Health Equity Resource Communities (HERC) Grant Program

Health Equity Resource Communities (HERC) Grant Program is a grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) that funds organizations working to eliminate health disparities and improve health outcomes in underserved communities across Maryland.

The program targets geographic communities with high rates of chronic disease, uninsurance, and limited access to care, supporting community-based interventions that address social determinants of health alongside direct health service delivery. Funded activities may include care coordination, community health worker programs, access to preventive services, and multi-sector partnerships.

Eligible applicants are Maryland-based organizations—including nonprofits, health systems, and community groups—serving designated health equity target areas. The program is currently open for enrollment through June 30, 2029.

Accessibility Information ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Health Equity Resource Communities​ Health Equity Resource Communities The HERC Programs are open for enrollment! Please help us raise awareness about these programs among those who may benefit from assistance. For enrollment information and a description of program services, click HERE .

​ ​The 12 Health Equity Resource Communities (HERC) grantees​ awarded by the CHRC earlier this year are implementing their programs to address health disparities and improve health outcomes. The 5-year program implementation period began July 1, 2024, and will continue through June 30, 2029.

Programs provide clinical interventions and social determinants of health (SDOH) support for marginalized populations across the state, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health, social isolation, maternal and child health, substance abuse disorder, obesity, childhood vaccination and elder care.

​On October 10th, HERC Director Nellie Washington , Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Camille Blake-Fall, Acting Maryland Insurance Administration Commissioner Marie Grant, Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Outreach Manager Jenny Garrison, and Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition President Vinny DeMarco participated in a panel presentation to the Baltimore Lutheran leaders.

Other outreach events in October included presentations to the Baptist Ministers of Baltimore and Clergy United for the Transformation of Sandtown. On October 22, the University of Baltimore School of Nursing hosted an outreach event to celebrate the launch of their HERC grant to support the West Baltimore Reducing Inequities in Cardiovascular and Mental Health Collaborative-Stronger Together (RICH 2. 0).

The initiative brings together community, faith-based, academic and health care organizations to reduce cardiovascular health disparities, improve health outcomes, improve access to primary care and reduce health care costs. Click HERE to read an article about the event in the Maryland Daily Record, and click the links below for additional event photos.

Nellie Washington provides remarks CHRC Chair Ed Kasemeyer, HERC Subcommittee Chair Elizabeth Chung & Nellie Washington ​ “The Maryland Health Equity Resource Act,” approved during the 2021 legislative session, provides significant new grant funding and state resources for local communities to address health disparities, improve health outcomes, expand access to primary care and prevention services, and help reduce health care costs.

The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) will implement this Act with the assistance of the Health Equity Resource Community (HERC) Advisory Committee, the Maryland Department of Health’s Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, and Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP). ensures HTML content is downloaded and parsed first.

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