The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a mobile driver license (mDL) pilot study that will run for six months. The pilot, which includes approximately 200 state employees and stakeholders, is designed to test user acceptance and new innovative features that can only be achieved with an mDL.

“Delaware is among the first states to test a mobile driver’s license, and we’re excited to help move this new technology forward,” said Governor John Carney. “Across state government, we remain focused on innovation, to connecting Delawareans with new technology, and finding new, more efficient ways to deliver services to Delaware taxpayers. This program is a great demonstration of that effort. Thank you to Secretary Cohan, her team at DelDOT and IDEMIA for making this pilot a possibility.”

“This six month pilot will help us see what mDLs look like in real-world scenarios and address any issues that arise as a result before we decide to fully adopt and implement this application for our more than 800,000 licensed drivers and ID card holders,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

“Keeping our personal information secure continues to be an important issue and I am proud to have sponsored the legislation to allow for this pilot study to move forward,” said Senator David McBride.

“It is exciting for us to be one of the first states to test this innovative technology that can both protect the privacy of our customers and enhance safety in ways that can’t be achieved with a traditional driver license or identification card,” said Scott Vien, Director of the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. “It is our responsibility to always bring the best-in-class offerings to our State and an mDL holds the promise of offering an always-updated, secure credential that will be easy-to-use by our consumers, businesses and law enforcement.”

The pilot is being run by both the Delaware DMV and IDEMIA, the company that produces the State’s physical driver licenses and identification cards.

Features of the mDL that will be tested include:

• Enhanced privacy for age verification – no need to show a person’s address, license number and birthdate, the mDL will verify if the person is over 18 or 21 and display a photo.
• Law enforcement use during a traffic stop – the mDL will allow law enforcement officers to ping a driver’s smartphone to request their driver’s license information prior to walking to the vehicle.
• Business acceptance – understanding how businesses that require identification or age verification interact with the mDL will be advantageous throughout pilot.
• Ease of Use – ensuring the mDL is able to be presented to any organization without difficulty.
• Secure access – the mDL is only unlocked and accessible by the mDL holder. The mDL is accessed through an app on the owner’s smartphone and is opened/unlocked by entering a user-created pin number or using facial recognition.

“We are pleased to be working with our long-standing partner, the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, on this innovative mobile driver’s license,” said Ed Casey, Chief Executive Officer, IDEMIA Identity & Security Business. “As the leader in driver’s license solutions in the United States, it is our responsibility to take the lead in bringing secure IDs to people’s smart phones. The variety of value-added features that protect and offer safety to all that interact with the digital ID is something we are excited about and pleased to be making a reality.”

In Partnership with Wilmington University, DHSS Begins Yearlong Initiative to Train 1,000 Staff Members in Trauma-Informed Approaches to Assessing and Meeting the Needs of Clients

NEW CASTLE (March 12, 2018) – The Department of Health and Social Services is partnering with Wilmington University to train more than 1,000 frontline DHSS staff in better assessing and addressing the needs of clients statewide, many of whom have experienced trauma in their lives, during the kickoff of a yearlong Trauma-Informed Approach initiative.

Wilmington University’s nine-week training session for 26 supervisors and trainers from the DHSS Divisions of Social Services, Child Support Services and State Service Centers, began in January with the support of the DHSS Division of Management Services. The 54 total hours of training blends face-to-face classroom learning at Wilmington University’s New Castle campus with online learning at each student’s pace.

The sessions are led by Dr. Debra Berke, associate professor and director of the Wilmington University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Marilyn Siebold, an adjunct professor at the university. During the weekly training sessions, participants learn the content of three core Trauma-Informed Approaches certificate courses. They also develop a 12.5-hour training module that they will use to train more than 1,000 front-line employees across the three divisions.

“Among our divisions with the greatest level of direct client contact, our goal is to create a workforce that understands what trauma is, how it affects people across their lifespans, and the most effective ways to assess and meet our clients’ needs,” said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a board-certified family physician. “This training is an important step in supporting and promoting recovery for our clients who have experienced trauma so they can build resilience and learn to thrive in their communities.”

Renée Beaman, director of the Division of State Service Centers and one of the trainees in the first round, is leading the initiative for DHSS. “The goal of this trauma-informed approach is to increase effectiveness in our services, which can produce improved engagement, partnership and outcomes for the individuals and families we serve,” she said.

The landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, conducted in 1995 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente, found that, among the 17,000 participants, more than 60 percent had been exposed to at least one adverse event, such as divorce of a parent, witnessing neighborhood violence, living with an adult with a mental illness or addiction issue, or other socioeconomic hardship. The ACE Study found that traumatic life events in childhood affect survivors across their lifespan and lead to such challenges as family dysfunction, school failure, physical illnesses, psychiatric conditions, substance use disorder, exposure to risky relationships and behaviors, homelessness, criminal activity, unemployment or under-employment, and premature death, as many as 20 years too soon. A growing body of research shows that adversity is so common as to be nearly universal.

“In addition to preparatory education for individuals interested in working within social services and behavioral health at all levels, Wilmington University is committed to workforce development and offers continuing education to those currently providing social and behavioral health-related services,” Berke noted. “This partnership with DHSS is one example of how the university is investing in the lives of Delawareans through the enhancement of organizational capacity and resources. The ultimate goals are to promote health and well-being and prevent adverse outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and society.”

In Delaware, Governor John Carney’s Family Services Cabinet Council is addressing adverse childhood experiences as a way to reduce the impact of violence in Wilmington. In the City of Wilmington, 60.5 percent of children have been exposed to at least one ACE, compared with 47.9 percent nationally. In addition, 28 percent of children in Wilmington have been exposed to two more ACES, compared with 22.6 percent of children nationally. Across Delaware, 50.4 percent of children have been exposed to at least one ACE and 23 percent have been exposed to two or more ACEs.
Professor Marilyn Siebold also leads the training sessions. “The energy displayed by everyone involved in this project has been enormous,” she observed. “They have a genuine and contagious enthusiasm for building the capacity to use a trauma-informed lens in their professional and personal lives. As both service providers and service recipients, it’s exciting to know that we are part of the growing, national recognition of why it matters to be trauma-informed.”
Kristin Flynn, an undergraduate psychology major, is assisting Siebold with the training in a spring 2018 internship. Flynn has completed the coursework for Wilmington University’s Trauma-Informed Approaches certificate and has been accepted to graduate school at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. Flynn will help to identify resources to use in the training and help to design the assessments used to measure increases in participants’ knowledge, skills and attitudes. Keisha Daniels, a master’s degree student in the university’s Applied Family Science program and a DHSS employee, was chosen to participate in the training by her division director. Daniels will use this training experience as part of her Applied Family Science practicum.

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
Wilmington University is a private, non-profit institution committed to providing career-oriented, traditional and online associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. The Wilmington University difference starts with flexible, year-round class schedules, full online learning capabilities, and one of the lowest tuitions in the tri-state region. This intense focus on academic excellence results in extraordinary individual student achievements and alumni successes. For more information, contact Wilmington University at 302-356-INFO (4636), via email at infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit www.wilmu.edu.

WILMINGTON, Del. – The State of Delaware, the Christina School District and the Christina Education Association (CEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday that seeks to improve educational outcomes for students in the City of Wilmington. Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Christina Board President George Evans, and CEA President Darren Tyson joined Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education, and Governor John Carney in signing the agreement.

The MOU includes plans to reconfigure Christina’s city schools, invest new resources in Wilmington schools, and create a Dual Generation Center to offer new services for children and families in communities served by the district. Governor Carney’s proposed budget includes $1.5 million for new wellness centers, staff to reduce class sizes, trauma-informed programming and other services consistent with the MOU. The budget proposal, which Governor Carney will continue to discuss with members of the General Assembly, also includes $15 million to fund capital improvements in Christina’s Wilmington schools.

Governor Carney, Secretary Bunting, and representatives from Christina School District and CEA issued the following statements on the MOU signing:

“Thank you to Superintendent Gregg, the entire Christina School Board, and Christina Education Association for their willingness to work in partnership on this MOU,” said Governor John Carney. “We share a collective goal of doing better by the children we serve in the City of Wilmington. Throughout the process of crafting the MOU, we talked to parents, educators, and students about the needs in Wilmington. Those discussions must continue to make sure we get this right. As we’ve said, now the hard work starts to implement a plan that will improve opportunity for these students and their families. We look forward to getting started.”

“This agreement is the starting point of Christina’s renewed commitment to improving the academic outcomes of our Wilmington students,” said Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg. “We are excited now to begin the planning and implementation stages outlined in the MOU, working with our partners to deliver more intensified learning and support to students in revitalized school communities.”

“The Department of Education looks forward to supporting implementation of this plan, and providing additional resources and support for students and educators in the City of Wilmington,” said Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “Thank you to Christina School District leaders, the Christina School Board, and CEA for their continued partnership on this effort.”

“We are on the pathway of providing educational opportunities that will be the difference-maker for our children’s futures,” said Christina Board of Education President George Evans. “With the support of our teachers, administration, Board, Secretary of Education, Governor, and General Assembly, we will be able to engage our students and families to higher achievement.”

“CEA is eager to move forward in this process to take the first official steps in improving Christina’s Wilmington City Schools,” said CEA President Darren Tyson. “Our teachers remain committed to doing what is best for the Christina students in Wilmington.”

Read the full MOU here.

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Related news:
Governor Carney’s Statement on Christina School Board’s Vote to Approve MOU

Measure helps improve job opportunities for those with criminal histories

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney signed legislation Thursday that would help improve employment and training opportunities for Delawareans with criminal histories seeking cosmetology and barbering licensure.

Sponsored by Rep. J.J. Johnson, House Bill 97 removes licensing roadblocks so a criminal history will not stand in the way of an individual pursuing and applying for an aesthetics license to practice cosmetology, barbering, electrology or nail technology.

“Delawareans who have served their time deserve a second chance, an opportunity to contribute, and reach their full potential,” said Governor Carney. “This legislation will help those with criminal histories improve their lives, while strengthening our communities. Thank you to Representative Johnson and Senator Henry for their leadership on this issue.”

Championed by Rep. Johnson, the legislation gives the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering discretion to grant waivers for certain felony convictions when assessing licensure applicants if up to three years have elapsed since their sentence. Previously, the waiting period was five years.

“After an individual has paid his or her debt to society, all they want is to be able to begin to rebuild their lives. Stable employment and training opportunities are critical to that rehabilitation,” said Representative Johnson, who chairs the House Corrections Committee. “This legislation removes barriers so that individuals will not be defined by their past and will be able to pursue licensing opportunities to put them on a sustainable path forward.”

Under the bill, the board is also precluded from taking into account an applicant’s criminal conviction if more than 10 years have passed since the date of the sentence and there have been no other convictions during that time.

“We spend a lot of time in Dover making sure that the state government isn’t placing overly burdensome or harmful regulations on our economy or our neighborhoods. Shouldn’t we do the same to help former inmates contribute to both?” said Senate Majority Leader Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington. “Ex-offenders already face a steep climb upon release, and failure often means returning to prison, so I couldn’t be more proud to join my friend Rep. Johnson in opening up an avenue to self-sustainability and success for these Delawareans.”

“Professional licensure is often a gateway to a new life for Delawareans looking to launch new careers, earn more for their families and contribute to their communities,” said David Mangler, director of the Division of Professional Regulation. “We are proud to be a part of Rep. Johnson’s efforts to break down barriers to licensure and broaden opportunities for people across the state.”

For questions about licensing, contact the Division of Professional Regulation at customerservice.dpr@delaware.gov or 302-744-4500. Visit the division’s website www.dpr.delaware.gov for more information.

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UPDATE: Governor Carney has lifted the Level I Driving Warning for New Castle County, effective at 5:00 p.m.

“While we continue to encourage motorists to use caution, we are able to lift the driving restriction with conditions improving countywide,” said Governor Carney. “Thank you to Delawareans for their caution throughout the storm, and to DelDOT crews for their quick work to clean up our roadways.”

Governor Carney Issues Level 1 Driving Warning for New Castle County Beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Driving Warning begins at 2:00 p.m., motorists to exercise extra caution

WILMINGTON, Del. – With snowfall intensifying, Governor Carney has issued a Level 1 Driving Warning for New Castle County beginning at 2:00 p.m.

A Level 1 Driving Warning means:

• Any person operating a motor vehicle shall exercise extra caution in the operation of their motor vehicle.
• Motorists are encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle on the State’s roadways unless there is a significant safety, health, or business reason to do so.

“Conditions are worsening across New Castle County, and we encourage everyone to stay off the roads if possible. If Delawareans have to be on the roadways, they should exercise extra caution while driving,” said Governor Carney. “DelDOT will continue to work throughout this afternoon and tonight to clear the roads.”

Motorists may monitor real-time conditions, snow plow activity, and traffic cameras by using DelDOT’s Smartphone application. The DelDOT App is available for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets, and can be downloaded free, search for “DelDOT” at the Apple and Google Play stores. Motorists can also listen to WTMC 1380 AM for updates on road conditions.

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