Dover, DE – For the seventh consecutive year, grant funds for Delaware schools and nonprofits to promote financial literacy across the state are now available through the state’s Financial Literacy Education Fund (FLEF).

“Delaware continues to lead the way in making financial education available to Delawareans from all walks of life,” said Governor John Carney. “Through a variety of programs that teach how to establish and maintain a household budget, educate youth on the importance of having good credit, and help families buy their first homes, Delaware’s schools and non-profit organizations have the tools to promote healthy financial decision making.”

Since the FLEF was established in 2010, approximately $2 million has been awarded to more than two dozen organizations to improve financial literacy for Delawareans of all ages. Students in Delaware schools have learned the importance of saving money, families living in rental housing have been coached along the path to homeownership, and pregnant and parenting young women have learned how to develop financial plans to strengthen their futures.

This year, a total of $270,000 will be made available to support programs that meet criteria established by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner and the Department of Education. Funding for the FLEF is derived from a license fee charged to businesses that make high-cost payday loans and car title loans.

Proposals for competitive grants will be considered on the basis of how they improve the financial literacy of Delawareans, especially programs that are proactive, preventive, and forward-thinking. Applications for programs and services designed to reach populations or geographic regions that have had limited access to financial literacy programs are encouraged, with special emphasis on reaching out to members of the military, seniors and minority communities.

All schools recognized by the Delaware Department of Education and Delaware organizations with 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status are eligible to apply. The FLEF has one competitive grant cycle each year, overseen by an award committee.

Grant applications are due by Friday, September 15, 2017 and must be completed using the form available at banking.delaware.gov. Forms should be emailed to Dawn Hollinger at the Office of the State Bank Commissioner (dawn.hollinger@delaware.gov) along with any attachments. Receipt of grant applications will be confirmed within three business days. If applicants do not receive confirmation, they should contact Dawn Hollinger at 302-739-4235 and resubmit their applications.

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Contact: Doug Denison
Department of State
doug.denison@delaware.gov
302-857-3038

School districts, charter schools can apply for $1 million in new funding

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced on Tuesday that Delaware schools can now apply for $1 million in special funding to improve supports for low-income students, students chronically exposed to stress and trauma, and English language learners.

The new Opportunity Grant program – created and funded by Governor Carney and members of the General Assembly in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget – will help Delaware identify and incentivize schools with proven strategies for helping disadvantaged students succeed in the classroom.

Through September 5, school districts and charter schools can apply for up to 10 competitive Opportunity Grants through the Delaware Department of Education. Schools may receive a maximum of $350,000 in funding to support programs in the 2017-2018 school year.

“We have students in Wilmington and across our state who are affected by significant amounts of trauma and stress in their lives, and we have to do more to support them, help them thrive in school, and prepare them for long-term success,” said Governor Carney. “That’s what this new program is about – providing effective support for Delaware students who need it most. These grants provide additional flexibility for schools serving disadvantaged students, with the expectation that results and successful practices will be shared across schools serving a similar population. Thank you to members of the General Assembly for helping us create this program, and for their leadership on this issue.”

Governor Carney pledged last week that he would take decisive action over the next year to address Delaware’s achievement gap, and he has made it a priority to support disadvantaged students in Wilmington and across the state.

Earlier this month, the Governor announced that Dorrell Green, a longtime Wilmington educator, would lead a new Wilmington-based office to support teachers and students in Wilmington’s neediest schools, and in schools serving at-risk students statewide.

The new Opportunity Grant program will specifically provide additional funding for:

• Integrated student services and trauma-informed supports to low-income students based on their needs, or;
• Additional supports to low-income and English language learner students.

In considering applications for funding, the Department of Education will give preference to school-level initiatives, rather than broader district or organizational programs. Grant applicants must outline a detailed plan for how funds will be used – and grant recipients will be required to provide information on the outcome of the support, in an effort to showcase what is working.

“We know those educators who work most closely with our children know best what supports are needed for their children and community,” said Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “This is a chance for local leaders to design programs and supports that meet those needs and for us to learn from their work to better support other children in our state with similar challenges.”

Grant awards will be announced in September. Superintendents will meet next week with Secretary Bunting, and will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the grant process.

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Related news:
Governor Carney Vetoes 5-Mile Radius Legislation that Limits Options for Wilmington Students
Governor Carney Directs DOE to Create Regulation, Model Policy to Prevent Discrimination in Schools
Governor Carney Announces Selection to Lead DOE’s New Office of Improvement & Innovation

Dover, Del. (July 24, 2017) – The Delaware Division of Small Business, Development & Tourism and Sallie Mae are working to find new jobs in the state for people recently displaced from HSBC and Barclays in the Wilmington area.

Sallie Mae plans to create 285 new positions in northern Delaware bringing its total employment in New Castle County to more than 1,000. The company is negotiating to lease space at the Churchman’s Corporate Center off of DE 273. HSBC announced in May it would be gradually moving employees out of its office at the same location.

The Council on Development Finance Monday heard a proposal for a grant to Sallie Mae from the Delaware Strategic Fund.

The grant would provide an incentive for each worker hired and a small additional amount for each hired from the group affected by changes at HSBC and Barclays.

The total potential outlay from the Strategic Fund is $2.16 million.

Delaware would see an immediate return on investment from these hirings in the form of money not spent on unemployment insurance. A displaced worker that had made around Delaware’s average annual wage would be eligible to receive a maximum of 26 weeks of unemployment insurance totaling more than $8,000.

In 2014 Sallie Mae received a $3.7 million grant from the Strategic Fund to create more than 300 new jobs. By the end of 2016, the company had actually exceeded its original benchmark. Disbursements of that grant were made incrementally as new hires were created. The same would be true for the grant proposal heard on Tuesday.

At the same meeting, CDF also heard a proposal for a $433,500 grant from the Delaware Strategic Fund to General Refrigeration Company. The company has outgrown its current facility in Delmar and plans to expand into a new 49,000-square-foot building south of Laurel. The grant will provide up to $195,000 for 30 new, full-time positions and $238,500 for capital expenditures related to investing in and outfitting the new facility.

CDF is scheduled to vote on the proposals at its August meeting._­

 QUOTES

“We’re glad Sallie Mae has chosen to significantly expand its operations here in Delaware,” said Gov. John Carney. “Delaware has an experienced, skilled financial sector workforce that is perfectly suited for this expansion. And we’re proud to support Sallie Mae, and the Delawareans who work there, as the company continues to put down roots here in our great state.”

“We remain focused on helping grow business in Delaware. And at the same time, we continue to work to encourage our existing business partners to be exceptional corporate citizens,” said Cerron Cade, Director of the Division of Small Business, Development & Tourism. “Keeping workers and the economic benefit they create right here in Delaware is a big win for Sallie Mae and the state.”

“Since our establishment of Sallie Mae as a standalone consumer banking business more than three years ago, we’ve focused on building out our customer service operation. That’s meant hundreds of new jobs here at our headquarters in Delaware,” said Raymond J. Quinlan, chairman and CEO, Sallie Mae. “We are eager to draw again from this talented local workforce as we continue to grow the business.”

Media Contact:
Michael Chesney
Director of Communications
Division of Small Business, Development & Tourism
Michael.Chesney@delaware.gov
(302) 672-6827 (office)
(302) 943-9508 (cell)

New law will allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone without an individual prescription under same protections afforded to doctors

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 48 to expand community access to the life-saving drug naloxone by making it possible for pharmacists to dispense the antidote without an individual prescription under the same legal protections afforded to doctors, peace officers, and people who participate in the Community-Based Naloxone Access Program.

Naloxone, an antidote to opioid overdoses, will be available at the pharmacy counter in participating pharmacies to anyone who is educated on its appropriate use and signs an acknowledgement form. The bill signing took place at a CVS pharmacy in Dover. The law ensures pharmacists can dispense naloxone responsibly without legal, criminal, or disciplinary adverse actions due to injuries or death sustained in connection with administering the drug.

Senator Bryan Townsend and Representative David Bentz sponsored Senate Bill 48, and the legislation passed the General Assembly with unanimous support.

“Increasing our ability to prevent overdose deaths is vital to our response to the addiction epidemic,” said Governor Carney. “Naloxone can give people a second chance to get medical care and be connected to resources to treat their addiction. Signing this legislation empowers pharmacists to join the fight against opioid overdoses and save more lives. Thank you to Senator Townsend, Representative Bentz and all members of the General Assembly for their leadership on this issue.”

“Put simply, this legislation will save lives,” said Senator Townsend, Chair of the Senate Health and Social Services Committee. “We cannot combat the scourge of addiction being felt all across our state without ensuring that every potential life-saving tool is available. Shame, stigma, or fear should not be impediments to Delawareans who, in a moment of crisis, need immediate access to naloxone to reverse an overdose and save the life of a friend or loved one.”

“Policymakers have a duty to address the disease of addiction and reduce its stigma as residents throughout Delaware struggle with substance use disorder,” said Representative Bentz, Chair of the House Health Committee. “Access to naloxone, the overdose-reversing antidote, needs to be a key part of combatting this disease. This legislation is about improving access to naloxone and saving lives. I am proud to see Gov. Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health lead on this initiative, and I feel that we need to continue to place a focus on halting the addiction epidemic, helping families and curbing our state’s ever-growing number of overdose fatalities.”

“Families from up and down the state are impacted by the addiction epidemic and we have to do what we can to make sure that they are equipped with resources to help their loved one – and in some cases a complete stranger – grappling with substance use disorder. Naloxone is one of those valuable resources,” said Representative Paul Baumbach. “We have worked to increase treatment options, and with this bill, we are improving access to naloxone to be used in emergency opioid overdose situations. I am pleased that we were able to work successfully with the pharmacists to improve the bill’s wording, to ensure that Delaware families can be confident that the naloxone they receive was properly dispensed. The state has been diligent about increasing trainings for how to administer naloxone and this legislation coincides with that effort.”

A current standing medical order allows for dispensing of naloxone to be administered via auto-injector and intranasal and intramuscular routes. Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Division of Public Health, will issue a revised standing order in September following Medical Board approval, allowing pharmacists at participating pharmacies to dispense an additional form of the intranasal naloxone which should be available in October 2017.

Naloxone was administered in Delaware 1,535 times in 2016 and 866 times in the first half of 2017.

Within three to five minutes after administration, naloxone can counteract the life-threatening respiratory depression of an opioid-related overdose and stabilize a person’s breathing which buys time for emergency medical help to arrive. DPH recommends calling 9-1-1 immediately if you find someone in the midst of a suspected overdose, starting rescue breathing, and then administering naloxone. Naloxone is not a replacement for emergency medical care and seeking immediate help is still vital.

“The practical effect of Senate Bill 48 is that naloxone will be available essentially over-the-counter following a brief training on appropriate use,” said David Humes, member of the Board of Directors of atTAcK addiction. “We recognize it isn’t a solution to the opiate/heroin epidemic, but it gives a small sense of comfort and security to loved ones that have someone in active use. My son, Greg, died of a relapse after 17 months of sobriety. Had laws such as this been in effect at the time, things may have been very different for Greg and my family. atTAcK addiction will continue to work to support life-saving laws. Our guiding principal is ‘First save the life’ and where there is life, there is hope.”

“DHSS joins atTAcK addiction in this important work. Our first priority is to save lives, and expanding access to this overdose-reversing medication through local pharmacies gives more people in the community the opportunity to help us do that,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. “As we expand access, we also need to figure out new ways to connect Delawareans suffering from addiction to comprehensive and person-centered treatment services so they can begin their recovery from this disease.”

In 2016, 308 people died from overdoses in Delaware, compared to 228 overdose deaths reported in 2015. Through mid-July of this year, there have been 121 suspected overdose deaths.

“Addiction is a chronic disease,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “As with any chronic disease, we need to ensure there is a comprehensive response that meets people where they are. If someone is struggling with an opioid addiction, it is important that family members and loved ones get trained on appropriate naloxone use and have it on hand so they may help their loved one in a time of need. And, visit www.HelpIsHereDE.com to learn more about prevention, detox and treatment resources.”

“We are proud to host Governor Carney and leaders from across Delaware at CVS Pharmacy to sign this important legislation that will build on our continued commitment to helping address and prevent prescription drug abuse in the communities we serve,” said Mark Bastarache Region Manager for CVS Pharmacy. “CVS Health has now worked with 42 states across the country to increase access to this live-saving opioid overdose-reversal drug, in addition to growing our prevention education and safe medication disposal programs.”

All CVS Pharmacy locations in Delaware will begin to dispense naloxone to patients under the Public Health Standing Order later this summer.

Co-sponsors of Senate Bill 48 included Sens. Stephanie Hansen, Gerald Hocker and Ernie Lopez, and Reps. Ruth Briggs King, Debra Heffernan, Deborah Hudson, Helene Keeley, Joseph Miro and Trey Paradee.

For more information on administering naloxone, accessing treatment resources in Delaware, or to learn about the signs of addiction, visit the newly updated Help is Here website at www.HelpIsHereDE.com. If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, call DHSS’ 24/7 Crisis Hotline to be connected to treatment options. In New Castle County, call 800-652-2929, or in Kent and Sussex counties, call 800-345-6785.

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Governor: “This legislation unfairly excludes some of our most vulnerable students.”

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday vetoed House Substitute 1 for House Bill 85, legislation that would remove the five-mile radius as an enrollment preference for Delaware charter schools, while excluding a number of students in the City of Wilmington. The following is a portion of Governor Carney’s statement to the Delaware House of Representatives:

“Educating our children is both a moral and an economic imperative, and the achievement gap in the State of Delaware is a problem that cannot be ignored. At-risk students across our state, but especially in the City of Wilmington, are not getting the education that they deserve. I believe that the sponsors of HS 1 for HB 85 wanted to expand options for students and increase diversity at Delaware charter schools by eliminating the five-mile radius as an enrollment preference. These are goals that I share.

Despite those efforts, this legislation unfairly excludes some of our most vulnerable students. It does not simply remove the five-mile radius preference. The legislation creates a new standard that uniquely limits options for at-risk students in the Christina School District portion of the City of Wilmington – many of the kids who need our help the most – and that is something I cannot support.”

Read Governor Carney’s full veto statement.

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