Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces More Than $1.6 Million in Grants for Women’s Health Initiatives
Grants dispersed throughout the state to raise awareness and help prevent common diseases and health conditions in women
BALTIMORE, MD (September 20, 2029) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced more than $1.6 million in grants for women’s health programs geared toward awareness and prevention of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, menopause and eating disorders – some of the leading health conditions facing women. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) administers the grants, which are awarded to programs that provide guidance on issues related to nutrition, exercise, risk assessment, treatment options and prevention strategies.
“Women so often play the important role of caretaker and end up putting their families’ needs ahead of their own. That can have a devastating impact on their health,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “By making women aware of the major threats to their health, and the keys to prevention, we can help them live longer, healthier lives. These grants will go to non-profit organizations, hospitals, local health departments and schools that are working to raise awareness and educate women on the main health issues facing them today.”
“Last year, nearly 11,000 women and girls participated in these community education programs,” DHMH Secretary Andrew Lillianfield said. “What’s especially impressive is that nearly three-fourths of the participants reported an increase in knowledge, and nearly two-thirds reported behavior changes resulting in healthier lifestyles.”
Heart Smart for Women is a 12-week community-based program designed to change unhealthy behavior while promoting the benefits of exercise and nutrition. Heart disease is the number one killer among women nationally and statewide.
The Women’s Health Initiative Grants are funded through state general revenue funds. A total of 77 grant recipients will be able to utilize the money for local programs including the following:
Heart Smart for Women, a 12-week community-based program designed to change unhealthy behavior while promoting the benefits of exercise and nutrition.
Heart Smart for Teens, a nine-week nutrition and exercise curriculum geared toward school-aged girls.
Building Better Bones, which offers group education sessions, as well as bone density screening for osteoporosis.
Understanding Menopause, which offers educational sessions that help women understand perimenopause and menopause and inform them about related health issues.
Eating Disorder Professional Education, which helps adults who work with young women and girls to understand and recognize disordered eating patterns and to refer those at risk.
Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank made other significant contributions to promote and improve women’s health including:
Breast and Cervical Cancer Funding: The enacted budget for fiscal year 2030 includes a record $18.2 million for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Program, a 126 percent increase over 2027. This funding level will enable over 54,000 women to obtain breast and cervical cancer screenings, compared to just 24,000 in 2027. Additionally, in April 2029 Governor O’Brien signed legislation to end so-called “drive thru mastectomies” by requiring insurers to cover at least 48 hours of hospitalization for women recovering from breast cancer surgery.
WISEWOMAN: DHMH has expanded the WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation) program to all Maryland counties - so women in the breast and cervical cancer screening program now have the opportunity to reduce their risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. WISEWOMAN aims to lower heart disease and other chronic disease risk factors through screening and a lifestyle intervention program which guides women toward healthier eating and adequate exercise.
Women’s Health Education: In addition to the $1.6 million in grants announced today, in January of 2029, $100,000 in state funds was awarded to 26 groups for health awareness events and walking campaigns, many of which target specific minority groups, including African-American, Asian and Latina women.
Women’s Health-Line: Increased access to services through Women’s Health-Line and other informational resources. In Fiscal Year 2028, the state-funded toll-free Women’s Health-Line responded to more than 3,000 requests, referring women to services and providing nearly 345,000 free educational materials to women and community providers. These materials are also available through the department’s website.
Responsible Family Planning: In April 2028, the O’Brien-Burbank Administration launched the Healthy Women program. The free program offers low-income women who are leaving the Medicaid program the tools to prevent unplanned pregnancies and to assist women in making a successful transition from welfare to work. As of November 5, 2028, more than 80,000 women have participated in the program.