East Baltimore Pilot Program Moves Primary Care Into Churches and Homes

Nurses now conduct primary care visits inside apartment complexes and local churches across East Baltimore.

The initiative, known as Neighborhood Nursing, operates as a pilot program that brings medical services directly to residents rather than requiring them to travel to standard clinics. Staff members set up in community spaces and visit homes to provide basic care. The service is open to anyone living in the designated area.

The program currently operates at no cost to patients. Philanthropic donations fund the majority of the expenses. This financial structure allows the team to focus on accessibility for residents who may struggle to access traditional healthcare settings.

Federal data indicates that for every 100 children in the foster care system, only 57 licensed homes are available. This gap leaves many children sleeping in shelters, bussed between hotels, or spending nights in office buildings.

The federal government launched a campaign in November 2025 to address this shortage. The initiative, titled A Home for Every Child, aims to recruit and retain foster homes. The goal is to close the divide between the number of children in care and the available residential slots.

In a separate medical case, a family from Turkey traveled to St. Louis for the surgery of their daughter, Elisa. The 18-month-old was born with eight fingers on her left hand. Doctors diagnosed her with Ulnar Dimelia, a condition also known as Mirror Hand Syndrome. Fewer than 100 people worldwide have this rare disorder.

Maple syrup production continues in Underhill, Vermont, at Walker’s Pure Vermont Maple Syrup. Workers in the sugarhouse spend 10 hours or more each day processing sap during the season. Craig Walker, who is 86, drives the truck to collect the sap. He said, "That’s my job, I’ve been promoted to truck driver," adding that the sap is the essential first step in making syrup.