Good vision care is a luxury for families who can’t easily afford the time or money spent getting a child’s first pair of glasses. But a new program called Vision for Baltimore called provides eye exams and two pairs of glasses to every student who needs them, totally free of charge -- a simple thing that can dramatically improve the quality of their education.

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Baltimore has a long history of being hit hard by the HIV epidemic. Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) has had an active HIV prevention outreach program since 2004, including HIV testing in communities at risk of HIV, ensuring those who are HIV positive are in medical care (referred to as linkage to care),  and educating the community on behavior change, such as abstinence and condom use.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in partnership with Mayor Catherine Pugh's office announced new efforts to combat the opioid crisis in the Baltimore area. The efforts include $1.5 million in funding for non-profit community organizations for programs aimed at addressing substance use disorders, as well as new prescribing limits and treatment programs to limit opioid abuse and improve care for members battling addiction."The Baltimore City Health Department has developed a comprehensive, three-pillar strategy to combat opioid addiction: prevent deaths from overdose and save lives, increase access to on-demand treatment and long-term recovery support, and provide education to reduce stigma and prevent addiction.”

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