Maryland

Maryland, D.C. and Virginia get more money for house calls for moms and infants – WTOP News

Published

4 months ago

September 8, 2024

Maryland, D.C. and Virginia get more money for house calls for moms and infants – WTOP News

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration will provide an additional $23.1 million in federal aid to the agency’s national Home Visiting Program in the District, Maryland and Virginia.

More money is on the way for a home-visiting health care program designed to provide better care for pregnant women, new parents and infants.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced an additional $23.1 million in federal aid to the agency’s national Home Visiting Program in the District, Maryland and Virginia.

The extra money is the first time in a decade that the program has received an increase in federal funds, HRSA administrator Carol Johnson said.

“What those resources mean is that we’re able to support nurses, social workers and trained home visitors, and help with those early days of being a new parent,” Johnson said. “All of this has been shown to really make a difference in kids’ outcomes. Kids are so much stronger because they get these kinds of supports.”

Johnson said the program’s success hinges on convenient health visits in a comfortable at-home setting.

“When you’re a new parent, if you have to take off from work and take a few buses to get to an appointment, you’re probably not going to do it,” she said. “But if that person comes to your house and they’re full of resources and knowledge, it’s going to make a huge difference to you.”

Rockville, Maryland-based HRSA spearheads the national program, teaming up with local health organizations to target and reach parents.

Home health care workers can provide breastfeeding support, safe sleep tips and developmental screening for babies. They can even help parents find key services like affordable child care or job and educational opportunities.

“It’s changed my life,” past program participant Fatima Ray said.

Ray said she was introduced to the program in 2015 when she needed help with her infant daughter. She and her husband were first-time parents and stumbled through the first few months with a newborn.

“It felt good, like I had someone on my team,” Ray said. “Those questions you forget to ask the doctor sometimes, she would answer them.”

The experience impressed Ray so much that she became a home health visitor. She is the maternal health coordinator at Primo Center, a homeless shelter for families in Chicago.

“The same care that was given to me, I just want to pass it on,” Ray told WTOP. “I know how much it made a difference in my life. Home visiting matters.”

President Joseph Biden signed bipartisan legislation in 2022 that doubles funding for the program over five years. The move was part of a campaign promise to lower risks linked to pregnancy and improve maternal health, especially among women in rural, tribal and low-income communities.

The national home visiting program will receive $440 million Maryland’s local programs will get $10 million of those funds. Virginia is slated to receive $11 million and D.C.’s home visiting programs will see a $2.5 million increase.

“This will push home visiting forward a lot more,” Ray said. “It’s just going to help tremendously.”

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Maryland

How to watch Maryland men’s basketball at Washington

Published

5 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Maryland men’s basketball at Washington

Maryland men’s basketball begins a two-game road stint Thursday at Washington.

The Terps are coming off a comfortable win over Maryland-Eastern Shore, 81-66, while the Huskies most recently beat New Jersey Institute of Technology, 90-53.

Here’s what you need to know before the game.

The numbers

Maryland: 10-2, 1-1 Big Ten

Washington: 9-4, 0-2 Big Ten

All-time series: 0-0

How to watch and listen

When: Thursday, Jan. 2, 9:30 p.m. ET

Where: Alaska Airlines Arena, Seattle, Washington

TV: Big Ten Network — A.J. Kanell (play-by-play), Don MacLean (analyst)

Radio: 105.7 FM (Balt.) / 980 AM (D.C.) — Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Chris Knoche (analyst)

Streaming: Fox Sports

Catch up before the game

Maryland men’s basketball at Washington preview

MM 12.31: Maryland men’s basketball remains unranked in weekly poll

Maryland men’s basketball closes strong, beats Maryland-Eastern Shore, 81-66

Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s 81-66 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore

Maryland men’s basketball steamrolls Syracuse, 87-60

Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s 87-60 win over Syracuse in the Gotham Classic

Maryland men’s basketball soars past Saint Francis (PA), 111-57

Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s 111-57 win over Saint Francis (PA)

Maryland men’s basketball’s upset bid falls just short, losing to No. 8 Purdue, 83-78

Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s 83-78 loss to No. 8 Purdue

Maryland men’s basketball destroys Ohio State, 83-59, in Big Ten opener

Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s dominating 83-59 win over Ohio State

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Maryland

New Year's Greetings: Maryland celebrates arrival of its first babies in 2025

Published

13 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

New Year's Greetings: Maryland celebrates arrival of its first babies in 2025

As the clock struck midnight welcoming the New Year, Maryland celebrated new beginnings with the arrival of its first babies of 2025. In a heartwarming start to the year, several families welcomed their little ones, marking joyous milestones for each family. The first baby to make their debut was Lando Antonio Nakia Jackson, born just a minute past midnight at the University of Maryland Saint Joseph Medical Center, weighing 5 pounds 16 ounces.

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Maryland

New year, new laws in DC, Maryland and Virginia

Published

21 hours ago

January 1, 2025

Press Room

New year, new laws in DC, Maryland and Virginia

The new year brought a few new laws to the D.C. area. Although July 1 and Oct. 1 are generally the big dates for new laws going into effect, here are a few you’ll want to know about whether you live in D.C., Maryland or Virginia.

Washington, DC

Cashless-only business ban: Businesses in the District now are required to accept cash, as a new law prohibiting cashless businesses went into effect Jan. 1.

Retailers may not “discriminate against cash as a form of payment for goods or services,” according to the D.C. Council. That means businesses can’t refuse to accept cash as a form of payment and may not post signs on their premises that cash payments are not accepted.

Businesses also are not allowed charge a higher price to customers who pay cash.

However, there are some exceptions to the cashless ban; you can see those here.

Virginia

Minimum wage: Virginia’s minimum wage is increasing from $12 to $12.41.

Maryland

New tiers of fines for speeding in work zones: If you speed in a Maryland highway work zone, be prepared to pay a hefty fine. A new tiered system of fines went into effect Jan. 1. If you’re driving 12-15 mph over the speed limit, the fine will be $60. Fines get progressively higher from there. For super speeders driving 40 mph or more over the limit, the fine is $500; if workers are present, the speeder will be slapped with a $1,000 fine.

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