Childhood obesity has been on the rise for the past 2 years. As we enter this new phase of the COVID 19 pandemic where social distancing restrictions are more relaxed and children are once again participating in outdoor activities, and team spor...
By Ariste Sallas-Brookwell, LICSW, Director of Behavioral Health Integration
September is Recovery Month. In the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 40....
Hearing about monkeypox in the news over the last few months may feel similar to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, monkeypox is much less of a threat. It does not spread as easily as COVID-19, and while it can cause some uncomforta...
Getting ready for the first day of school is about more than just buying new pencils and notebooks. By equipping your child with good physical health, mental health, and nutrition, you can empower them to thrive in their new class. Find tips belo...
By Lisle Cole, Certified Lactation Counselor
Families have to make a lot of important decisions when they have a new baby, especially choosing how to feed the baby. Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics – often referred to as “your b...
The pandemic arrived just as Cesia was starting to think about the college application process, near the end of her sophomore year of high school.
Cesia with her mom and younger sister
Applying to college is already challenging, especially ...
Mary’s Center recognizes the trauma that continues to affect all communities, and we support our participants as we meet their overall health needs.
Indeed, trauma is all around us – in the transgender woman enduring harassment at the groc...
The moment thousands of parents have been waiting for is finally here! As of June 18, the COVID-19 vaccine has been approved and recommended by the federal government for babies and children as young as six months.
Due to the limited vaccine ...
By Felix Hernandez, Advocacy and Fatherhood Program Manager
When men take care of and have healthy connection to themselves, they’re able to show up for their community in positive ways. Men’s Health Month in June is a time to raise awareness ...
By Cintia Castillo, Nutrition Education Tech
Spring is in the air, and also in our local farmers markets! The kale and potatoes offered through the winter have made way for brighter colors with sweet and spicy peppers, peaches, tomatoes, berri...
Our later years are full of transitions, from retirement to managing our aging bodies to loss of loved ones. These changes can be hard to process, especially when you add in the isolation and stress brought on by the pandemic. According to the CD...
By Fernanda Ruiz, Home Visiting Director, and Georgette Saad, Senior Early Childhood Manager
People always ask how our kids are doing and they are excited to see how much our kids have grown. However, very few people ask how parents and caregi...
By Dr. Laura Blinkhorn, Family Physician/Geriatrician
As we age, we need to take extra care to stay healthy and prevent illness since our bodies are not as good at fighting off and recovering from infection. COVID-19 has been a prime examp...
Pregnancy and childbirth will bring about some of the most exciting moments in your life, but this can also be a difficult and overwhelming time. With the added stressors of racism and bias that people of color often face in their health care, ha...
Food insecurity is an issue for people of all ages in the district, but older adults in DC have the highest rate of hunger in comparison to the rest of the nation, Feeding America reports. DC Hunger Solutions found that in 2020, nearly a third...
By Ana Chavez, WIC Breastfeeding Counselor and Nutrition Technician
When we hear about spices, most people think of food from the cultures of India, the Middle East, and Africa. It’s true that rich spices came from those regions, but today I w...
By Nabani Ashraf, WIC Nutritionist Assistant
Spices and herbs have always played a strong role in cultural heritages. Historically, spices provided great sources of power and wealth, as they were used for both culinary and medical purposes. In...
The theme of this year’s National Nutrition Month®, “Celebrate a World of Flavors,” takes us back to the familiar foods we love. It is a journey to the market we used to visit, to grandma’s kitchen, to the country where we or our parents or grand...
Mary’s Center understands that while pregnancy is an exciting time, it can also be a time filled with questions and uncertainty. We are committed to providing high-quality, equitable health care to all who come through our doors, which is the dri...
By Lisle Cole, Breastfeeding Counselor
Growing up, I remember how my two grandmothers would feed their family and friends as a way to share food, love, time, and memories. No matter how little we may have had, no one would ever know becaus...
Today on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and every day, we must acknowledge and address the imbalance of higher HIV rates for Black Americans to improve the health of our communities. Read our Q&A with Mary’s Center’s Public Health Out...
By Michelle Timogan Moses, Safe Sleep Program Coordinator
Keeping your baby safe, happy, and healthy is your main focus as a new parent. Even while infants are sleeping, there are important precautions you need to take to keep your precious on...
When it comes to our health, there are so many questions for which we don't have an answer. That’s why Mary’s Center is proud to be part of the All of Us Research Program from the National Institutes of Health. All of Us has a simple mi...
Picking up your prescription before leaving your doctor's office is the ultimate convenience. You save a trip to the pharmacy and you can start taking your medications with no delays.
These were some of the main reasons Mary's Center decided t...
Every family has their own delicious holiday traditions, and this year we are excited to share flavors all the way from Italy to Ethiopia through some of our staff’s most treasured holiday recipes.
Our 800+ staff members encompass dozens of cu...
By Agapé Gooden, RDN, WIC Nutritionist
All the delicious vegetables that are in season right now are wonderful for making healthy holiday sides and adding color to your meals. Each one also contains different nutrients that are important for y...
By Danielle Zimber, Public Services Outreach Services Navigator
My work at Mary’s Center focuses on HIV outreach and prevention, so celebrating World AIDS Day on December 1 is very meaningful to me. This day is designated as a time to rais...
By Michelle Singleton, Director of the Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center, and Teresa Moore, Director of the Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center
The pandemic has been tough on all of us, and especially isolating for older adults. During...
“Teens teach us a lot, and vice-versa… It’s a give and take, and they’re honestly the best group to work with because they’re at a pivotal moment in their life, where depending on what you give them…either they’ll go off and do great things, or i...
By Minati O’Connell, Nutrition Intern, with the Mary’s Center Nutrition Team
During the holiday season, we look forward to festive gatherings with our friends, family, and certainly, lots of delicious food. Most of the calories we eat these da...
By Ariste Sallas-Brookwell, LICSW, Director of Behavioral Health Integration
Have you ever worried or wondered whether your substance use is serving you?
The past 19 months we’ve experienced a global pandemic, climate change-related weathe...
By Jason Kim, BS, RDH, Dental Hygienist, and Jillian Hartman, BSDH, RDH, Dental Hygienist
Have you ever had a dental cavity or bleeding gums, despite how diligent you were about brushing and flossing every day? Here’s a secret – keeping your m...
A Photo Is Worth A Thousand Words
In the photo above, Silver Spring mom Heidi Metcalfe Lewis is sitting in an empty bathtub (fully clothed), responding to work emails while keeping an eye on her one-year-old daughter who was playing at a water ...
By Kathleen McNeely, Nutritionist
Stigma against children in larger bodies is often overlooked as a contributor to childhood obesity, but it’s important to talk about it. This month in honor of National Childhood Obesity Month, we’re sharing t...
Behind every successful company, there are people with purpose and passion. Since their establishment in 2016, Community Health Partners (CHP) has established a corporate culture committed to service and the betterment of their community. They pr...
By the Mary’s Center Nutrition Team
We have all experienced changes in our eating routines since the pandemic started. With new schedules and limited budgets, it’s not always easy to maintain structured, healthy meals for our families. And now...
By Stephanie Mintz, Student Services Director and Community School Coordinator, Briya Public Charter School
In honor of Children's Health Day, I am grateful for Briya Public Charter School’s long-standing and evolving partnership with Mary’s C...
By Maria Gomez, President and CEO
From a young age, I learned never to take my health for granted. A healthy life should be a human right, but for so many of us, health care is too expensive, too complex, too limited.
In the rushed heal...
By Lisle Cole, Certified Lactation Specialist, MBA, Breastfeeding Counselor, and Akua Odi Boateng, MS, RD, LD, WIC Director
Breastfeeding is beneficial for both parents and babies; it protects babies from infections, aids mothers in healing af...
By Akua Odi Boateng, MS, RD, LDN, WIC Director, and Cinthia Castillo, WIC Nutrition Education Technician, and
Summer is one of the best times to taste local fruits and vegetables, such as apples, cantaloupe, bell peppers, green beans, peaches...
At Mary's Center, we are privileged to have such talented and committed employees, whose hard work enables us to serve nearly 60,000 participants a year. We are incredibly grateful to so many within our Mary’s Center family who not only put their...
When Kenia immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador alone at just six years old, she was met with a tearful hug from her mother who had arrived a few years earlier. Kenia had been nervous about traveling by herself – “I was this little girl surrou...
Next month, backpacks will unzip, notebooks will be filled, and school doors will open. After more than a year of virtual learning, most schools will return to full-time in-person education this fall.
Mary’s Center Pediatrician Dr. Letizia Val...
Great news – if you have kids under 18, you could get extra money from the federal government this year!
This money is coming from the Child Tax Credit, which was increased and advanced for 2021 under the American Rescue Plan. Even if you have...
By Antonio Caro, Development Officer
Mary’s Center is proud to celebrate our immigrant community during Immigrant Heritage Month in June. Throughout the month, we are using the power of storytelling to bring the immigrant experience to light.
...
By the Mary’s Center LGBTQ+ Committee
Nowadays, we have a lot more words to describe ourselves than we used to. Instead of being forced to conform to male or female, straight or gay, people can choose from a whole new vocabulary that mirrors t...
We are excited to share a new podcast series featuring Mary's Center's phenomenal behavioral health team!
The Difference Maker Series @ The Pod of DC is the latest podcast from host and producer Rick Bernstein, spotlighting healthcare heroes i...
If you are having a baby, a doula may be just what you need to facilitate a comfortable pregnancy and birth. Doulas are trained workers who support you in a non-medical capacity through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. They provide ed...
By Paige Warner, Donor Relations Associate
As we reflect on the impact the pandemic has had on our community, it is apparent that COVID-19 affected more than just people’s physical health. The pandemic has taken a toll on the financial and emo...
From vegan cooking to salsa dancing, Mary’s Center staff share what they do to maintain their physical and mental health, in honor of National Women’s Health Week (May 9-15).
Top: Marisa enjoying an outdoor workout; Bottom: Marisa’s dog Lu...
The time after birth is fun and full of surprises, but it can also be hectic and overwhelming. Mary’s Center Pediatrician Dr. Jessica Schroeder has advice on what to expect and how to keep your baby safe and healthy.
Taking Care of your Ba...
By Sara Hourwitz, Assistant Director of Individual Giving
Earlier this year, Mary’s Center was thrilled to welcome Scott D. Pearson as one of the newest members of our Board of Directors. While Scott may be new to the Board, Mary’s Center is c...
By Carlos Merchan, Home Visiting Program Manager, and Felix Hernandez, Advocacy and Fatherhood Supervisor
As adults, we have a lot of responsibilities, and that can be overwhelming even when we’re not in the middle of a global pandemic. Unders...
By Antonio Caro, Development Officer
At Mary’s Center, we bring compassionate people together to impact lives and strengthen communities – individuals like Viki Betancourt, one of the newest members of our Board of Directors. Her path to Mary’...
After months of waiting, you finally got your COVID-19 vaccine! But now what? Can you hug your friends again? Get rid of all your masks? Jet off on a vacation?
Mary’s Center Director of Adult and Family Medicine Dr. Dana Mueller is here to ans...
For nearly 33 years, Mary’s Center has made healthcare more accessible for thousands of individuals with limited resources throughout the DC metropolitan area. Mary’s Center offers care to all who walk through our doors, regardless of ability to ...
To my dear Mary’s Center community,
With mixed emotions and immense gratitude, I share with you today that after 33 arduous and rewarding years, I will be departing Mary’s Center at the end of 2021.
When we planted the first humble se...
By Carolyn Nestman, BS, WIC Nutritionist Assistant
Carolyn Nestman, WIC Nutritionist Assistant
“I HATE this seeded bread,” I remember my spirited sister declaring to my mom at 6 years old. To get our family to eat a little healthier, my mom...
By Donna Dunston, MS, LN, WIC Nutrition Coordinator
Donna Dunston, Nutrition Coordinator
There it is! In your face all day now that we are working from home. The dreaded refrigerator. The holy grail that holds all things dear to us. FOOD!
...
By Carolina Sierra MS, CNS, Nutrition Services Coordinator
All of us have a unique way of doing things, from the way we love to how we practice religion, dress ourselves, and prepare our meals. These customs and habits are all part of who we a...
There’s nothing Dr. Sandra Kim loves more than seeing a child hop out of the dental chair with a big smile on their face after their appointment.
Dr. Sandra Kim
Dr. Kim is one of our dentists here at Mary’s Center, and for her, it’s not jus...
In honor of Black History Month, Mary’s Center staff share their perspectives on how systemic discrimination and the historic abuse of trust inflicted by medical research impacts vaccination decision-making for communities of color.
Dr. Ra...
Hola Cultura interviewed Mary's Center Outreach Coordinator Airam Thurman in late 2020, and we are re-sharing the interview now during National Condom Month, with Valentine's Day around the corner. View the original post, including the Spanish ve...
By Tollie B. Elliott, Sr., MD, Chief Medical Officer
This blog post is from February 2021. For the latest COVID-19 information, click here.
Dr. Elliott, Chief Medical Officer
After all these months of suffering, we finally have hope with...
By Carmella Sotelino, Events Coordinator
Community health centers nationwide are coping with the financial implications of the pandemic. When the first wave of COVID-19 hit, health centers like Mary’s Center took on unprecedented expenses as w...
By Carolina Sierra, MS, CNS, Nutrition Services Coordinator
During pregnancy, your body will go through many physiological changes to enable the development of a healthy baby. You can support these changes and promote positive pregnancy outcom...
It’s hard to believe there are only three days left until the new year. Despite the unprecedented challenges of 2020, the support of our volunteers, donors, partners, and staff enabled Mary’s Center to adapt quickly to meet the needs of our regio...
At Mary’s Center we are very concerned about the increase in COVID-19 infections in the DC region and across the country.
We are counting on you to fully answer all screening questions we ask on the phone and at the door s...
Our holiday plans may look different this year because of the pandemic, but we can still keep our spirits high through traditions like baking special family recipes.
From our kitchens to yours, here are a few of our staff's favorite holiday ba...
By Airam Thurman, Outreach Coordinator
Let’s say you think you have symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but you don’t have any money or insurance. What do you do? In some places this may be a barrier to care, but not at Mary’s ...
By Antonio Caro, Development Officer
“During the holidays, we tend to focus on materialistic things. What can you get? At the end of the year, it’s important to think beyond what you want and focus on giving back. And it’s not just a one-time ...
By Jose Majano, Associate Director, Community Health Education, Training, and Research
"When life changes to be harder, change yourself to be stronger."Edwin Mamerto
This quote brings to mind the challenging time we are living in du...
If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be feeling scared, angry, or confused. These are very normal emotions to have, and you are not alone!
More than 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes, and while the diagnosis can be overwhelm...
An engaged community is an empowered community, and Mary’s Center thanks every voter in the DC area who made their voices heard leading up to and on election day.
Now we must continue to raise our voices for those who cannot speak and for thos...
By the School Based Mental Health Team at Mary’s Center
Have you felt more anxious than usual recently? From the pandemic to police violence to the election, this year has thrown us a lot of curveballs that can feel overwhelming.
We all exp...
By Jillian Hartman, RDH, BSDH, Dental Hygienist
Good oral health is directly related to your overall wellness. While remembering to brush your teeth twice a day might seem trivial compared to the serious health implications of COVID-19, it is ...
On October 16th, Mary’s Center held its 2020 Vision Virtual Gala, raising over $460,000 to help under-resourced communities in the region reclaim health, hope, and opportunity. Leading up to the Gala, supporters created their own peer-to-peer ca...
Sala Muracho ready for work with full PPE at Mary's Center's Fort Totten dental clinic
Growing up in Ethiopia, Sala Muracho spent a lot of time at his family’s dental practice. He always dreamed of becoming a dentist when he got older, and he ...
Fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath – the symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 can be hard to differentiate, but these are two distinct illnesses. That means you could contract both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, and getting one do...
By Maiyu Fernandez MPH, RDN, LN, Director of Nutrition, and Joyce Adams, Nutrition Intern
Childhood obesity continues to sharply rise all around the globe; 13.7 million children in the United States are affected by obesity. Although the preval...
You are important and your voice matters. It makes no difference where you live or work, how much education or money you have, or what race/ethnicity you are – we all deserve to be heard.
Please, take advantage of two crucial opportunities to ...
If you need help now, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Protecting your mental health and catching signs of depression early is equally as important to your well-being right now a...
By Paige Warner, Donor Relations Associate
Trudi Davis, a freelance writer and longtime Adams Morgan resident, was familiar with Mary’s Center’s work. But as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, she developed a new l...
By Lisle Cole, Certified Lactation Specialist (CLS), BS, MBA, Breastfeeding Counselor
As we celebrate National Breastfeeding Month in the midst of a pandemic, Mary’s Center is here to answer questions parents may have about breastfeeding a...
By Seiji Hayashi, MD, MPH, FAAFP, Chief Transformation Officer and Administrative Medical Director
March 11, 2020 was the Wednesday that everything changed for Mary’s Center. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread from the Pacific Northwest and took ...
The transition from summer vacation back to school is never easy for families, and this year poses new challenges with most schools in the DC region starting off virtually.
Luckily, Mary’s Center expert Rachel Osborn, LICSW, MSW, is here to he...
Delta Dental is a long-term supporter and partner of Mary's Center, and they recently featured Mary's Center's response to COVID-19 in a grantee spotlight blog post, originally published here.
People of color are disproportionately affected by CO...
Since March, the pandemic has turned our world upside down in many ways, causing panic and uncertainty. Items that many of us took for granted, like toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies, were suddenly in high demand. These cri...
As we enter the middle of July, the desire to travel and gather outdoors is increasing. Despite the DC metropolitan area starting to lift COVID-19 restrictions, it’s still important to take appropriate precautions when you leave your home. Also, ...
One of the simplest ways to protect the health of our children is ensuring they receive all recommended vaccines. Because of the pandemic over the past few months, many children across the country have fallen behind on their vaccine schedules. Fo...
By Antonio Caro, Development Officer & Paige Warner, Donor Relations Associate
When Cynthia Avazpour first encountered Mary’s Center 10 years ago, working as a consultant to help federally qualified health centers improve their billing systems...
When is the last time you thought about your heartbeat? No matter what you’re doing, day and night, your heart is hard at work pumping blood that carries oxygen and nutrients all through your body. Scientists estimate that your heart beats about ...
A Statement from Mary's Center:
We write to you today in solidarity with the many across the globe calling for the immediate end to the kind of police violence we have witnessed recently against Black people in this country. This social epidemi...
By Antonio Caro, Development Officer
“The new Melhek that goes to college wants to take her degree and build healthier communities back in Ethiopia. That’s my goal – to take Mary’s Center’s model and change lives in my homeland. I want to e...
By Raghad Makhlouf
We are sharing this inspiring story from a Mary’s Center participant in honor of National Mental Health Month in May.
Raghad Makhlouf
When my husband and I arrived in the U.S. from Syria as asylum seekers in 2017, we...
During the current pandemic, Mary’s Center, like other health clinics, has encountered numerous challenges to obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect our staff and participants from the spread of the virus in our clinics, includ...
By Rachel Osborn, LICSW, MSW, Senior Clinical Manager of School Based Mental Health
When a young person has a headache or stomachache, they
typically don’t hesitate to let someone know they are in distress and need
help. Unfortunately, youth a...
Uneasy. Anxious. Fearful. Many of us feel these emotions daily from the
constant updates on COVID-19 cases, unemployment claims, and even deaths. But
what keeps us strong and united are the stories of courage, care, and strength.
Stories from our...
By Antonio Caro, Development OfficerLike you, we’ve been trying to make sense of these difficult times. Having to make extreme adjustments in our lives and priorities is no easy task – especially for people who are unemployed, uninsured, and unfa...
During
these stressful and challenging times, self-care is essential, and that means
continuing to look after your health.
Mary’s Center has found that
virtual phone or video appointments with our providers are an excellent
alternative to keep...
