In April 2017, the City of Baltimore entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to address findings related to the Baltimore Police Department’s patterns and practices. Since then, Baltimore City, Baltimore Police Department and multiple partners have come together to map out steps needed to make meaningful and sustainable change. Join Maryland Philanthropy Network’s Health Funders Affinity Group and the Affinity Group on Aging to learn how Baltimore City is transforming the landscape of behavioral health crisis response and providing the tools necessary to reduce unnecessary police interaction with people with mental illness and substance use disorder.

Maryland’s public health policy cuts across all sectors: housing, transportation, education, public works, planning, and community development, and renewed investment in public health is critical to ensure the strength and vitality of all of these sectors. Please join Maryland Philanthropy Network and our distinguished experts for a discussion on how we can collaborate and support a coordinated, equity-focused advocacy agenda to create change in the funding appropriations for public health infrastructure at the state and local levels.