LEONARDTOWN, MD (May 4, 2026) - The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) has released the 2026 Health Status Report, offering a comprehensive, data-driven snapshot of the health of the St. Mary’s County community. Drawing on the most recent available data, the report highlights key trends, areas of progress, and persistent challenges that require continued focus and partnership.
The report examines major health domains including population characteristics, social drivers of health, behavioral health, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, chronic conditions, disability, and mortality. It is designed to support community partners, residents, and policymakers in aligning efforts and making informed decisions that improve health outcomes.
Importantly, the report is paired with SMCHD’s interactive, real-time data dashboards – publicly available online – which allow users to explore local health indicators in greater depth, track trends over time, and better understand emerging issues as they evolve.
“These data give us a shared starting point,” said Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer. “The report tells us where we are – but our real strength is in how we use the data. Our dashboards make this information accessible in real time so partners can act quickly, stay aligned, and focus on what will impact health and wellness for our community.”
SMCHD’s dashboards are continuously updated and designed for practical use by community organizations, healthcare providers, and local leaders. By pairing a comprehensive report with dynamic data tools, the health department aims to accelerate collective community action.
“The Health Status Report brings together multiple data sources into a single, validated picture of health in our community,” said Ruby Abaka-Yankson, Director of the SMCHD Office of Research and Epidemiology. “It provides the context needed to interpret trends, identify priority issues, and guide strategy. The dashboards build on that foundation by allowing users to explore the data in more detail and monitor changes over time.”
The 2026 Health Status Report and accompanying data dashboards are available at smchd.org/resources/local-health-data.
