The Maryland Health and Wellness Council serves as the PHHS Advisory Committee. The PHHS Advisory Committee meets at least twice per year during the regular Council meetings (generally April and October meetings). The meeting dates, times, and agendas are posted on the Council page, and the public is encouraged to attend.
The Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grant Program allows the 50 states, the District of Columbia, 2 American Indian tribes, 5 US territories, and 3 freely associated states to address their own unique public health needs and challenges with innovative and community-driven methods. Each local program is required to sustain an advisory committee to provide guidance, input, and approval of annual work plans and budgets.
- The PHHS Block Grant Program allows states, territories, and tribes to:
- Address emerging health issues and gaps
- Decrease premature death and disabilities by focusing on the leading preventable risk factors
- Work to achieve health equity and eliminate health disparities by addressing the social determinants of health
- Support local programs to achieve healthy communities
- Establish data and surveillance systems to monitor the health status of targeted populations
- Align activities with the Healthy People 2020 Objectives.
Success is achieved by:
- Using evidence-based methods and interventions
- Reducing risk factors, such as poor nutritional choices, smoking, and the lack of physical activity
- Establishing policy, social, and environmental changes
- Leveraging other funds
- Continuing to monitor and re-evaluate funded programs.
