Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) Logo

Category: Maryland Initiatives

Strategic Communications and Branding

Elevate Your Mission Through Powerful Communication

At the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI), we understand that clear, compelling communication and a strong brand are essential for any organization aiming to make a lasting impact. Leveraging almost two decades of award-winning experience in public health and non-profit communications, IPHI is now offering specialized strategic communications and branding services to help organizations amplify their mission, engage stakeholders, and achieve their goals.

Why Partner with IPHI?

Our expertise isn’t just theoretical; it’s built on a proven track record of tangible results and recognized leadership in the field.

  • Proven Impact: We have successfully transformed organizational brands, leading to significant increases in digital engagement. For example, we’ve driven a 375% increase in organic social media outreach and a 1054% increase in website traffic for our own initiatives.
  • Award-Winning Expertise: Our team includes accredited professionals recognized as “Top 40 Under 40” by PRWeek, honored for excellence in healthcare communications by PRNews, and Health Excellence Award for Strategy and Research by the Mid-Atlantic Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (MASHSMD).
  • Deep Sector Knowledge: With lived experience and academic expertise in public health, non-profit, and government sectors, we bring a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities specific to mission-driven organizations.

Our Services

We offer a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet your organization’s unique communication and branding needs:

Brand Creation and Refresh

Was your brand launched 10+ years ago?

A brand refresh or rebrand should be considered every 7-10 years, or sooner if there are significant shifts in the business, target audience, or industry. Now might be a good time to evaluate if your brand still reflects who you are.

From developing core messaging to visual identity, we will help you build a distinctive and memorable brand that resonates with your audience.

Strategic Communications Planning

Are you looking to increase awareness, engagement, or response?

Let us help you create social media content strategies, optimize your online presence, and measure impact to maximize organic reach and engagement. We will develop a measurable communication plan that aligns with your organizational objectives and goals.

Communication Audit and Evaluation:

How many social media pages does your company have? Do you have a pulse on how many flyers, brochures, or URLs are directing to your site?

An effective communication audit goes beyond website hits and social media followers. Our award-winning team will evaluate your true communication footprint by evaluating your earned, owned, and shared outreach and provide data-driven recommendations.

Communications Training and Workshops

Don’t have time or budget for a two-day conference or to study for another accreditation? Are you looking for quick insight to enhance your communications team?

Empower your staff with the skills and tools for effective outreach with a communications workshop. Workshops can include media training, brand guidelines, and simple tools to evaluate and measure your organization’s footprint.

Our Approach

We believe in a collaborative, data-driven approach. We work closely with your team to understand your vision, assess your current ecosystem, and develop customized strategies that deliver measurable results. Our goal is to empower your organization to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Who Can Benefit?

Our services are ideal for:

  • Non-profit organizations
  • Government agencies
  • Public health departments
  • Healthcare providers
  • Community-based organizations
  • Any mission-driven entity seeking to enhance its communication effectiveness and brand presence.

Let’s Connect

Ready to elevate your organization’s voice and impact? Contact us to discuss your strategic communications and branding needs.

[email protected]

Nourishing Success through School Meals Report

Nourishing Success through School Meals Report

The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) and partners created this report to improve student health and academic outcomes by identifying and addressing barriers to school meal access in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) and the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council (FEC) are currently engaging with students, parents, and school leadership to learn about the perceptions and barriers influencing participation in school nutrition. The team would like to partner with the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Food and Nutrition Services to develop and implement strategies to increase school meal participation across the county. The FEC will also leverage other key food and community health partners to expand and execute the identified strategies. The intended impact includes improvements to both student health and academic outcomes, promotion of school wellness, and environmental sustainability. This initiative is funded by Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign.

To download the report, click: here

To view the executive summary of the report and recommendations, click: here

 

Health Equity Research Hub (University of Maryland School of Pharmacy)

Baltimore, Maryland, USA Skyline over the Inner Harbor at dusk.

Health Equity Research Hub (University of Maryland School of Pharmacy)

IPHI is proud to support the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s PATIENTS Program as it establishes a Health Equity Research Hub. With a $9.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund, this hub is dedicated to advancing health equity through community-led research initiatives.

As a key partner, IPHI brings its expertise in community engagement and capacity building to this groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing social determinants of health nationwide.

As part of the PATIENTS Program Health Equity Research Hubs, IPHI is co-leading the Research Capacity Building and Training Unit alongside University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) School of Pharmacy and other community experts. This unit focuses on empowering communities with the tools and training needed to lead impactful health equity research. By fostering collaboration between academic institutions and community organizations, this Hub will ensure that the voices of under-resourced populations are not only heard but are central to shaping research interventions that promote structural change.

Supporting Community-Led Interventions Nationwide

IPHI’s involvement in this initiative reflects our commitment to bridging the gap between public health innovation and community needs. By providing technical assistance, capacity-building resources, evidence-based training, and supporting the development of rigorous, community-led health equity interventions, we aim to help local leaders across the country drive meaningful improvements in health outcomes.

This Health Equity Research Hub is more than just a research initiative—it is a catalyst for transforming how health equity interventions are developed and implemented. Through collaboration with community partners and institutions like UMB, IPHI is helping create a future where all communities have the opportunity to achieve health equity. IPHI’s partnership with the PATIENTS Program at UMB exemplifies our longstanding mission to advance public health solutions that empower communities and address social determinants of health. Together, we are working to change the landscape of health equity research, ensuring that communities across the country lead the way in creating a healthier, more equitable future for all.

For more information, visit: https://news.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/patients-program-receives-9-4-million-grant-to-start-a-health-equity-research-hub-at-umb/

To learn more about the Health Equity Research Hubs, please contact the senior health program specialist at The PATIENTS Program, Tralisa Colby, MPH at [email protected].

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Collaborative Neurologic Solutions

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Collaborative Neurologic Solutions

Collaborative Neurologic Solutions is a multi-state, community-led response to address the unmet needs of individuals and families impacted by neurologic health conditions.

IPHI collaborates with health and social care-related organizations to improve the quality of life for community members impacted by complex neurologic diseases. The team works to increase access to the resources needed to support community members’ quality of life.

The team works in the following key areas to achieve this vision:

  • Navigating health and social care systems
  • Community outreach and engagement
  • Professional education
  • Cross-sector collaborations

The team uses innovative, data-driven technology to map available resources for neurological disease communities. This technology reveals gaps in care, identifies organizations capable of implementing solutions, and showcases existing resources. The team gathers real experiences and opinions of people impacted by neurologic health conditions to prioritize and guide the work from design to evaluation.

This work creates equitable systems to maximize existing resources through awareness and directs resources to under-resourced communities and issues.

Scope of work: 

Collaborative Neurologic Solutions engages people living with neurological health conditions, care partners, and professionals in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia to deliver solutions addressing their most urgent needs. The team offers navigation tools, professional training and education, public awareness, and community engagement support.

Explore an example here:

To learn more about the Collaborative Neurologic Solutions project, please contact Senior Program Manager Lauren Ruiz at [email protected] or 202.987.2540.

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Rural Multiple Sclerosis Solutions

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Rural Multiple Sclerosis Solutions

Improving access to diagnostic and support resources for rural populations impacted by multiple sclerosis in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In 2022, IPHI expanded its focus to include support for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and medical providers in rural areas. This 3-year project is funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

Through the project, IPHI and various community partners will:

  1. Create a tool to simplify navigation for people seeking MS resources.
  2. Provide education and training to service providers.
  3. Improve access, delivery, and use of MS care for people living with MS in rural areas.
  4. Increase public awareness about MS, including its risk factors, early signs and symptoms, and treatment options.

Many rural residents impacted by complex, chronic health conditions like MS often do not get the help or social services needed. Rural residents are burdened because services and resources do not exist in the area or are inaccessible due to barriers like transportation, cost, awareness, technology, mistrust, etc. As a result, people living in rural areas can go undiagnosed longer, face misdiagnoses, experience more treatment disruptions, and receive less support to address social determinants of health.

Scope of work:

The IPHI team is focusing on identifying and improving access in rural communities. Through the grant, non-specialty health providers will receive education and training on MS risk factors, early signs and symptoms, treatments, and resources. Rural residents will be engaged through convenings, focus groups, interviews, and community events to increase awareness of MS and connect affected residents to resources. Other activities include collaborating with mobile health units and similar community-based services to reach people where they are.

In partnership with VirginiaNavigator, IPHI will create a network map of health and social support resources in the project’s target area. The team will also establish Navigation Centers where community leaders will be trained on how to use the network map and provide navigation assistance. All activities will be informed by people living with MS, care partners, and community professionals.

The project will focus on these rural communities (collaborations and resources may be state-wide):

  • Maryland
    • Caroline County
    • Garrett County
  • Virginia
    • Brunswick County
    • Buckingham County
    • Charlotte County
    • Cumberland County
    • Danville
    • Henry County
    • Louisa County
    • Lunenburg County
    • Martinsville
    • Nottoway County
    • Orange County
    • Patrick County
    • Pittsylvania County
    • Prince Edward County
  • North Carolina
    • Caswell County
    • Duplin County
    • Greene County
    • Jones County
    • Lenoir County
    • Montgomery County
    • Surry County
    • Wilkes County
  • West Virginia
    • Fayette County
    • Marion County
    • McDowell County
    • Mercer County
    • Monroe County
    • Preston County
    • Raleigh County
    • Summers County
    • Wetzel County
    • Wyoming County

Upcoming Training:

First (1st) Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. EST – Launching January 3, 2024

The West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI), Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neurodegenerative Diseases Program focus on diagnosing, managing, and treating MS and other neurological diseases in the primary care setting. This training is offered free of charge to all participants. For more information, visit: here.

Topics Covered

  • Early Symptoms & Diagnosing MS
  • Monitoring MS
  • MS Therapies
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Neurological Diseases
REGISTER

Resources:

Provide input to design an Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) practice model, which aims to increase knowledge and confidence in treating patients with MS and neurodegenerative diseases.

Explore a prototype of the network map that identifies organizations located in or serving residents of Virginia living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, ALS, Huntington’s disease (HD), MS, and Parkinson’s disease.

Learn more about issues affecting rural areas and how to identify counties for intervention.

Help recruit new collaborators by identifying key service providers and sharing these materials.

Understand the perspectives and priorities of people impacted by MS in rural areas by hearing key insights from a convening hosted in rural Virginia.

Acknowledgments:

Special thanks to our funders and partners:

  • Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
  • Can Do MS
  • MS Alliance
  • VirginiaNavigator
  • West Virginia Clinical & Translational Science Institute

To learn more about Rural MS Solutions Project, please contact Senior Program Manager Lauren Ruiz at [email protected] or 202.987.2540.

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Food Security Report

Title "Prince George's County Food Security Task Force Recommendations 2021" over a background image of crops growing from the ground.

Food Security Report

IPHI, Prince George’s County Food Security Task Force, and Prince George’s County Food Equity Council (FEC) completed a report to address the county’s food-security challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report recommends 11 solutions (four foundational and seven general strategies) for the Prince George’s County Council, Office of the County Executive, and County agencies to adopt.

To download the report, click: here.

To view the executive summary of the report and recommendations, click: here.

 

Foundational Recommendations

  1. Create and fund a Prince George’s County Food Security Office.
  2. Gather, analyze, and use data to inform and drive County agency food security decisions.
  3. Increase resident participation in federal nutrition assistance programs.
  4. Develop a master communication strategy for food security, resilience, and emergency preparedness.

Food Security Policies and Programs Recommendations

  1. Plan for future food security disruptions by developing an emergency food security plan that integrates food system experts into existing emergency management operations.
  2. Increase access to bulk food purchasing, infrastructure, and resources for food assistance providers.
  3. Co-locate food security and social safety net services to create closed-loop referral systems.
  4. Improve transportation options for residents to access healthy food retailers and providers.
  5. Leverage state and regional partners for cross-jurisdictional food systems planning, coordinated communication, and infrastructure development.
  6. Provide land access, infrastructure, and resources to help agriculture flourish.
  7. Continue to provide and expand market incentives to support healthy food retailers of multiple sizes in target communities.

Prince George’s Fresh

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Prince George’s Fresh

Prince George’s Fresh is a pilot fruit and vegetable coupon benefit program designed to increase access to healthy food in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Through a collaborative partnership between IPHI, Giant Food, Amerigroup, Anthem Foundation, and the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Workgroup of the Prince George’s Healthcare Action Coalition, Prince George’s Fresh will increase healthy food access for Prince George’s County residents. The program allows medical professionals at participating health clinics to recommend produce coupons and nutrition education to patients experiencing food insecurity. Prince George’s Fresh is an innovative opportunity to engage cross-sectoral partners in an evidence-based model to address County health disparities and food insecurity. For Prince George’s Fresh fact sheet, click: here.

In fall 2023, Prince George’s Fresh completed an evaluation report on “A Pilot of a Food as Medicine.” To view and download the report, click: here.

To learn more about Prince George’s Fresh, please contact [email protected].

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Cold Storage Infrastructure Improvement

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Cold Storage Infrastructure Improvement

IPHI’s initiative, Prince George’s County (PGC) Food Equity Council (FEC), is working with stakeholders in PGC to improve cold storage infrastructure for food assistance organizations and food pantries.

 

Food security skyrocketed throughout the pandemic, with 48% of PGC residents experiencing food insecurity in 2021. Even though food pantries are dedicated to meeting the growing demand, infrastructure challenges remain a barrier to expanding their services. When food assistance providers don’t have the proper infrastructure to store food, they’re forced to either turn down or distribute less healthy perishable food donations like produce, meat, and dairy.

The FEC is working to address this barrier by increasing cold storage infrastructure availability in PGC, with funding support from Washington Gas. 

In 2021, the FEC helped three non-profit food assistance organizations buy, upgrade, and design a wrap for refrigerated trailers. The trailers allowed food assistance providers and pantries to distribute more fresh food to residents in need. Each trailer is shared by a network of partner organizations located in Brandywine, Landover, and Landham in PGC. Collectively, partners are storing and distributing 32,100 pounds of food each week using the cold storage trailers.

In 2023, the FEC and Washington Gas continue to work together, purchasing and upgrading two 48–foot cold trailers at Kingdom Global and Tabernacle Church. To learn more about these two recent developments, visit: HERE. 

To learn more about the Food Equity Council, please visit: www.pgcfec.org.

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Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center

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Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center

IPHI is a proud training provider for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center (MAR-PHTC).

 

MAR-PHTC is part of a national network of 10 public health training centers funded by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration to improve the nation’s public health system by strengthening the technical, scientific, managerial, and leadership competence of the current and future public health workforce. MAR-PHTC serves the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania and is based at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.

In addition to the partnership with MAR-PHTC, IPHI has worked with public health departments. We support the Blue Ridge Health District in Virginia as they adapt its internal policies and practices to become an anti-racist organization committed to promoting health equity. Our capacity-building work includes in-depth workshops on strategies and best practices for organizational leadership and equity committees to lead transformational change for equity. We have also guided key administrative issues such as workforce diversity, community engagement, customer service, communications, evaluation, and accountability.

Previous work with health departments includes training and technical assistance with the Richmond City Health District, Peninsula Health District, and Norfolk City Department of Health. We assisted the local health department to develop an Equity and Health in All Policies (EHiAP) approach to local governmental decision-making. We provided training on EHiAP and best practices across the country, strategic support in engaging elected officials and other governmental leaders, and policy expertise in developing and passing local legislation to support using an EHiAP framework.

Our educational and training opportunities include classroom-based instruction, workshops, and online professional development events, as well as tailored technical assistance on the following topics:

  • Public Health
  • Health Equity
  • Equity and Health in All Policies
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Community Health Worker Development
  • Leadership and Management
  • Racism as a Public Health Crisis
  • Cultural Humility
  • Implicit Bias in Public Health and Healthcare
  • Community Engagement
  • Conducting Equity Impact Reviews of Policies, Programs, and Services
  • Communicating Equity to Decision-Makers

To learn more about IPHI public health workforce trainings, please contact us at [email protected].

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Community Health Worker Academy

Community health workers (CHWs) celebrating with their certificates after completing a CHW training.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER ACADEMY

The Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy is IPHI’s training institute dedicated to expanding the public health workforce. The CHW Academy is a Zee Turner Center for Community Health Worker Workforce Development initiative, formerly known as the Center for Community Health Workforce (CCHW).

To put this plan into action, IPHI:

  1. Provides specialized training, continuing education opportunities, financial support, and mentorship to CHWs.
  2. Facilitates field placements and apprenticeships with community partners to increase the experience, quality, and job readiness of CHWs.
  3. Recruits CHWs from communities that are disproportionately impacted by social determinants of health. By recruiting people from more affected areas, the public health workforce can effectively connect with populations through unique experiences and perspectives.

Community Health Worker (CHW) Leadership Institute

The Institute for Public Health Innovation invites you to join our Community Health Worker (CHW) Leadership Institute—a FREE program designed to empower experienced and dedicated CHWs. The program will provide the skills and knowledge needed to take on leadership roles and influence community and system change. To learn more about the program, click here.

Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy

The CHW Academy will train new and existing CHWs in the District of Columbia and neighboring counties in suburban Maryland and northern Virginia. The program aims to increase access to care, improve public health emergency response, and address under-resourced communities’ unmet public health needs by enhancing the skills of existing CHWs.

Public health needs are unmet when capacity, services, and resources are limited. Through the CHW Academy, IPHI aims to expand the critical role of CHWs to improve public health emergency response and help under-resourced communities gain access to care. This initiative was made possible by a three-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

If you have been a CHW for at least two (2) years with knowledge about CHW work and are committed to coaching, apply to be a CHW mentor: here!

The CHW mentor will be paired with recent students and devote at least one (1) hour per month to each mentee. CHW mentors will receive a small stipend for their guidance.

The CHW Academy is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3 million with 100% financing from HHS/HRSA sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

To learn more about the Community Health Worker Academy, please contact [email protected] or apply below.

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