NEW CASTLE — U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., chair of the National Service Congressional Caucus, and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer joined community partners Wednesday at a swearing-in ceremony for Delaware members of the National Health Corps.

Seven new members took the AmeriCorps pledge, including Nancy Arellano, Constance Glay, Aliyah Gwathney, Jennifer Ruebush, Penelope Velasco, Veronica Villalobos and Valeria Yarborough, at the New Castle County Government Center.

“The National Health Corps is a proven nationwide model for how to address basic public health in a systematic, well-measured, well-executed way,” Sen. Coons said. “The folks at New Castle County, who know what it means to be essential workers and first responders and be engaged in meeting public health crises and public safety issues, are the perfect partners for this expansion.

“Congratulations to the newest ... members, and thank you to County Executive Meyer, the people at New Castle County government and the National Health Corps for making possible this pilot program.”

New Castle County is piloting the expansion of the National Health Corps in Delaware. The entity is an AmeriCorps National Direct program whose mission is to increase access to health care to underserved communities, promote health, reduce health care costs and develop new health professionals.

“These new members of the pilot program of National Health Corps Delaware will help us achieve three critical goals: provide a robust public health response, protect our most vulnerable and ... help us build back better,” Mr. Meyer said. “I am thankful for Sen. Coons’ partnership on this project, the community partners where the members will work, and I am excited about the potential of this program.”

Founded in 1994 and administered by the Health Federation of Philadelphia, NHC has members serving at sites in Chicago, New York, north Florida, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

NHC members serve at local facilities, such as community health centers, health departments, schools and community-based public health organizations.

New Castle County will operate this pilot using federal CARES Act funds, and member activities will focus on the ongoing COVID-19 response, including vaccine programs and addressing health inequities associated with the pandemic.

The American Rescue Plan includes $1 billion more for AmeriCorps to build on similar work.
For more information about NHC in Delaware, visit its website.