Previous Programs

Bringing Effective Skills & Technology Together 

Bringing Effective Skills & Technology Together (B.E.S.T.T.), funded by the Institute of Museums & Library Services, has helped to equip rural health science information professionals in the provision and critical application of health sciences information through technology. It has also provided a valuable model that can be emulated in other areas of the country. Although grant activities were completed in January 2003, we continue to update the B.E.S.T.T. website at www.allconet.org/ahec/bestt. In addition to the replication model, you can access resources related to critical thinking, best practices, evidence-based medicine, and clinical guidelines.

Community Development Partnership

The Community Development Partnership program is funded by Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Local & Family Health Administration, via the Allegany County Health Department (ACHD). For FYO3, the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center and partners will continue to build upon the coordination of existing community outreach activity to increase health care access in Allegany County through education and 1:1 outreach. Outreach workers in target communities will educate consumers and refer uninsured and underinsured individuals to existing health care and social service resources. This program builds upon the commitment of stakeholders to the federal goal for Community Development Partnership Grants -100% access and 0% health disparities.

Health Choice

The Western Maryland Area Health Education Center (WMAHEC) has signed a contract with Health Management Resources, Inc. (HMR), a subcontractor of Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), to educate and enroll HealthChoice recipients in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties. WMAHEC staff is available to conduct HealthChoice presentations, which are geared, but not limited, to programs involving health, education, housing, employment, and training. WMAHEC is also providing HealthChoice outreach through associations with the public school system, HealthChoice medical providers, social services, health departments, outreach centers, faith and community organizations.

Maryland Initiative:  Covering Kids

WMAHEC coordinated a pilot project under a contract from the University of Maryland for three years.  The Maryland Initiative: Covering Kids was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to increase state enrollment of eligible children in health insurance programs.  For more information, contact jtaylor@allconet.org.

Minority Outreach and Technical Assistance (MOTA)

WMAHEC completed three years as the sub-contractor for the state’s MOTA component of the Cigarette Restitution Fund Program (CRFP). As a MOTA vendor, WMAHEC provided support to the health departments in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties by facilitating minority involvement in local health planning and related activities in their communities in ways that ensure the reduction of smoking and the control of cancer. Outreach and technical assistance focused on helping groups that were targeted by the tobacco industry to gain the skills and financial resources they need to participate in the state’s network of community health coalitions.

Mountainside Community Coalition: 

WMAHEC participates in the Mountainside Community Coalition.  Information on the Coalition and the Snapshot and Report Care of Allegany County across the Twelve Factors of Community Health is available at http://www.mtnsidecoalition.freehosting.net/

Reach Out Allegany

The program's overall goal is to increase the consumer and family members' understanding of publicly financed managed care systems through natural helpers in Allegany County and to provide a mechanism for them to have input into its design so that it is more responsive to their needs. A natural helper is a member of the targeted community who advocates for improving the quality of life.

Rural Interdisciplinary Health Promotion

Rural Interdisciplinary Health Promotion educational modules were designed by faculty from nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, public health, advanced practice nursing, nurse practitioner, and medical technology students. These interdisciplinary training modules that can be integrated into existing courses. Interdisciplinary health service learning projects, high-risk adolescent, adult, and elderly populations in rural Western Maryland will be provided access to services with an emphasis on prevention of at-risk behaviors causing disease.

Collaborative service-learning models enhances interdisciplinary education for students by developing critical thinking skills, a sense of valuing, and sensitivity to the needs of others different from themselves. In addition to providing valuable services to communities, both student and faculty learn about relationship-centered care that is personal, professional, and community-sensitive (Walker, et al., Journal of Allied Health, 1998).

The program is funded by the Quentin N. Burdick Rural Health Interdisciplinary Program. Through November 30, 2003.

For further information, contact Kristin Morton

Western Maryland InfoHealth

Western Maryland InfoHealth is a program in collaboration with the Consortium of Health Information Library Outreach (CHIL-out) that provides training on electronic health resources for librarians and service providers. Visit our Web site at http://www.health.allconet.org/.

Western Maryland InfoHealth II

Funded through the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Southeastern/Atlantic Region as a subcontract, the Western Maryland InfoHealth II is a project in collaboration with the Consortium of Health Information Libraries Outreach (CHIL-Out) that will improve access to electronic health information for librarians, health professionals and their patients, health professions students, public school students, and the community, including minority populations. This overall project goal will be reached by: providing training sessions to increase individual search and evaluation skills; redeveloping the existing Western Maryland InfoHealth Website into WM InfoHealthII, an interactive, database driven Website; and increasing awareness and knowledge of National Library of Medicine resources and services. Visit our website at http://www.health.allconet.org.

Covering Kids and Families

WMAHEC is a partner of Maryland Covering Kids & Families conducting outreach and education about Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) and MCHP Premium for uninsured working families. This project is funded by the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Contact Joy Taylor, Ext. 141 or jtaylor@allconet.org.

http://coveringkidsandfamilies.org/
Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) Application

Maryland Special Populations Network

University of Maryland Office of Research and Development provides funding for WMAHEC’s participation in the Maryland Special Populations Network.
WMAHEC’s role within the network is to boost participation in cancer clinical trials through increasing public awareness and understanding; and augmenting health professionals’ knowledge and ability to recognize and address barriers to participation. The special populations primarily targeted are the medically underserved, elderly, and minorities. Contact Joy Taylor, Ext. 141 or jtaylor@allconet.org.

Medical Reserve Corp.

WMAHEC was one of 42 agencies nationwide awarded a three-year grant in FY03 to establish and coordinate a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The Allegany County MRC demonstration project is funded by Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science. A local advisory committee of key emergency response stakeholders from public health, government emergency services, hospitals, volunteer centers, and community and faith-based organizations has been meeting to integrate the MRC into existing response infrastructure. The Allegany County MRC public health workforce training partner is the Mid-Atlantic Public Health Training Center, under the auspices of the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Preparedness nd Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Outreach Programs

Outreach programs in nursing and social work through the University of Maryland are offered in Western Maryland.

Project Aware

In fall 2004, WMAHEC was one of 12 agencies nationwide awarded a three-year Special Volunteer Program grant (Project Aware) from the Corporation for National and Community Service to strengthen regional volunteer response to Homeland Security needs in public health, public safety, emergency response and disaster preparedness. The focus of Project Aware is to encourage and equip people age 55 and older, from all walks of life, to perform meaningful and constructive volunteer service to minimize damage from Homeland Security threats and aid in the recovery from any such attack. This program's service area includes the predominantly rural Appalachian Upper Potomac or Cumberland Valley region, which encompasses 18 counties in Western Maryland, parts of nearby West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Project Aware links:

*New* AHEC - Project Aware - Year End Report

Corporation for National and Community Service Special Volunteer Progams

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Project Aware Field Sites and Partners Include:

Allegany College of Maryland

East West Virginia Community and Technical College