American Health Program (AAHP-DHHS); Sonia Mora, senior manager, Latino Health Initiative (DHHS); Diane Vu, director, Office of Community Partnerships, Ken Hartman-Espada, director, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Center.
The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
On the guidance of Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services Dr. Travis Gayles, there is currently no public access to the Council Office Building. The virtual Council meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.
Release ID: 21-155