Children’s Dept. Makes $1.9M Available for After School and Summer Prevention Programs

Wilmington, DE – The Delaware Children’s Department is making $1.9 Million dollars in grant funding available to community and faith based organizations, schools, non-profit and for profit agencies and governmental agencies to implement after school and summer youth prevention programming. The Department (DSCYF) through its Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services (PBHS) is accepting applications for the funding through September 19th. An informational bidder’s conference will be held September 3rd.

Programs must include evidence based practices or programs related to preventing youth violence and/or youth suicide. They must also include positive opportunities for youth by using curriculums that are academic, cultural, artistic, agricultural or recreational in nature, and include information on how children will access the program. Successful applicants must also agree to receive training in suicide and violence prevention strategies.

In his State of the State in January, Governor Jack Markell proposed providing more opportunities for “after-school and summer activities that get kids off the streets and give them exposure to the arts, nature, and physical activity.” The General Assembly supported his budget request with $2.2 million in funding.

“Children all across our state will benefit from enhanced educational and recreational activities as well as access to additional emotional supports,” said Markell. “These programs improve academic performance, reduce drop-out rates and depression, improve self-control and self-esteem, and prevent risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use. They are a vital part of our larger goal to give all of Delaware’s young people a quality education.”

This initiative is an outgrowth of the initial recommendations by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the 2012 Adolescent Suicides in Kent County which pointed to a lack of after-school activities for youth in Kent and Sussex Counties.

“These programs will help enhance the overall well-being of Delaware’s children,” said Lt. Governor Matt Denn, who has championed expanding access to children’s mental health services. “For instance, tutoring programs will keep children on track academically, and arts programs will engage them creatively, both of which we need to help build a stronger future for Delaware.”

This is the second announcement of funding allocated toward after school and summer prevention programming. In July, the Department announced the availability of $200,000.00 worth of prevention mini grants to put some of the funds to use immediately. Children’s Department Cabinet Secretary Jennifer Ranji said each initiative builds on the next.

“We are building on and expanding our network of community service providers to create a safety net of resources for children,” said Secretary Ranji. “Our goal is to build on their strengths in order to develop stronger, more resilient children who are empowered to envision a hopeful and successful future.

The RFP for “After School and Summer Youth Prevention Programming” can be found on the Children’s Department website at www.kids.delaware.gov and the state bid website at www.bids.delaware.gov under the title “Community Prevention Services”. Questions about the RFP should be directed to H. Ryan Bolles, DSCYF Procurement Administrator, at Herbert.Bolles@delaware.gov or (302) 633-2701.

The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance problems, have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth.


Children’s Department Recruiting for 30 Behavioral Health Consultants

Wilmington – A massive recruitment effort is now underway to fill 30 positions for Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs) in middle schools statewide. The Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF) through its Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services (PBHS), has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to fill these positions in response to funding made available by the General Assembly through Governor Jack Markell’s budget initiatives to expand access to mental health services for children.

“We owe it to our youth to ensure they have access to the services they need to get the most out of their school experience,” said Governor Markell. “The work of our Behavioral Health Consultants is vital to our mission of giving every Delawarean the best chance to reach their potential. These specialists will fill a critical gap in services and provide help to children at a vulnerable time in their young lives.”

While many Delaware elementary schools have Family Crisis Therapists and high schools have Wellness Centers where children can access help, middle schools have lacked similar supports. In his State of the State, Markell emphasized the “huge gap in our care for adolescents” and asked the General Assembly to help him address this need. The budget funded his proposed ten-fold increase in the number of trained, front line mental health personnel in our middle schools.

BHCs are highly trained and licensed mental health professionals. They provide suicide risk assessments, substance abuse and trauma screening, short-term individual and family counseling, training and consultation for parents, teachers and administrators, and referrals to longer term treatment in the community. As part of the RFP, PBHS is also looking for a Contract Manager to oversee the program along with three County Coordinators. Applications are due by September 12th.

Lt. Governor Matt Denn worked with the Governor and DSCYF to champion this initiative which will place at least one BHC in every school district in Delaware. “Every step we take brings us closer to helping students in need, so I am hopeful that the RFP process brings us quality candidates who can get into schools quickly in order to start making a difference,” said Lt. Governor Denn.

A Delaware Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed the need for middle school students’ access to mental health services through the following data: Over 20% of Middle school students reported having seriously considered suicide at some point in their life; 33% reported using alcohol; 14% reported having used drugs.

DSCYF Secretary Jennifer Ranji says, “The pre-teen, years can be very challenging for our young people. Negative behaviors that stem from an inability to cope with those challenges can result in family stress and suspension or expulsion from school – changes that can impact a child for a lifetime. The BHCs will help us identify at risk children earlier than before, so that we can provide appropriate interventions, and improve the number of positive and successful outcomes for these youth”.

The RFP and application instructions can be found on the DSCYF website at www.kids.delaware.gov, or the State bid website at www.bids.delaware.gov under the title of Behavioral Health Services. Questions should be directed to H. Ryan Bolles, DSCYF Procurement Administrator, at herbert.bolles@delaware.gov or (302) 633-2701.

The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance problems, have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.


300 to gather for foster parent conference in Dover

Dover – Nearly 300 foster families, Division of Family Services staff and service providers will gather in Dover on Thursday May 30th, to learn more about best practice tools and strategies to help care for children who experience Delaware’s foster care system. The theme for the Foster Parent Conference and Recognition Luncheon hosted by the State’s Division of Family Services (DFS) is Partners in Progress: Healing Through Hope. This is the second year that conference workshops have spanned a full day instead of a half day as in previous years. DFS officials say foster parents provide a critically important role in Delaware’s child protective services system.

“They open their hearts and their homes to care for these children, many of whom have experienced a variety of trauma in their young lives, and provide love, nurturing, stability, safety and support,” said DFS Director Vicky Kelly. “It is our goal to support them through this conference so they can even more effectively care for the children who enter their homes.”

Workshops cover a variety of topics including strategies for dealing with difficult behaviors, how to help children maintain familial bonds and connections while in care, the impact of trauma on behavior, and helping children in care get through school. Keynote speakers include the Reverend Darrell L. Armstrong discussing “Congregational Home Visiting,” a program that trains clergy to plan and implement programming related to child abuse & neglect, and Mr. William Kellibrew IV, a motivational speaker on civil, human, women, children and victims’ rights and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) consultant who will speak about his own experiences with the impact of trauma.

Foster parents provide a temporary home to children who have entered the child protective services system due to abandonment, abuse and/or neglect and prepare them to either reunify with their birth family or move onto a new permanent family when reunification is not appropriate. There are nearly 800 children currently in foster care in Delaware.

“I see foster parents as the starting point for our children’s healing journey,” said Jennifer Ranji, Cabinet Secretary for the Children’s Department. “As the theme for the conference indicates, we want to continue to build our partnership with our foster parents and to hear from them regarding initiatives we’re developing to better support their work with children in very challenging circumstances.” These initiatives include additional training opportunities and respite support.

Additionally, the Division of Family Services is in need of, and actively recruiting, more families to care for children with special needs including teens, sibling groups and children with special needs or who are medically fragile.

The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance problems, have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.


19th Annual Delaware Prevention Forum Kicks off Mental Health Month

Dover – “Building a System of Care to Support Youth, Families and Communities” is the theme for the 19th annual Delaware Prevention and Behavioral Health Forum held May 1st and 2nd at the Dover Sheraton. The two-day conference, which coincides with the start of Mental Health Month, provides an opportunity for attendees to hear and explore the latest theory and science, research findings, practical application, as well as innovative approaches and emerging trends in the field of child mental health. The Forum is expected to draw 450 attendees.

Governor Jack Markell presented a proclamation recognizing May as Mental Health Month and spoke about the importance of treatment and early intervention. “Children and youth dealing with mental or behavioral health issues need the services and supports that will enable them to achieve their full potential. Suicides among youth are the most tragic child mental health problem in our state. We must close a gap in the care of our adolescents by providing mental health resources in our middle schools. This investment will help ensure our kids get the services they deserve and over the long term, help Delaware build a better private network of child mental health providers. ” Governor Markell’s recommended budget for FY 14 includes a ten-fold increase in the number of trained, front line Behavioral Health Consultants in middle schools and after school and summer programming for youth statewide.

Workshops at the Forum covered a variety of topics including practices surrounding trauma informed care, the impact of gang violence and gun control on communities, and the inclusion of spirituality in mental health practice. Keynote speakers included Dr. William Geary, Ph.D., of CADCA’s National Coalition Institute who will address the Role of Treatment in Community-wide Prevention and Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H. a child and adolescent mental health services researcher who will speak on Engaging Families and Children in Mental Health Services: The ACCESS Challenge.

Nearly one in five Delaware children, ages 2 – 17, to have one or more emotional or behavioral health conditions according to Kids Count data. “Working with pediatricians, mental health practitioners, early care and education programs, families and other community partners we can continue to strengthen our system of care, help remove the stigma associated with mental health issues for children, and put them on the pathway to a hopeful and fulfilling future,” said Jennifer Ranji, Secretary for the Delaware Children’s Department. The Department’s Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services organizes the Forum each year.

The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance problems, have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.


Governor Jack Markell Presents Donated Books to Terry Children’s Center

Wilmington – Applauding the public’s generosity during a month-long book drive in February, today Governor Jack Markell presented a portion of 3,000 books donated to the Terry Children’s Center (TCC). Joined by Secretary Jennifer Ranji of the Delaware Children’s Department and TCC staff, Governor Markell indicated that the large stacks of books displayed behind him represented only a fraction of the donated reading materials being presented. The book drive, entitled “Enjoy Reading? Share the Love,” was publicized primarily through social media including Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube.

“I am constantly inspired by the goodwill and supportive nature of Delawareans,” said Governor Markell. “We’re finding more frequently, that the power of social media can be harnessed for the collective good of society. In this case, it will enhance the quality of life and academic enrichment for the children served here at the Terry Children’s Center.”
Operated by the Delaware Children’s Department, the TCC provides services to children ages 6 – 12, who may be experiencing one or more of a variety of mental health challenges. Bothresidential and day treatment services are available. The donated books will further help support the children’s treatment efforts.

“We’re grateful to the Governor and his staff for spearheading this effort and for the overwhelming response by the public,” said Secretary Ranji. “These books will provide increased opportunities for children to have focused, one-on-one interaction with not only staff, but also their parents as they read these new selections to them.”
Also joining the Governor and Department staff for the event were representatives from the Delaware Division of Libraries and AmeriCorps, both of which were recognized for the significant role they played in the book drive. Eight State Library sites across Delaware served as collection sites for the books, including:Wilmington, Hockessin, Kirkwood, Newark, Appoqunimink, Dover, Bridgeville, and Millsboro Public Libraries.

“The state’s libraries played an important part in this effort, which had a simple mission but will have long-lasting positive impact on our young people at the Terry Center,” said Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, who oversees the Division of Libraries. “Our libraries play so many important roles in our communities, and they continue to make Delaware a great place to live and grow.”

AmeriCorps members were instrumental in coordinating pick up of the books from each of the sites throughout the campaign and delivering them to the Children’s Department so that staff could screen them for age and subject matter appropriateness. The heart of AmeriCorps mission is service to others.

“The Share the Love Book Drive was a great way for Delaware’s AmeriCorps members to help meet another community need and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children,” said Charles A. Harris, Social Services Administrator and Delaware AmeriCorps Program Director at DHSS. “For our members, it was an opportunity to join in and learn as the state engaged the public and various partners in serving others.”

The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance problems, have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.