BALTIMORE, CITY OF

Award purpose

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - THE BALTIMORE CITY OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY – BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY SECTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY SYSTEM, A QUASI-CITY AGENCY, BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OUR NOT-FOR-PROFIT SENIOR CENTER PARTNERS IS REQUESTING FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AMONG SENIORS IN BALTIMORE CITY. WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING HEALTH ISSUES FACING OLDER ADULTS, INCLUDING INCREASING SOCIAL ISOLATION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SUCH AS HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES. IF FUNDED, WE WILL ENSURE ALL CITY SENIOR CENTERS ARE CONNECTED TO THE BALTIMORE CITY FIBER NETWORK, PROVIDE DEVICES AND CONNECTIVITY TO ENABLE TELEHEALTH SERVICES FOR UP TO 1,000 OLDER ADULTS, AND IMPLEMENT A TELEMEDICINE MODEL AT 3 OF OUR CENTERS WITH THE MOST NEED. THIS PROPOSAL WILL ENABLE US TO MODERNIZE THE FUNDAMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND BUILD UPON EFFORTS WE KNOW WORK WELL TO ADDRESS HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.