In 2024, The Healthcare Initiative Foundation (HIF) awarded the American Heart Association, Greater Washington Region, a one-year grant to support the health of Montgomery County residents. The initiative empowers residents to monitor their blood pressure at home and at various community sites.
To bring this vision to life, the Heart Association collaborated with community organizations including So What Else, Clifton Park Baptist Church, Upcounty Hub, Mansfield Kaseman Community Clinic, Care for Your Health Inc., Kingdom Fellowship AME and Mercy Health Clinic. These organizations fill critical gaps in accessible healthcare.
Clinics implemented a program for patients to monitor their blood pressure at home, and food assistance providers set up a blood pressure screening and referral station available to their patrons during food distributions. Clifton Park Baptist Church also let community members borrow blood pressure monitors.
The Greater Washington Region team conducted site visits to participating organizations. One theme that rang true throughout all the sites was the value of language accessibility. While Care for Your Health, Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic, and Mercy Health Clinic have filled the need of providing Spanish language primary care to Montgomery County residents across the county, Clifton Park Baptist Church noted how important it is that their self-monitored blood pressure volunteers are fluent in both Spanish and Amharic.
All community organizations involved in this project continued their commitment to creating accessible services and supporting the health and wellness of all participants. Through the trust that our community partners have built throughout their communities, the screening and referral process has been set up for success. An area for future growth highlighted by our partners is the need for additional diabetes and health education materials in more languages and the Heart Association’s community impact team is working on those.
To further raise awareness, Carmen Lezama, clinic management director at Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic appeared on “En Sintonía,” a Spanish-language TV program hosted by the Montgomery County Council. Together with our Community Impact Director Lucía Zegarra, they discussed how the Heart Association is working to support the local Hispanic community in managing and treating hypertension.
Thanks to the grant, Mercy Health was able to revitalize its at-home blood pressure monitoring program—an initiative that made a life-changing difference for Maria, one of the clinic’s patients. Despite struggling with dizziness and fatigue, Maria continued working because her job didn’t offer paid time off. When her symptoms worsened, a friend referred her to Mercy, where she was diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and chronic vertigo. Mercy stepped in with free medication, a personalized nutrition plan and a blood pressure monitor. After eight months of dedication to her new routine, Maria lowered her blood pressure by 10 points and now makes her health a top priority.
Clifton Park Baptist Church has become a trusted hub for community health through its blood pressure screening services. These offerings have empowered clients to identify potential health concerns early and seek timely follow-up care with their doctors—often preventing more serious complications. Over time, many clients have come to rely on these screenings, becoming regular participants, especially those managing high blood pressure. As a free service, it provides a sense of stability and reinforces the Food Hub’s broader mission of reliability and support. Notably, some clients who borrowed monitors through the Blood Pressure Loaner Program (BPLP) have since chosen to purchase their own, recognizing the importance of regular monitoring. This speaks to the quiet but powerful educational value embedded in the program—equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools to take charge of their health.
An unexpected success of the program was the way it fostered deeper relationships between volunteers and participants at food distributions. At So What Else, volunteers found that assisting patients with checking their blood pressure created natural moments where they could connect and engage in meaningful conversation. These routine health check-ins became more than just screenings –-they became opportunities to offer support and foster a sense of community. Over time, participants became regulars and volunteers came to know them personally. This reinforced the program’s value to bridge stronger and more compassionate community relationships. Organizations interested in blood pressure treatment efforts in the Greater Washington Region can contact, contact Lucía Zegarra (lucia.zegarra@heart.org).
Written by: Rebekah Bass, Intern of Impact and Linda Quintanilla, Intern of Impact