Prevention Services Partnerships FY 26

The Worcester County Health Department’s Prevention Services Unit extends our sincere gratitude to the many community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, local municipalities, local government, law enforcement, nonprofits, and faith leaders who partnered with our organization throughout Fiscal Year 2026, improving the health and well-being of local residents.

These partners and their impact are included below:

Partners that helped improve access to healthy food and addressed food insecurity:

Atlantic Club – Maintained a community garden and established a "little food pantry box" in West Ocean City.
Chesapeake Health Care – Linked patients with nutrition education and brain health initiatives while connecting individuals to community resources.
Community Behavioral Health – Developed a community garden and supported a "Little Food Pantry Box" in Snow Hill.
Corner Sanctuary, Pocomoke Community Garden – Supported a community garden in Pocomoke.
Cross Farms, LLC – Launched the "double up" initiative for low-income residents and organized "pop-up" farmers markets in Berlin.
Pocomoke High School – Maintained a campus community garden serving the school community and local residents.
Snow Hill Elementary School Judy Center Early Learning Hub – Established a community garden space and a "Little Food Pantry Box" on their campus.
University of Maryland Extension – Assisted with "pop-up" farmers markets and provided education on healthy cooking, nutrition, budgeting, and preserving food as part of the “Cooking Up Health” classes.
Worcester County Library – Supported "Seed Libraries" in Snow Hill, Pocomoke, and Berlin for free seeds and a loaner program for gardening equipment; hosted the Health Department's "Cooking up Health" classes in Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke.
Worcester County Technical High School – Constructed six "Little Food Pantry" boxes for county use and supported a community garden on their campus.
Worcester Youth and Family Counseling – Maintained a "Little Food Pantry" box for the Berlin community.

Partners that helped increase physical activity opportunities and events:

Pocomoke River State Park, Shad Landing - Co-sponsored walk events in the community.
Town of Berlin - Co-sponsored walk events in the community.
Worcester County Recreation and Parks - Co-sponsored walk events in the county.

Partners that helped improve blood pressure management and reduce diabetes risk:

Free Indeed - Provided a location for the health department to offer the Healthy-Heart Ambassador/blood pressure self-monitoring and education program in Snow Hill and a location for the Diabetes Prevention Program.
Living Waters - Provided a location for the health department to offer the Healthy-Heart Ambassador/blood pressure self-monitoring and education program in Pocomoke and a location for the Diabetes Prevention Program.
Snow Hill 50+, and Pocomoke 50+ Centers - Provided a location for monthly diabetes support groups.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church - Provided a location for the Diabetes Prevention Program and Healthy Heart Ambassador/blood pressure self-monitoring and education programs in Berlin.
Tidal Health - Provided funding through the REACH grant to support diabetes support groups in Pocomoke and Snow Hill.

Partners that helped promote Brain Health:

Alzheimer’s Association - Provided a volunteer to help with brain health and caregiver education programs.
Maryland Access Point - Partnered to deliver brain health screenings and education programs.
Chesapeake Health Care - Provided brain health screenings and linked patients to community resources.
Ocean Pines Recreation Center- Provided a location for a brain health event for residents.
Pocomoke YMCA - Provided a location for a brain health event for residents.
Pocomoke 50+ - Provided a location for an Alzheimer’s Caring for the Caregiver event.
Berlin 50+ - Provided a location for a brain health cooking demonstration.
Prime Community Housing & Development - provided a location in Pocomoke City for a brain health cooking demonstration.
Corner Sanctuary in Pocomoke - provided a location for a brain health cooking demonstration.
Worcester County Recreation and Parks - Provided a location for a Brain Health education program.

Partners that helped reduce youth alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and vaping:

Bayside Community Church - Provided a location for the health department to offer the Healthy Worcester Families parent/family education program.
Coastal Community Church -Provided a location for the health department to offer the Healthy Worcester Families parent/family education program.
Mt. Zion UMC - Provided a location for the health department to offer the Healthy Worcester Families parent/family education program.
St. Paul’s UMC - Provided a location for the health department to offer the Healthy Worcester Families parent/family education program.
Boys for Positive Change - Provide tobacco retailer education, youth vaping, and cannabis use prevention education in their after school program for Snow Hill middle school youth.
Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center - Educated over 691 Worcester County youth through the “Smile of a Lifetime Program” offered in the public middle schools.
Minary’s Dream Alliance - Provided cannabis use prevention education in their after school program for middle school youth in Pocomoke and Snow Hill.
Salisbury University - Partnered with the Worcester County Health Department for Narcan training and training Worcester County Peer Leaders in designing health communication campaigns.
Worcester County Board of Education - Partnered with the Worcester County Health Department to provide Youth Ambassador training for middle and high school youth, supported Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Clubs in the middle and high schools, coordinated the Youth Council and activities, provided tobacco/vape and cannabis use prevention education and health campaigns in the middle and high schools, and supported the health department offering Botvin’s Life Skills afterschool programs in all 3 public middle and 2 elementary schools.

Partners that helped promote teen health education:

Because I am My Sister’s Keeper - Educated youth about healthy choices through the Promoting Health Among Teens program.
Boys for Positive Change - Educated youth about healthy choices through the Promoting Health Among Teens program.
Minary’s Dream Alliance - Educated youth about healthy choices through the Promoting Health Among Teens program.
St. John’s AME Church - Educated youth about healthy choices through the Promoting Health Among Teens program.
Grace Center for Maternal and Women’s Health - Educated youth about healthy choices through the Seventeen Days program.

Partners that helped reduce youth access to alcohol and tobacco:

Berlin Police Department - Conducted youth tobacco access retailer compliance checks.
Boys for Positive Change - Educated tobacco retailers about T21 laws and compliance.
Ocean City Police Department - Conducted youth alcohol and tobacco access retailer compliance checks.
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office - Conducted youth alcohol and tobacco access retailer compliance checks.

We look forward to continuing to work with partners and the community in Fiscal Year 2027. If you or your organization would like to partner with us, call 410-632-1100 and select option 5 to learn about opportunities.