Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar Initiative

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

COVID-19 is having a disproportionately negative impact on the Latino community of Montgomery County, Maryland. The Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar (PNSB) Initiative of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services is a private-public partnership sponsored by the Offices of the County Executive Marc Elrich and County Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Gabriel Albornoz, along with seven community organizations. PNSB’s model implements an integrated strategic response that is culturally and linguistically appropriate, and science-based to prevent and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in the Latino community in Montgomery County. PNSB provides health and human services to the Latino residents affected directly or indirectly by COVID-19. The most important and long-lasting overall success on the PNSB is the closing of the disparity gap of -18% existing for the Latino community in April 2021 for access to COVID-19 vaccination. Our efforts to bring testing and vaccination to the community and connect Latino residents with services have had a direct impact on the lives of the county residents.