DIGEST Newsletter
September 2025
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Click on any of the above links to change the language using Google Translate
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Community Health Workers (CHWs) encourage health and wellness by helping people in their communities engage in healthy behaviors. They support those who may have difficulty connecting to health resources and social services. CHWs at the Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (HCLHIC) may be available to help:
- Support learning to community members with chronic disease and other health needs
- Encourage healthy lifestyle choices with families, pregnant and post-partum birthing people, and older adults, and/or
- Make referrals to community resources and social services
Click here to learn more.
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Howard County’s Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP) supports safe, independent living by connecting older adults and caregivers with occupational therapists for home safety assessments. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program offers both low-cost upgrades—like grab bars and lighting—and larger improvements such as stair glides and ramps. These enhancements help residents stay safely housed and confident in their daily routines.
Click here to learn more.
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Safe Schools Maryland is an anonymous and free reporting system available to students, teachers, staff members, parents, and the general public to report any school or student safety concerns, including mental health concerns.
Safe Schools Maryland is Maryland’s only official anonymous reporting system. Safe Schools Maryland operates 24 hours a day. Your anonymous report can be submitted by calling the tip line (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233), completing an online form or downloading the free Safe Schools Maryland app from the App Store or Google Play.
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Join Howard County Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) for a lunch and learn event to explore transportation options in Howard County.
Date and Time: Thursday, September 18, 2025, 12:00 - 2:30 pm
Location: Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075
Click here to register. For questions and/or more information, please contact the front desk at 410-313-5192.
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Come out and celebrate a unique event that spotlights local veteran-owned small businesses by joining DCRS’s Office of Veterans and Military Families (OVMF) for its Veteran-Owned Small Biz Expo and Fall Festival. This free family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, food trucks, games, giveaways, videogaming, helpful resources, an opportunity to interact with service dogs, and much more. Open to all ages. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required.
Date and Time: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive #331 Columbia, MD 21046
Click here to register. For questions and/or more information, please contact OVMF manager, Lisa Terry, at 410-313-0821 (voice/relay) or email lbterry@howardcountymd.gov.
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A celebration of fatherhood, literacy and fun. Designed especially for Dads of African American infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (0-5).
This event is about Dads bonding through books, play, and connecting with other Dads.
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045
Click here to register.
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Start the school year off right! Attend an informative session with Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Superintendent William Barnes and visit resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations to get information on programs, resources and services. Childcare and language access will be provided.
Date and Time: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Rd, Columbia, MD 21045
Click here to register.
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The Broonze Villagers Community Summit is to bring the African American community together to brainstrom ideas to galivanize, mobilize and empower the African American community to make a critical mindset shift to early learning for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to increase kindergarten readiness. Lunch will be provided.
Date and Time: October 4, 2025, 10:00 am-1:00 pm
Location: St. John Baptist Church, 9055 Tamar Drive, Columbia, MD 21045
Click here to register.
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Howard County Local Children’s Board is excited to invite you to an upcoming event focused on Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This engaging and informative workshop explores the science behind ADHD and offers practical tools for supporting neurodiverse learners. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know when registering.
Date and Time: Thursday, October 16, 2025, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Location: East Columbia 50+ Center, 6610 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045
This workshop is free to attend; however, registration is required.
Click here to register. For questions, please contact Mary Ndukwe at mndukwe@howardcountymd.gov or call at 410-313-6552.
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The Howard County’s Child and Adolescent Resources and Education (CARE) Line is a free information and referral service connecting families with childcare resources, parenting support, and other essential services. If you're dealing with problems because of your job changing back to working in an office, or because of new schedules, the CARE Line team is here to help you find solutions that work for your family.
For more information, click here, email children@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-CARE (2273).
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The Howard County Office of Children and Families Parent Pages newsletter has resources for parents, caregivers and agencies working with families.
Each monthly issue features information to help parents and caregivers learn how to promote positive parenting
for children’s development.
Click here to view most recent newsletter.
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The Columbia Mom is a trusted community resource and support network for mothers and caregivers in Howard County.
Led by Claire Duarte, it creates a safe, inclusive space for sharing experiences, learning from one another, and fostering meaningful connections among families.
To learn more about the resources available, visit The Columbia Mom website here.
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The Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (HCLHIC) is excited to lead the 2025 Walktober initiatives!
Walktober is celebrated in October across Maryland as part of our State's official exercise and the call to action to promote walking for physical activity and improved health for residents of all ages and abilities.
As we plan for HoCo Walktober 2025 events, the webpage will be updated to highlight all the Walktober events. Promotional flyers in multiple languages and giveaways will be available.
If you would like use the form to submit walk/move events and share with others who are hosting events.
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The Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (HCLHIC) is excited to share materials developed through the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Diabetes Communication Campaign Grant, a local public health initiative aimed at raising awareness about prediabetes, diabetes, and access to SNAP benefits.
This campaign focuses on promoting healthy lifestyle tips, using SNAP benefits, and helping residents learn more about prediabetes and diabetes prevention.
We are distributing culturally and linguistically appropriate materials to support outreach across Howard County. Posters and postcards are available in English, Spanish, and Korean.
Please use this form to let us know which resources you would like to receive.
Click here to learn more.
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The Healthier Choices Coalition, Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), and community partners invite you to a dynamic town hall addressing food insecurity in Howard County. Residents, leaders, and organizations will explore solutions to improve access to healthy food.
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 16, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Kings Contrivance Community Association at Amherst House, 7251 Eden Brook Drive, Columbia, MD 21046
Click here to register.
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Join a discussion and tour hosted by the Community Ecology Institute at Freetown Farm where we will be reviewing our progress on three projects funded by the Maryland Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Healthy Soils grant. They will discuss about how farms can be used as tools for stormwater management and showing where we have been successful, what challenges popped up and how we plan to address them.
Date and Time: September 27, 2025, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: 8000 Harriet Tubman Ln, 8000 Harriet Tubman Lane Columbia, MD 21044
Click here to register for this free event.
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The Office on Aging and Independence is hosting a walking club at the Elkridge 50+ Center. Weather permitting, join fellow 50+ members for a 1-2 mile neighborhood walk. The group meets in the front of the center. Enjoy tea and coffee at the center after your walk. This activity is free and will not meet when the Center is closed.
Dates and time: July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025, from 8:30 - 9:30 am
Location: Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075 (meet in the parking lot)
Click here to register. For more information or to register call 410-313-5192.
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Join St. John the Evangelist Church for dance and a community workout!
Dates: Mondays at 6:00 pm and Saturdays at 9:00 am, now through October 25th, 2025
Location: Plaza Outside of Wilde Lake Interfaith Center,10431 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia MD 21044
For more information, click here.
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Howard County Health Department, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has partnered with Stoecker Farms to offer pop-up Farmer's Markets at the Ascend One Building (8930 Stanford Blvd. Columbia MD 21045). Stoecker Farms will be offering local, organic/natural produce on the following dates:
- Tuesday, September 16 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Tuesday, October 14 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Cash, cards, SNAP, eWIC & WIC FMNP checks will be accepted. For questions, call 410-313-5891.
Visit the WIC webpage for additional information.
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The Howard County Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) invites residents to join the Living Well program—free, evidence-based workshops that support adults in managing chronic conditions and improving overall wellness.
Participants build skills in stress management, nutrition, and fitness through weekly small-group sessions, offered in English, Korean, and Spanish. Topics include chronic disease, diabetes, and chronic pain self-management.
Dates, times, and locations vary. Click here to learn more and to register.
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Presentado en colaboración con el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Howard y la Oficina sobre el Envejecimiento y la Independencia de Howard, este taller de autogestión basado en evidencias está diseñado para gente que vive con diabetes y/o sus cuidadores. Los temas semanales incluyen, monitoreo de glucosa, cuidado de la piel y los pies, ejercicios, nutrición y alimentación saludable y el mantenimiento balanceado del azúcar en la sangre. Solo para personas de 18 años o más.
Fechas y Hora: Sábados, 4 de octubre - 8 de noviembre, 2025, 10:30 am - 1:00 a.
Lugar: Howard County Library, Central Branch, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044
Haga clic aquí para registrarse. Para obtener información adicional, comuníquese con María José Candanoza al 410-313-7223.
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Howard County middle school and high school students, and residents aged 60 and older can now ride Regional Transportation Agency (RTA) buses for free on all fixed-route service. RTA is removing transportation barriers and helping residents stay connected to what matters.
To learn more about how to get a Free Ride Card, click here.
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The Howard County Food Connection Map helps you find free and low-cost food and nutrition resources in your area. This interactive tool was recently updated to include:
- 2025 Howard County Farmers Markets
- 2025 Mobile Markets
- 2025 Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Summer Meals Program
- And more
Click here to access the Food Connections Map.
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Join us for a webinar hosted by the Wendt Center, Association of Community Services, and HoCo Respond, focused on navigating change through the lens of grief and trauma. Learn practical strategies to support personal well-being and strengthen community resilience during uncertain times.
You have two opportunities to attend the webinar:
Click here to register.
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The National Alliance of Mental Health Illness (NAMI) of Howard County is having a virtual forum about TMS Therapy (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) for teens and adults.
Topics covered:
- Signs/symptoms of depression in youth and young adults and common therapies used to treat it.
- What is TMS?
- How TMS works as an innovative, non-medication treatment for depression and OCD in teens and adults.
Date and Time: Tuesday, September, 16, 2025, 7:00 pm
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Click here to register.
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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) organizes "Out of the Darkness Walks" in communities nationwide to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention. These walks provide an opportunity to show support for mental health and remember those affected by suicide.
Howard County Walk
Date and Time: Saturday, September 27, 2025
- Check in: 9:00 am
- Event Start Time: 10:00 am
Location: Azlon Plaza, 6100 Merriweather Drive - Columbia, MD 21044
Click here to register. For any questions about the Howard County Walk, please contact Jessica Fisher at 410-313-0616 or jefisher@howardcountymd.gov.
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The Howard County Local Children’s Board is hosting Voices of Change: Embracing the Power of We, a live theatre presentation that addresses the impact of lived experiences and helps navigate today’s world. This free event brings a voice to often unheard communities and a shared vision to support fairness and justice for all humanity.
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Date and Time: Thursday, October 30, 2025, 5:15 pm - 8:00 pm (Networking Session 5:15 pm - 6:00 pm, Presentation Promptly Starting at 6:00 pm)
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Location: Howard Community College, Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, Horowitz Center Smith Theatre, Campus Dr, Columbia, MD 21044
Click here to register.
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Africans for Mental Health is hosting Mental Health First Aid and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Trainings.
Mental Health First Aider Courses: This evidence-based training teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in adults.
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Format: Two hours of self-paced/pre-work online learning. Six hours of live, instructor-led training over two days (3-hour sessions)
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Cost: Free
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Date: Multiple dates are offered.
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Courses: Is a nationally recognized suicide prevention training designed to teach individuals how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.
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Format: Online 2-Hour, Instructor-Led, Interactive Training
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Cost: Free
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Date: Multiple dates are offered.
For detailed information, click here.
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Everstand is hosting an 8-hour training introducing common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. One or two certified instructors lead each course. Classes usually consist of 30 people or less and are offered in a respectful, comfortable environment.
Click here for more information.
For questions, please contact Donna Phillips at dphillips@everstand.org or call at 443-615-3151.
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Register is now open for the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) of Howard County's free fall classes!
Class are for parents, caregivers of children and teens who are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, adults with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition, and adults with a mental health condition.
NAMI Family-to-Family (in-person and virtual):
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Dates and Times: Thursdays, September 18 - November 6, 2025, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
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Location: NAMI HC Office, 9650 Santiago Rd., Suite 1, Columbia, MD and via Zoom
NAMI Peer-to-Peer (in-person and virtual):
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Dates and Times: Tuesdays, September 30 - November 18, 2025, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
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Location: NAMI HC Office, 9650 Santiago Rd., Suite 1, Columbia, MD and via Zoom
NAMI Basics (via Zoom):
- Dates and Times: Wednesdays, October 15 - November 19, 2025, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
For more information visit our classes page. To register fill out our class interest form or email Kristen at kmoore@namihowardcountymd.org.
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The Howard County Health Department's Bureau of Behavioral Health and the Howard County Library System is providing adults age 18 and older with free gun safety locks at the Elkridge Library and East Columbia Library branches to help increase gun safety, reduce accidental injuries, and save lives.
For detailed information, click here.
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Are you or someone you know struggling with addiction and recovery and want to learn about available resources and supports? You can now connect with a Bureau of Behavioral Health (BBH) Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) at your local library. All conversations are anonymous and confidential. Drop in, no registration required.
Peer Recovery Specialists will be available at several HCLS branches on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 am - 4:00 pm.
Click here for a full schedule.
Peer Recovery Specialists can be contacted directly on their confidential line, 667-203-1253 or 667-203-1264.
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The Primary Behavioral Health and Early Intervention division of the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration is responsible for creating a system of care for young people and their families, from early childhood to adulthood (age range 0-25 years old). This system addresses the needs of individuals with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both.
Click here for more information.
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The Mental Health Community Action Council (MHCAC) is excited to share their very first edition of the MHCAC Newsletter. Inside, you’ll find valuable resources, tips, and supports for children and families as the new school year begins.
Click here to read the newsletter and explore available resources.
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Pregnant or just had a baby? The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free, confidential, and here to help, 24/7.
Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA
Click here for more information.
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If you are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988. Maryland veterans and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1 to transfer to the Veterans Crisis Line. Press 2 for Spanish.
Learn more at 988.maryland.gov and access free community outreach materials in the 988 Toolkit.
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The Howard County Health Department (HCHD) offers free virtual training on Narcan.
In-person Narcan training is also available at the HCHD van.
Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Times: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: 8930 Stanford Blvd. Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 410-313-6202
Email: orpresponse@howardcountymd.gov
Register here for the virtual training.
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