DOVER  – The Division of Public Health (DPH) invites parents with children from birth to 5 years old to participate in its first Books, Balls and Blocks event, which will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 13, at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center in New Castle, Delaware.

Presented in partnership with DPH’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems program, Help Me Grow Delaware, United Way, Delaware 211, the Delaware Division of Libraries, and New Castle County Public Libraries, the event is fun, educational and free. Parents should plan to stay for the duration.

While children engage in games and activities at six different stations, parents learn how these interactions help stimulate their child’s healthy development. While the children are playing, parents will complete the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). The ASQ-3 is a reliable, valid, and easy-to-use tool recommended to screen young children for developmental delays.

Originally created by Help Me Grow Utah, the Books, Balls and Blocks model is a fun and educational way to provide developmental screenings to children within the first five years of life. The model provides opportunities for families to engage with their children through a variety of play-based activities that promote child development in areas such as early literacy, fine motor skills, gross motor skills and social skills. It also provides families with the resources they need to monitor their children as they meet developmental milestones and how they can get help if they have questions or concerns.

During the event, professionals from Help Me Grow Delaware will administer the ASQ-3 and then share the results with the parents to learn if his or her child’s development:
• Appears to be on schedule.
• Needs to be monitored and the child provided with learning activities.
• Requires further assessment by a professional.

Parents will receive child development resources, new fun playtime activity ideas and a goodie bag. Other community resources will be on site.

Why should children be screened?
• To understand what milestones your children can and should be reaching as they grow.
• To be able to better identify your children’s strengths.
• To give you ways to talk to your doctor or other professionals about your concerns with your children.
• To track your children’s progress over time – a simple way to “journal” their milestone achievement.
• To give you new ideas to use in play with your children and make this time more useful in their development.

What is a developmental screener?
• A tool that has been tested by researchers to ensure that it is measuring developmental milestones seen in all children as they grow.
• Questionnaires meant to be used by all parents and providers to monitor children as they grow.
• A tool to capture patterns of development in children early, helping increase better outcomes for later life, if action is taken.

What is the Ages & Stages Questionnaire?
• Help Me Grow Delaware uses the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) for general development and social-emotional screening.
• It is to be completed by the parent; parents are the experts of their children.

For more information about the Books, Balls and Blocks event, call 302-740-8447 or visit http://dethrives.com/events/event/books-balls-blocks.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

It’s never too early to read or be read to. And to help build the reading, learning, and library habit, Delaware’s First Lady, Tracey Quillen Carney, announced the My First Delaware Library Card and the kids Super Library Card this summer. These new library cards target babies, toddlers, and preschoolers (birth to 5 years old) and school age children (6 to 12).

The new cards are designed to encourage independent reading and book selection and parent/caregiver interaction with children, reading aloud together and talking about book choices and children’s interests. “Reading aloud and talking with babies and children builds skills in communication, listening, memory, and language development – skills that correlate with so many good outcomes later in life, including high-school graduation,” First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney said.

The My First Delaware Library Card features a baby version of Delaware’s state bird, the Blue Hen. And the Super Library Card features superhero children. Cards are currently being rolled out and they will be available at all public libraries by the end of September.

A tracker card comes with each of the new library cards to help develop the library habit. Get your tracker card stamped at every library visit and after 10 visits receive a prize! My First Delaware Library Card members will receive a growth chart after 10 visits; Super Library Card members will receive super hero zipper pulls.

Frequent, habitual use of the new library cards will help children “unleash super powers”!  “The library habit is about raising readers, as well as parent-child engagement and access to other services that support strong and healthy families,” said State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman.

Both cards are free for any child living in Delaware. To register, the parent or guardian should bring their child to their local library and present a photo I.D.  For more information visit delawarelibraries.org/kidscards

About:
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks; programs/workshops; community partnerships; and more.

Delaware’s First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney will kick off the statewide 2018 Summer Library Challenge, Libraries Rock, this week at public libraries in all three counties. She will be joined by special guests Turtle Dance Music, an autism/sensory-friendly performance group.

The kick-off events are:

• 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 15 at the Route 9 Library;
• 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16 at the Greenwood Public Library; and
• 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 16 at the Kent County Public Library.

“Promoting early literacy and school readiness is a critical part of giving all of Delaware’s children a ‘first chance’ to succeed,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. “The library habit is about literacy, as well as parent-child engagement and access to other services that support strong and healthy families. To support our families and a First Chance for all of our children, I encourage every Delawarean to get and use a Delaware library card.”

Delaware libraries are noted for hosting the longest running statewide public library summer reading program in the nation.  Now in its 39th year, the annual Summer Library Challenge provides early literacy programs to help children build and develop reading and language skills; teen programs that motivate teens to read and discuss literature; and programs that encourage adults to experience the joy of reading.

“Librarians help to generate a passion for reading and learning,” said Governor John Carney. “A healthy reading habit motivates, inspires, encourages creativity and prevents the summer slide.”

“For more than 39 years — for generations of Delawareans — Delaware libraries have been cultivating reading and learning passions,” said State Librarian, Dr. Annie Norman. “Whatever your interest, whatever your talent, the library supports it.”

Young “pre-readers” (children who can’t read yet) can get credit for books that are read to them.  Throughout the summer, libraries provide a variety of fun and educational arts, cultural, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs to encourage reading and spark curiosity.

Registration for the Summer Library Challenge is free in-person at all public libraries or online. Incentive prizes are awarded based on reading and activity milestones.  Delaware libraries encourage Delawareans of all ages to track their reading and learning during the summer and throughout life.  A variety of tips, tools, and techniques for tracking individual interests are available on the Unleash Inner Genius guide.

The following programs for children will be presented at all public libraries throughout the state; visit the Summer Library Challenge guide for the schedule of events and additional information:

• Rock the Mic: Hip-Hop & Literacy with musician Baba Bomani, in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts.
• Unexpected Heroes: India Tales presented by New Moon Theater, in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts.
• Science Rocks! learn how sounds are made and how we hear them with the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation.
• Libraries Rock discover the fascinating world of rocks with the Delaware Nature Society

About:
Summer arts programs are supported by the Delaware Division of Libraries and, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division of Arts promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com

Turtle Dance Music furthers early childhood development, autism awareness, music education, STEM, and arts integration through incredible and fun sensory-friendly shows. These performances are supported by Autism Delaware, the Delaware Division of the Arts, and the Delaware Division of Libraries.

Autism Delaware’s mission is to help people and families affected by autism. Their vision is that all people with autism have opportunities to learn, grow and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities.

The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks; programs/workshops; community partnerships; and more.

(Dover, DE) – This week, Delaware joins libraries nationwide in celebrating the many ways libraries enrich their communities through the transformative services and expertise they offer.

April 8-14, 2018 is National Library Week, the annual celebration of the life-changing work of libraries, librarians, and library workers. People of all ages can collaborate, try out new technologies, and develop their skills and passions at Delaware libraries throughout the state.

“We are privileged to partner with our libraries to transform lives through the First Chance Delaware initiative,” said Delaware’s First Lady, Tracey Quillen Carney. “Our goal is to ensure that all of Delaware’s children have a ‘first chance’ to succeed. Certainly, promoting early literacy and school readiness is a critical part of that work; and in addition, libraries are playing an increasingly important role as centers of community life. So the library habit is about literacy, and also about parent-child engagement and access to other services that support strong and healthy families. To support our families and a first chance for all our children, I encourage every Delawarean to get and use a Delaware library card.”

“Delaware has made a great investment in upgrading the services offered to residents in our 33 public libraries across the state,” said Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock. “What’s great about Delaware librarians is their enthusiasm and willingness to adapt to the changing needs of the community,”

Through partnerships, libraries can extend the reach and effectiveness of partner capabilities and resources and foster collaboration. “Libraries level the playing field for people of any age who seek information and access to technologies to improve their quality of life.” said Deputy Secretary of State Courtney Stewart.

Although studies show that in the public’s mind the library brand is “books,” this week showcases libraries’ role to support all topics as a place to “get things done.” As technology evolves, libraries continuously keep pace to ensure individuals and communities excel. Resources like eBooks and technology classes, materials for English-language learners, and programs for job seekers are just a few ways libraries recently — and continuously — transform and lead in their communities.

“Libraries are making experiences come alive, off the page, for our communities,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian. “Libraries are a linchpin for discovery in all subject areas, and we are working with partners and experts to make available a greater array of experiences for our communities. So Delawareans have the opportunity they might not have otherwise to discover a passion, to develop an expertise, and to make connections to support invention and innovation.”

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.

Find more information about your local libraries at https://delawarelibraries.org.

About the Delaware Library Association

The Delaware Library Association is a chapter of the American Library Association, and its mission is to promote the profession of librarianship, to advocate for library services, and to provide information and services for Delawareans. DLA is the only statewide association that represents all types of libraries including academic, public, school, and special libraries.

About the Delaware Division of Libraries

The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/workshops, community partnerships, and more.

#FirstChanceDE, #GetaLibraryCardDE

Governor signs proclamation marking March as Social Work Month

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday recognized the role of Delaware’s social workers as he signed a proclamation marking Social Work Month. The Governor signed the proclamation during an event at the Wilmington Public Library, one of seven libraries statewide where since January social workers have been stationed once a week to answer questions and connect patrons to social services.

“Social workers are a vital source of support for many individuals, families and communities here in Wilmington and throughout our state,” said Governor Carney. “The Social Worker at the Library program is just one way these compassionate, dedicated individuals help others cope and thrive in the face of life’s challenges, and help us build a stronger and healthier Delaware.”

At the libraries, social workers guide patrons through the state’s online benefits application process, steer them to resources that provide basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, health care, child care, and education; connect them with services to treat addiction or address domestic violence; and help them get training and opportunities to find and keep jobs with decent wages. This onsite assistance is provided in addition to the help available at the 15 state service centers.

The social workers who staff the libraries come from the Department of Health and Social Services’ (DHSS) Community Partner Support Unit, operated within the Division of Social Services.

“Our social workers are meeting the community where they are,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of DHSS and board-certified family physician. “As a doctor, I know some of the things my patients need such as housing, employment or transportation can’t be provided through a prescription. In the libraries, our social workers are finding another way to connect individuals to those support services.”

Libraries were identified as a natural fit for this outreach since many people who need assistance are already library patrons.

“Delaware libraries have become ‘force-multipliers’ for community outreach and engagement across the state,” said Dr. Courtney Stewart, Deputy Secretary of State. “This is another outstanding example of the added value our libraries can provide by partnering with agencies and organizations across the social services spectrum.”

“The Division of Libraries is delighted to have the expertise of social workers in libraries to assist patrons in need,” said Dr. Annie Norman, Delaware’s State Librarian. “Now more than 150 agencies and nonprofits are partnering with libraries to extend their reach and effectiveness in providing services to Delawareans across the state.”

Social workers have helped about 150 people since the program’s launch.

“I was homeless for a couple of months, staying in abandoned buildings, on the streets, even benches. I basically broke down and told [social worker Chloe Mayo] my situation,” said Sharis Purnell, a 27-year-old Wilmington woman who recently found help through the Social Worker at the Library program. “She literally called everyone, all the shelters [and other emergency housing resources]. Everything is going to be OK. I’m staying positive. Just when I thought no one cared, I opened my mouth and got the help I needed.”

With additional help from the library staff and from the nonprofit Housing Alliance Delaware, Purnell was offered a temporary bed at the Salvation Army in Wilmington and has been accepted into that organization’s rapid rehousing program, which provides temporary housing subsidies to families and single women. She is also getting help applying for jobs.

“Sharis is 27; my son is 27. If my son ever had a problem, I would want someone to treat him the way I treat Sharis. They’re all our children,” said Chloe Mayo, a social worker in the Division of Social Services. “She’s not going to be able to get rid of me until she’s able to show me she’s on a path to success in life. I see her doing great things.”

Library patrons in Kent and Sussex counties are also benefiting from the social workers’ presence.

Social worker Mel Mahoney recently helped a man complete an online job application in the Dover Library when the applicant did not have a computer or know how to operate one. The man later informed Mahoney that he had been hired for the position.

At the Frankford Library in Sussex County, social worker Dorian Baker has been working with a man in his 60s who needed help applying for medical assistance following a recent stroke, and has returned to the library frequently with questions for Baker about his benefits.

The Division of Social Services has received positive responses to the library pilot program and is placing social workers from the Community Partner Support Unit at other pivotal sites, especially in and around Wilmington.

“We are present at the Hicks Anderson Community Center, Latin American Community Center, and the Department of Correction’s Cherry Lane Probation and Parole Office in New Castle,” said Ray Fitzgerald, Director of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Social Services. “And we’re walking the beat with Wilmington’s community-police unit as part of the city’s West Center City neighborhood stabilization effort. It’s all about increasing access to services by going where our clients are.”

Here’s the statewide schedule for the Social Worker at the Library program:

• North Wilmington Public Library, 34th and Market streets, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fridays
• Wilmington Public Library, 10 E. 10th St., Rodney Square, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays
• Route 9 Library, 3022 New Castle Ave., New Castle, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays
• Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays
• Seaford Public Library, 600 N. Market St. Extension, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays
• Selbyville Public Library, 11 S. Main St., 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Thursdays
• Frankford Public Library, 8 Main St., 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays

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Related:
Social Workers at the Libraries
Governor Carney’s 2018 State of the State
Pilot Program Will Connect Library Patrons to State Services