2025 Minority Outreach and Technical Assistance Grant Program (Maryland)

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH or the Department), Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (MHHD) is issuing this Request for Applications (RFA) to provide community-based health education and health promotion interventions in six health focus areas to reduce health inequity.

Donor Name: Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (MHHD)

State: Maryland

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 05/20/2024

Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

The purpose of the MOTA program is to improve the health outcomes of racial and ethnic minority communities through community engagement, partnerships, outreach, technical assistance, and ongoing intervention with individuals with demonstrated need. The health conditions targeted by the MOTA program have the following significance for Maryland’s minority population:

The health focus areas for FY 2025 are listed below:

Cardiovascular Disease
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Maryland and stroke is the third leading cause. Heart disease accounts for just under one quarter of deaths in Maryland. Heart disease death rates have the largest minority disparity from the perspective of excess minority deaths per 100,000 people.
Cancer
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Maryland, very close behind heart disease. Cancer accounts for just under one quarter of deaths in Maryland. Cancer death rates have the second largest minority disparity from the perspective of excess minority deaths per 100,000 people.
Obesity
- Obesity rates are higher for minority persons than for Whites. Obesity is a cause of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some types of arthritis.
Diabetes/Prediabetes
- Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in Maryland. Black diabetes death rates are twice as high as White death rates. Rates of emergency room visits and hospital admissions for diabetes are about three times as high for NonHispanic Blacks as compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. Diabetes is also a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, amputations, blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage.
Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes
- Poor birth outcomes such as infant mortality, low birth weight, need for neonatal intensive care, and subsequent lifelong health problems, are more common in Maryland’s minority population. Non-Hispanic Black infant mortality is generally about 2.5 to 3.0 times as high as Non-Hispanic White infant mortality. Minority maternal mortality is also significantly higher.
Mental Health
- Accurate measurement of mental health disparities is limited by low use of mental health services by minority populations, leading to undercount of the frequency of these disorders among minorities. Some analysis has indicated that minority mental health disorders are at least as frequent if not higher, but the use of mental health services is about half, compared to the Non-Hispanic White population. Substance use disorders and overdose death rates are also higher in some minority populations.