Maryland Public Health Association Inc

FUNDING FROM THE ENERGY FOUNDATION (JULY 1 - DEC 31, 2022) ENABLED THE MARYLAND PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION (MDPHA) TO EXPAND EFFORTS IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONAL GROUPS IN MARYLAND. MDPHA HIRED A HEALTH AND CLIMATE COORDINATOR (INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR) TO INITIATE GRANT ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE THE ORGANIZATION WITH ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. THE COORDINATOR BEGAN OUTREACH TO MARYLAND-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF BASELINE PRIORITIES ON WHICH TO WORK AND TO ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS TO JOIN A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL COALITION (THE "HEALTH TABLE") ON CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE STAFF MEMBER ALSO SUPPORTED THE MDPHA DATA BASE OF OVER 300 INDIVIDUALS, PREPARED A BI-WEEKLY MEMBER NEWSLETTER, SUPPORTED THE ORGANIZATION'S SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, AND OVERSAW STUDENT INTERNS. ENERGY FOUNDATION FUNDS WERE UTILIZED FOR CAPACITY BUILDING INCLUDING: HIRING A DESIGN TEAM TO DEVELOP A NEW MDPHA WEBSITE; INTRODUCE A NEW UNIVERSITY CHAPTER WITH 50 STUDENT MEMBERS; HOST A WEBINAR ON THE STATE OF CLIMATE AND HEALTH IN MARYLAND (70 ATTENDEES AND 100 VIEWS OF RECORDING); AND SUPPORT THE PLANNING OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE (90 ATTENDEES). THE HEALTH TABLE WAS LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 2022 WITH 10 PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING CLIMATE AND HEALTH POLICY PRIORITIES DURING THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.