G1: Objective 1

Strengthen partnerships with service providers, community organizations, nonprofits, academia, and the private sector to leverage public-private partnerships and support community-driven action.

Strategies:

Continually assess longevity readiness across state agencies and increase cross-sector collaboration that embraces a lifespan approach to policy and service delivery.

Overview of Progress Made

  • MDOA and the Maryland Department of Planning have partnered to create the LRM Data Dashboard, a resource for sharing key data on the social determinants of health that impact older Marylanders.
  • MDOA, the Maryland Department of Disabilities, and the Maryland Department of Health partnered to provide a consolidated directory of free or low-cost medical and assistive technology, equipment, and service programs available through the state, and streamline outreach efforts to bring greater awareness of these supports.
  • MDOA is developing the criteria to build an Action Network of coalitions with state-led commissions, councils, and advisory groups, as well as local action leaders from the private sector and academia, to gain an understanding of where work impacting longevity is housed and develop partnerships for implementing LRM’s objectives and strategies.
  • Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development working with the National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) at the University of Maryland brought together a range of federal, state and local data sources, methodologies and subject matter experts to expose the multi-sector challenges facing Maryland’s affordable housing supply to expand the 2020 Housing Needs Assessment.

Key Initiatives

  • LRM Data Dashboard: The LRM Data Dashboard is an innovative resource to help service providers and policymakers identify needs, anticipate trends, and measure outcomes that impact longevity in Maryland by providing information about life expectancy, population growth, and health and economic indicators across racial, age, and geographic breakdowns.
  • Maryland Equips: Provides free medical equipme​nt, assistive technology, and other supports to Marylanders of all ages with any disability, illness, or injury who need additional support to remain comfortable and connected.​​
  • Maryland Housing Needs Assessment Update: Explores the scope and impact of Maryland’s housing gap, particularly for low-income and older adults households.

Improve data capture and dissemination through coordinated data systems and capacity building at the state and local level.

Overview of Progress Made

  • The Maryland Council on Open Data was established as part of the Open Data Act to recommend, coordinate, identify, advise, encourage, plan, promote, and advocate for open data in Maryland.
  • MDOA has implemented internal data systems to better review quarterly and annual data by grantee and by program, engage with stakeholders, and provide insightful data and geomapping information to inform programming needs and track progress.
  • MDOA was awarded the Administration for Community Living’s Long Term Services and Supports Efficiency Grant in June 2025, a two-year grant that includes the development of a Maryland Access Point (MAP) web-based referral platform to connect healthcare and MAP partners through closed-loop referrals.
  • The CRISP health information exchange, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, and the Lower Shore Area Agency on Aging MAC, Inc., is developing improved data infrastructure that connects clinical and community data on older adult health and care through the CDC’s Community and Clinical Data Initiative (CODI).
  • The Maryland Department of Health released a State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) 2018-2024 Trend Report analyzing key circumstances surrounding unintentional fatal overdoses.

Key Initiatives

  • Maryland Open Data Portal: Collects and disseminates data from a range of Maryland-based agencies and service providers.
  • Maryland Access Point: MAP specialists work with caregivers, professionals, and all individuals with long-term care needs to plan, identify, connect, and assist with accessing private and public resources for long-term services and supports.
  • CODI: An open source model that brings together people, processes and technology to build locally owned infrastructure that supports the community to improve health.
  • Maryland State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS): SUDORS is a statewide surveillance system on accidental and undetermined intent overdose deaths in Maryland that collects data from death certificates, medical examiner reports, and law enforcement reports. ​ 
  • SUDORS Trend Report, August 2025: Circumstances of fatal overdose from 2018-2024 

Engage local communities in asset mapping, identifying opportunities to promote healthy longevity.

Overview of Progress Made

  • MDOA and UMBC signed an agreement to plan and deliver four asset-based community development workshops over the next year. The training will provide local community leaders with tools for local action through interactive learning and asset mapping.
  • MDOA is implementing a robust outreach program to update service provider geomapping referral data provided by Maryland Access Point.

Key Initiatives

  • LRM Community Development Network provides asset-based community development training for local community and organizational leaders to develop skills to identify and connect community resources for collective gain.
  • Miriam Kelty Aging and Senior Social Connection Hub and Spoke Pilot Program: The Montgomery County Village Consortium is working with MDOA on a pilot program to map assets and develop a sustainable plan to support villages that takes advantage of operational proficiencies and existing systems, ​skills, and resources to expand services to more residents in the geographic region.

Promote the adoption of the age-friendly communities model as an effective means for local governments, organizations, and community members to advance collaboration that supports healthy longevity.

Overview of Progress

  • MDOA, six age-friendly Community leaders, and AARP met in August 2025 for the inaugural convening of Maryland’s Age Friendly Communities. The convening is the first in a series of meetings for communities to share successes, challenges, and lessons learned in implementing the age-friendly network in our state. Ongoing quarterly meetings will bring together state partners and age-friendly communities for collective learning.

Key Initiatives

  • Age Friendly Communities: The development of inclusive programs and systems that encourage best practices that make communities more livable for residents of all ages.

Enhance innovation and partnerships between government and community-based nonprofit organizations.

Increase private investment that supports local age-friendly programs and infrastructure.

Overview of Progress Made

  • Since the start of 2024, MDOA has leveraged $275,000 in privately funded technical assistance consultation and $940,000 in publicly funded competitive grants to support cross-agency collaborative planning and implementation of aging and caregiving supportive services.
  • MDOA and Weinberg Foundation, in collaboration with the Baltimore Community Foundation, are piloting a co-funding grant partnership management model they are in the process of developing to enhance the impact of grant programs and leverage state dollars with private philanthropic investment.

Key Initiatives

  • MDOA Grants Program: Providing competitive funding opportunities that support healthy aging and aging in place initiatives.
  • Yad Yehuda of Greater Washington: A volunteer organization that serves as the Jewish community’s financial safety net in the Greater Washington area.
  • Lori’s Hands: Builds mutually beneficial partnerships between community members with chronic illness and college students, fostering empathy, connection, and resilience.

Outcomes:

Short-Term (1-3 years)

  • Increase awareness of the impact of age-friendly communities model
  • Community assets mapped by local action team
  • Expand participation in interagency coalitions

Mid-Term (4-6 Years)

  • Integrate data systems for coordinated service referrals

Long-Term (7-10 years)

  • Increase investment and reach of services for older adults