Bethany Hall-Long

PHOTO COURTESY OF delaware.gov

DOVER — Six organizations that made a commitment to providing better health for their communities were awarded Thursday in the 2023 Lt. Governor’s Wellness Leadership Challenge.

According to Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, the mission of the annual program is to recognize local wellness programs, policies or environmental changes that improve Delawareans’ quality of life.

The Delaware Wellness Hero Awardees are:

• Erin Ridout of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, who implemented statewide services to address domestic violence as a health issue and integrated domestic violence and health services, helping more than 600 survivors.
• The Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, which created an effort to support child care educators by improving mental health, physical wellness and social support to reduce stress and lower the risk of chronic disease.
• Providence Creek Academy, which created a program to provide alternative therapeutic methods, such as art and farm therapy, to students experiencing loss and grief. This has decreased absences and improved participants’ mental health.

The Delaware Health Leader Awardees are:

• Nemours Children’s Health, which created the first oral feed initiative for parents of infants with congenital heart defects to help with early feeding experiences. The program achieved a 77% participation rate at Nemours and instituted involvement at other children’s hospitals.
• The Sussex County Health Coalition, which awarded grants to libraries to conduct exercise classes and provide access to health workers for wellness coaching. The effort educated underserved residents about health and fitness and led to improved physical outcomes.
• Face the Facts, which provides resources to those who have lost loved ones to overdose or substance use disorder, as well as overdose awareness, naloxone training and other support to those in recovery.