Health

Expand Access to Affordable Healthcare

Health insurance doesn't guarantee health care. Even insured residents face high deductibles, limited in-network providers, and facilities that are far from home or work. Uninsured and underinsured residents often delay care until a crisis — at far greater human and financial cost.

Fatmata will push to expand funding for community health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which provide affordable, high-quality care regardless of a patient's ability to pay. She will work to increase the county's outreach and enrollment efforts for Medicaid and other public health insurance programs.

For many residents — particularly those working multiple jobs or living far from the nearest clinic — even getting to an appointment can be a barrier in itself. Fatmata will work to strengthen community-based healthcare services so that residents can access care close to home, regardless of where they live in the county.

Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis

Montgomery County, like communities across the country, is experiencing a serious youth mental health crisis. Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation have risen sharply, and there are not enough child and adolescent mental health providers to meet demand.

Fatmata will fight to expand school-based mental health services, increase funding for county mental health programs, and reduce the stigma around seeking help. Mental health is health — and it must be treated that way.

Mental Health

Mental health needs are rising across Montgomery County, while access to care has not kept pace. Too many residents face long wait times, provider shortages, and barriers such as cost, transportation, and language.

Fatmata will work to expand access to community-based mental health services, strengthen crisis response systems, and support efforts to grow and diversify the behavioral health workforce. She will also prioritize outreach and education to reduce stigma and ensure residents can access care when and where they need it.

Strengthen Language Access and Culturally Competent Care

Montgomery County is one of the most linguistically diverse jurisdictions in the nation — including residents who are Deaf or hard of hearing and rely on American Sign Language (ASL). Yet health care systems often fail patients who don't communicate in spoken English — through inadequate interpretation services, culturally mismatched care, and systems designed for a different patient population.

Fatmata will fight to expand language access services — including interpretation in ASL — across county health programs, support culturally competent training for providers, and ensure that every resident can communicate effectively with their health care team.

Why This Matters for Montgomery County

Health inequities cost our county — in lost productivity, emergency room overcrowding, preventable hospitalizations, and human suffering. Investing in preventive, community-centered care is not just the right thing to do — it's the smart thing to do. A healthier county is a stronger county.