Neighborhood Nursing

Bridging community, health and social systems for equitable futures

Bridging community, health and social systems for equitable futures

Neighborhood Nursing provides universal access to health and social services to all people in a selected geography through an interdisciplinary team of nurses and community health workers.

Teams go to people’s homes and community hubs, offering various services—from diabetes management to social needs navigation—focused on what matters to people.

Led by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in partnership with University of Maryland School of Nursing, Morgan State University and Coppin State University, Neighborhood Nursing is being implemented by Healthcare Access Maryland (HCAM), a Statewide quasi-governmental organization and University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON).

To date, the HCAM team has established four community hubs in East Baltimore neighborhoods (Johnston Square and Oliver) and working to expand in Greenmount West and rural Somerset County. To date, the UMSON team has established three hubs in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhoods in West Baltimore and is working to add a fourth.

Led by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in partnership with University of Maryland, Morgan State and Coppin State, Neighborhood Nursing is being implemented by Healthcare Access Maryland (HCAM), a Statewide quasi-governmental organization and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). To date, the HCAM team has established four community hubs: three in East Baltimore neighborhoods

(Johnston Square, Oliver and Greenmount West) and one in rural Somserset County. Since 2025, the UMSON team has established three hubs in the Sandtown-Winchester communities in West Baltimore and is working to add a fourth.

Since 2023, Neighborhood Nursing has collaborated with community members, leaders, policymakers, academics, payers, and health systems across Maryland to build relationships, understand strengths and needs, co-create sustainable solutions, and prototype the model.

Our interdisciplinary team operates across four core areas—Research, Implementation, Policy, and Education—bringing together diverse expertise to create community-centered solutions that advance health equity.

Directors

Sarah Szanton, Strategy and Partnerships

André Nogueira, Systems Design and Research

Natalia Barolin, Policy and Communication

Community Health Nurse
Conduct home visits and community hub sessions across Somerset County: delivering physical health assessments, point-of-care testing, vaccinations, and health education, while coordinating care across primary, specialty, and behavioral health. Uses motivational interviewing and a trauma-informed, participant-directed approach. Full-time, Maryland RN license required. Candidates’ native to or with experience working in Somerset County are strongly encouraged to apply.

Apply on JHU.edu


Community Health Worker
Work alongside the community health nurse to conduct social determinants of health screenings, link residents to housing, food, transportation, insurance, and medical care, advocate at appointments, and build relationships across Somerset County’s community organizations and hubs. Full-time, high school diploma and 2 years related experience required. Candidates’ native to or with experience working in Somerset County are strongly encouraged to apply.

Apply on JHU.edu

Since 2023, Neighborhood Nursing has collaborated with community members, leaders, policymakers, academics, payers, and health systems across Maryland to build relationships, understand strengths and needs, co-create sustainable solutions, and prototype the model.

Our interdisciplinary team operates across four core areas—Research, Implementation, Policy, and Education—bringing together diverse expertise to create community-centered solutions that advance health equity.

Directors

Sarah Szanton, Strategy and Partnerships

André Nogueira, Systems Design and Research

Natalia Barolin, Policy and Communication

Community Health Nurse

Conduct home visits and community hub sessions across Somerset County: delivering physical health assessments, point-of-care testing, vaccinations, and health education, while coordinating care across primary, specialty, and behavioral health. Uses motivational interviewing and a trauma-informed, participant-directed approach. Full-time, Maryland RN license required. Candidates’ native to or with experience working in Somerset County are strongly encouraged to apply.

Apply on JHU.edu

Community Health Worker

Work alongside the community health nurse to conduct social determinants of health screenings, link residents to housing, food, transportation, insurance, and medical care, advocate at appointments, and build relationships across Somerset County’s community organizations and hubs. Full-time, high school diploma and 2 years related experience required. Candidates’ native to or with experience working in Somerset County are strongly encouraged to apply.

Apply on JHU.edu

Our efforts are gaining recognition from community leaders, health professionals, and policymakers. Neighborhood Nursing has been featured in major media outlets and at national events.

Now What? Neighborhood Nursing’s Answer to the US Health Care Paradox

Milbank Quarterly article on Neighborhood Nursing addressing US healthcare spending paradox.
Neighborhood Nursing team members in discussion. NPR Tradeoffs Podcast on new primary care model.
Johns Hopkins forum: Dr. Szanton and CDC Director Cohen discussing healthcare policy.
Baltimore Banner article on ER wait times and health system failures by three authors.
Better Care Playbook webinar on Neighborhood Nursing model for complex care needs.
Neighborhood Nursing team celebrating AIM Award with officials in group photo.

Our efforts are gaining recognition from community leaders, health professionals, and policymakers. Neighborhood Nursing has been featured in major media outlets and at national events.

Now What? Neighborhood Nursing’s Answer to the US Health Care Paradox

Updates, reflections, and ongoing work from Neighborhood Nursing.

Issue 1 / September 2025

Issue 2 / February 2026

Issue 3 / May 2026

A movement is growing to bring care closer to where people live, learn, and work. Across the country, partners in government, nonprofits, public health, and schools of nursing are innovating community-centered care models—and asking for a way to learn together. This is an opportunity to join a national learning community anchored by quarterly webinars where participants both learn and contribute.

The Neighborhood Nursing Center is embarking on a deep dive into understanding the wide range of co-benefits that a program like Neighborhood Nursing could bring. As part of this work, we will present preliminary thoughts and findings during the September learning exchange, and welcome partner feedback, thoughts, and collaboration.