WILMINGTON, Del. — Surrounded by school and community leaders, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long announced a new program Tuesday to support the educational journeys of Delaware students from minoritized communities.   

STAR-Delaware Merit is a statewide essay-based merit awards initiative coordinated by Lt. Governor Hall-Long’s Office and participating public school districts. In the wake of COVID-19, the education of our kids has never been more important. The pandemic has had an undeniable impact on students, especially Black students. A study by the Black Education Research Collective (BERC) at Columbia University’s Teachers College, took a deep dive in how the pandemic affected the education of Black students, citing the importance of schools responding to the social, emotional, and academic needs of Black students.  

STAR-Delaware Merit seeks to directly engage sixth to eighth graders from minoritized communities through creative writing around their higher education aspirations. As part of the program, qualifying students can submit essays to share their educational dreams, including what classes they are taking to help achieve those dreams. Students are eligible for $100-$150 awards. The initiative is funded solely through private dollars by the STAR Scholarship Foundation and philanthropist Paul Peck, which has supported student aspirations in other states like Montgomery County, Maryland.  

Unveiled Tuesday at DETV studios, a panel moderated by Lt. Governor Hall-Long that included members of the Divine Nine, Christina and Capital School Districts, and local leaders, discussed the benefit for students, touching on the power of mentoring, family engagement, and financial empowerment. 

“Schools lay the foundation for the success of our children, and it is paramount to support our students in their quest to follow their dreams. That’s the beauty of this new initiative: We are encouraging our kids to envision their future and how they can achieve it by putting pen to paper,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long. “I am so thankful for Paul Peck, the STAR Scholarship Foundation, and the Delaware school district leaders who will be piloting this initiative for their students. I look forward to seeing our kids’ dreams take flight with the support of mentors and an inclusive school environment.” 

Participating public school districts will share information with their school communities and vet applications. Here are the inaugural participating school districts in the soft launch: 

• Red Clay School District 
• Christina School District 
• Colonial School District 
• Capital School District 
• Caesar Rodney School District 
• Laurel School District 

School districts with any questions should reach out to the Lt. Governor’s Office at this contact form.  

Photo Caption: From left to right, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, State Auditor Lydia York, Christina School District’s Paul Dunford, Tech+Equity Executive Director Thais Greca, Capital School District Superintendent Dr. Vilicia Cade, and Dr. Keith Pettiford, psychologist and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. participate in a discussion around STAR-Delaware Merit. 

DOVER, Del. — For the first time in a decade, the number of overdose deaths in Delaware has decreased. According to data from the Delaware Division of Forensic Science, there were 527 accidental drug overdose deaths in 2023, representing a 1.8% decrease compared to 2022.  

“As a public health nurse, I applaud this progress. We are optimistic our efforts are having an impact, but the fact still remains that we have lost too many Delawareans to this crisis. We have much work to do,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, research scientist and Chair of the Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium, PhD, RN. “It has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach to get this far. As we continue forward, I want to thank the many grassroots advocates, nonprofits, state and local government agencies, our General Assembly, and especially, family members, for leaning in and collaborating on how to provide the best treatment, prevention, and recovery models for Delawareans.” 

Added Division of Forensic Science Director John Evans, “The good news is for the first time in 10 years Delaware’s overdose fatality statistics show a decline. We are hopeful with our current partnerships, increased awareness, and prevention initiatives we will continue to make progress.” 

When looking at this issue holistically, more than 140,000 Delaware adults are living with a substance use disorder. Additionally, the state has seen challenging trends that deserve attention; Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) statistics indicate rising fatal overdoses and drug use in Black and Hispanic/Latino communities. 

“Our strategy has been consistent while also allowing room for innovation and addressing emerging trends. The core strategy is to address the stigma that may keep someone from seeking help, to enlist more healthcare providers in screening patients for opiate use disorder and referring them to treatment, and to make sure doctors know how to treat patients with medication for opiate use disorder,” said DSAMH Director Joanna Champney. “We also continue to blanket the state with Narcan and to fund programs that reach people where they are – whether that’s in rural areas, or in police stations, or through street outreach. The number of organizations we’re enlisting to save lives continues to grow. And when people are ready to get help, we’re ensuring that addiction treatment services are available for them, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.” 

To address the root causes of this crisis on the ground, there have been policy and education efforts, coordinated behavioral health care, and increased funding for the opioid crisis through the years. As an example, the Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium (BHC), a national model, has focused on addressing prevention, education, treatment, and recovery for mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders through the lens of social determinants of health. The group drives collaboration by coordinating listening sessions, working to reduce the stigma, ensuring adequate resources, advancing policy, and more. 

Additionally, the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission (POSDC), a subcommittee of the BHC, is charged with distributing over $250 million in opioid settlement funds to expand access to substance use treatment services and combat the opioid crisis in Delaware. The Department of Justice and municipalities have fought tirelessly for these funds. So far, the POSDC has awarded more than $10 million. 

“With the leadership of the Behavioral Health Consortium, and in partnership with the Attorney General and our sister state agencies, we have been working tirelessly to support Delawareans living with mental illness or substance use disorder,” continued Lt. Governor Hall-Long, who also serves as co-chair of the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission with Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “We can combat these issues head-on through dedicated funding and a commitment to equity to reach every corner of our state, so we have more families celebrating holidays together instead of mourning an empty seat at the kitchen table.” 

State leaders will discuss these numbers and the continued efforts to combat this crisis at DSAMH’s April opioid crisis briefing. A press advisory will be shared for the briefing at a later date.   

DOVER, Del. — Following the Delaware Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 2(S), which would add Delaware to the growing number of states to require a permit and training to purchase a handgun, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long released the following statement. The bill was sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman and House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown. 

“Gun violence is a public health crisis, full stop. It’s on all of us to take a stand for safer communities, so I applaud the Delaware General Assembly for passing common-sense legislation to protect our kids and families,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long, PhD, RN. “Gun violence has caused far too many families to live with aching hearts and an empty seat at their kitchen table. With legislation like SB 2(S), we are on the path toward a safer future. I want to thank the countless advocates and legislative champions like Sen. Lockman and Rep. Minor-Brown for shepherding permit to purchase across the finish line.”  

National data shows that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. Going further, research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) cites that an estimated 4.6 million U.S. children live in homes with at least one loaded and unlocked gun. Delaware law currently requires the safe storage of firearms, which is a best practice to help to protect both adults and children from dire consequences.   

Over the last five years, The First State has pursued comprehensive gun safety legislation. In 2022, Governor John Carney signed a historic package of common-sense gun safety bills including measures to strengthen background checks and raise the age from 18 to 21 to purchase most firearms.  

WILMINGTON, Del. – One year after launching an initiative to provide Delaware parents with free infant formula, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long announced Monday a further expansion of product availability statewide in an effort to distribute the remaining supply of formula to residents in every corner of the state. 

Last year, Lt. Governor Hall-Long, in conjunction with state and community partners, launched the Infant Formula Distribution Program, responding to a national infant formula shortage. They secured 44,000 canisters of Care A2+ infant formula to be provided to parents of children under the age of one throughout the state. The program was expanded last summer to remove the limit on canisters people could receive.  

As of early March, approximately 15,500 canisters remain to be distributed to nonprofits. The batches of formula will begin to expire this fall, making it imperative to raise awareness about its availability. There are now more than 35 sites across all three counties that carry the canisters. The program also partners on special events and directly with nonprofits to reach constituents. To view a full list of public sites, visit the lieutenant governor’s website.   

“When the infant formula shortage was reaching a crisis level during COVID, we took action. I was proud to lead with our remarkable partners to protect Delaware’s children. No one should have to choose between feeding their child or heating their home,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long. “I’m so thrilled we continue to expand this program and ensure free infant formula gets in the hands of those who need it. I’m so thankful for the many partners – state and community wide – who truly make a difference in the lives of others.” 

“We know that budgets are incredibly tight,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “The state of Delaware’s formula initiative gives families peace of mind that assistance is available. No family should have to worry about how they’ll feed their infant, we are so grateful that free formula is available to Delaware families who need a little extra help.” 

The initiative, which kicked off in February 2023, was made possible due to the collaboration of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, Governor John Carney, Donate Delaware, Highmark Delaware, Bank of America, Genesco Pharma, Delaware Division of Public Health, Food Bank of Delaware and countless community partners. The Division of Public Health selected Care A2+ because of the similar ingredients to Similac, a widely used formula brand in the United States.  

“Donate Delaware remains committed to supporting mothers and their families through infant formula distribution programs like Harper’s Heart and others. Thanks to the leadership of Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long and her team, Donate Delaware and other partners have been able to provide mothers statewide with tens of thousands of cannisters of needed baby formula free of charge. During these challenging economic times for families, it is critical that our infants are properly nourished regardless of their income status. The early years of infant development are essential to supporting learning and good nutrition is a foundation upon which a healthy child’s growth rests,” said Dr. Robert Andrzejewski, CEO of Donate Delaware. 

Delaware families with a child under the age of one are eligible to receive 28.2-oz canisters of Care A2+ infant formula while supplies last. It is important to follow the directions on the label for your child, and do not water down formula. 

“You can’t do everything alone – so it is so important that we are able to collaborate to meet the needs of our community, said Giovanna Andrews, Founder and CEO of Harper’s Heart. “I’m grateful to be one slice of the pie in this huge operation so families can get what they need, which is food for their babies. This was a heroic initiative and I am proud to be part of the solution to help families.”  

The batches of formula will expire in October 2024 and December 2024. If you have questions about formula use, please contact your pediatrician and visit the FDA’s website.