Delaware partners with organizations, hospitals to stock closets in 45 Delaware schools

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced an initiative to stock basic needs closets in 45 high-needs Delaware schools. The closets will receive supplies in time for the start of the school year thanks to the coordinated efforts of Delaware educators, Delaware businesses, Delaware healthcare institutions, and a partnership with the nonprofit First Book.

Governor Carney showcased the closets at three schools – one in each county – to highlight the impact these free supplies will have on Delaware students and families. Educators at Highlands Elementary School in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, Towne Point Elementary School in the Capital School District, and Phillis Wheatley Elementary School in the Woodbridge School District hosted Thursday’s events.

“Students face tremendous obstacles to doing their best in school when their basic needs are not met,” said Governor Carney. “By coordinating resources throughout the state, we are helping to make certain every Delaware student in high-needs schools has the basic resources many of us take for granted so they can focus on their education and thrive in the classroom. Thank you to all of our partners who helped make this a reality for Delaware students.”

Delaware’s basic needs closets will provide elementary and middle school students across the state with increased access to free products designed to meet students’ needs so they can effectively participate in class. Each school’s basic needs closet will be stocked with products identified by districts and charter schools as essential to the wellbeing of their students, including hygiene products, school supplies, clothes, and more. Students will be able to discreetly access the closets throughout the school year.

Delaware healthcare institutions and businesses statewide donated funding for the closets, including Christiana Care, Bayhealth, Nemours, Incyte, Nanticoke, and Beebe Health Systems, as well as Cover Rossiter, EDiS, and Drinker Biddle. Delaware partnered with the nonprofit First Book to purchase the basic needs products at a reduced rate, as a part of the First Book First State partnership.

Delawareans can visit www.de.gov/schoolclosets to learn how to help.

Follow news about the Basic Needs Closets initiative on social media using the hashtag #firstbookfirststate.

“Since we know that disadvantaged students benefit academically when their basic needs are met, we are truly grateful to have more of these resources available for Delaware schools,” said Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “Our goal is to assure that educators have needed supports so they can prepare all students for long-term success.”

The Governor’s focus on meeting students’ basic needs demonstrates the state’s commitment to supporting the needs of Delaware’s students to help them learn and thrive in school, which is part of the Governor’s broader education policy.

The Delaware Department of Education will be supporting the Basic Needs Closets initiative. Governor Carney in July announced the creation of the Innovation and Improvement office, which will support educators and students in high-needs schools, especially those in the City of Wilmington.

“Our primary goal is to determine school needs and then coordinate supports and resources for students and families so that all students can come to school ready to learn,” said the new Director of Innovation and Improvement Dorrell Green. “To make certain students and families in high-needs schools have what they need to be successful in the classroom, none of us can operate alone.”

Delaware districts and charter schools have also welcomed the basic needs closets as they look for new ways to meet the diverse needs of their students.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in education is children coming to school unprepared to succeed academically,” said Capital School District Superintendent Dan Shelton. “When we can address the immediate concerns first, we give students a greater opportunity to learn and, in turn, provide our teachers with better classroom environments that help every student.”

 

Reaction from Basic Needs partners to Thursday’s announcement:

“We are extremely grateful for the support from the Governor’s office and area partners for their support of students at Highlands Elementary School,” said Red Clay Consolidated School District Superintendent Merv Daugherty. “The Basic Needs Closet will assist students with supplies to benefit their academic growth in the classroom.”

“We are excited to have been chosen as one of the schools that will receive a Basic Needs Closet,” said Heath Chasanov, Superintendent of Woodbridge School District and the 2017-18 President of the Chief School Officers Association. “At Woodbridge, we have always recognized that a student’s physical and emotional needs must be addressed if they are going to have success in the classroom.  This closet will help compliment a number of programs that we have already established that consider all of the needs of our students.”

“We’re very fortunate to have a basic needs closet here at Towne Point,” said Toriano Giddens, Principal of Towne Point Elementary. “Things like food, clothing, and toiletries that many people take for granted, are the same things that many of our students struggle to obtain. So it’s rewarding to be in a position to instantaneously provide some of those items to our students in need. More importantly, when a child’s basic needs are met, they can focus on learning. This is one of the ways we are meeting the needs of the whole child while fulfilling one of the intents of the Capital School District’s strategic plan.”

“Highlands is thrilled to be the recipient of a Basic Needs Closet for our students and their families,” said Highlands Elementary School Principal Barbara Land. “Our school mission is ‘Excellence for every child, every minute, every day, to accelerate achievement and prepare students for life…Together.’  The supplies provided by generous donors helps to ensure that our students are supported and ready to learn.  It really does take a village and we are so grateful for Governor Carney’s support.”

“Providing access for our students to basic needs – such as clothing, school supplies, and food – can make a real difference in their ability to learn at school,” said Principal of Phillis Wheatley Elementary School Principal Lynn Brown. “We tell our students that education is the key to their bright future, and that with hard work and dedication they can accomplish anything.  Not having clothing, food, or materials to work with can get in the way of their success, and we cannot thank you enough for your efforts to bridge the gaps and support us with your commitment to the children of Sussex County through donating these important items.”

“As a not-for-profit health system, Bayhealth is committed to fulfilling its mission ‘to strengthen the health of our community, one life at a time’,” explained Bayhealth Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mike Tretina.  “We honor our community by supporting the Basic Needs Closet in local schools where Bayhealth offers Wellness Centers.”

“When kids lack the most basic needs, including clothing and hygiene, their self-esteem and school attendance suffers,” said Kyle Zimmer, President and CEO of First Book. “Heroic teachers try to bridge the gap in resources — but the need is too great. We applaud the State of Delaware — led by Governor John Carney — for fulfilling these essential needs. This kind of leadership is a critical step in ensuring that all kids have the equal access to a quality education that they deserve.”

“Incyte is proud to partner with the State of Delaware on its Basic Needs Closets initiative,” said Paula Swain, Incyte’s Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Chair of the Incyte Charitable Giving Foundation. “Serving our community and creating positive change is an integral part of our culture. As a company rooted in science, we believe that by helping provide basic necessities to future innovators, they will be better able to focus on education and making a positive impact in our society.”

“Christiana Care is proud to support the Basic Needs Closets Initiative, and we appreciate this opportunity to partner with Governor Carney to support students and families at schools across our community,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and Chief Executive Officer of Christiana Care Health System. “Our commitment to serving our neighbors includes making sure students have what they need to succeed in school, so they can get a good education and lead healthy lives. This program is an innovative example of how we can combine Christiana Care’s commitment to serving our community with the support of other partners in a State-led initiative to address the pressing needs of those we serve – clothing, food and personal care items.”

“At Beebe Healthcare we know from our work in population health that social determinants, like the level of one’s education, can influence our overall health as much, if not more, than many medical interventions and treatments,” said Jeffrey M. Fried, FACHE, President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare. “We think the idea of a basic needs closet for students is a wonderful way to help ensure our students are able to thrive and succeed in a learning environment. We applaud Governor Carney and his administration for creating the Basic Needs Closet for Delaware’s students, and we are pleased to be a partner to help support this wonderful program.”

“Our community’s health is a priority for Nanticoke, as it is for all of Delaware’s hospitals.  The Basic Needs Closet is one more way for us to connect with and support our community,” said Thomas Brown, Senior Vice President of Nanticoke Health Services. “Before she died, my wife Pegeen taught in the Woodbridge School District.  Through her work I saw how much she and other teachers provided to young people out of their own pockets.   So, I know firsthand how important this project is and the daily impact it will make on the lives of these teachers and students.  They will absolutely benefit from the resources these closets will provide.  The Nanticoke family will be supporting this effort on multiple levels, through support from our employees, medical staff and community partners.  Additionally, the organization will support this project through its Pegeen and Samantha Brown Pediatric Fund, providing an additional resource to help ensure the closets in our community have what they need.  Pegeen would be thrilled that the fund in her and our daughter’s memory would help children in the school system that meant so much to her.  Nanticoke Health Services is thrilled as well.”

“Nemours is happy to support Governor John Carney and the Basic Needs Closet Initiative,” said Roy Proujansky, MD, Nemours Executive Vice-President, Chief Executive, Nemours Delaware Valley Operations. “Nemours Children’s Health System is focused on improving the health of children through clinical care as well as programs that ensure they have the tools necessary to live healthy, productive lives. This Initiative is a fundamental form of preventative care that will have a positive impact on children in the surrounding areas and we are excited to be a part of such a great effort.”

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RGGI announced plan to continue emissions reduction program through 2030; reductions will help meet U.S. Climate Alliance goal

WILMINGTON, Del. – On Wednesday, the nine northeast states that comprise the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced their intent to continue this successful emissions reduction program through 2030. The RGGI states, including Delaware, also announced improvements to the program that will begin in 2021; these improvements will serve to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the region from the electricity sector by an additional 30 percent between 2021 and 2030. The additional reductions in emissions will help Delaware meet the goals of the U.S. Climate Alliance, which Delaware joined in June to uphold the goals of the Paris Agreement to combat climate change. Governor Carney issued the following statement on Wednesday’s RGGI announcement.

“In the absence of federal leadership on climate change, RGGI is a critically important tool for ensuring real reductions in planet-warming greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide,” said Governor Carney. “I am pleased that the nine RGGI states came together to agree to an emissions cap that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by an additional 30 percent by 2030. RGGI is not only a national model, but a global model for collaboration on reducing harmful greenhouse gases while growing the economy and protecting public health. This will also help us meet the goals of the U.S. Climate Alliance, and we are proud to stand by the 13 other states providing necessary leadership on the issue of climate change.”

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Related news:
Governor Carney to Trump Administration; No Drilling in the Atlantic
Delaware Joins U.S. Climate Alliance to Uphold Goals of Paris Agreement
Governor Carney’s Statement on President Trump’s Order to Review Offshore Drilling Restrictions

 

Governor opposed oil and gas leasing in federal waters off Delaware, or elsewhere in Atlantic

WILMINGTON, Del. – In a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Governor John Carney opposed drilling for oil and gas in federal waters off the coast of Delaware, or elsewhere in the Atlantic. President Trump in April issued an executive order to review restrictions on offshore drilling imposed by the Obama Administration. The following are excerpts from Governor Carney’s letter last week to Secretary Zinke:

“Delawareans rely upon and enjoy our abundant coastal resources. Over 60,000 jobs directly or indirectly support the fishing, tourism and recreation sectors. Coast-related activities contribute almost $7 billion in economic production to the state. According to a 2012 analysis performed by the Delaware Sea Grant, more than 10 percent of the state’s total employment, taxes and production value can be attributed to coastal related activities. Preserving the coastal environment is essential to Delaware’s economic well-being, as well as vital to maintaining a high quality of life for its residents. The majority of coastal residents perceive offshore oil and gas exploration as a threat to their communities and livelihoods.”

“We as a nation share the responsibility to ensure that energy decisions do not exacerbate the problems associated with climate change that are already being witnessed. The State of Delaware stands firm in its commitment to alternative energy development, and has prioritized working with neighboring states to develop a comprehensive strategy that will maximize the environmental and economic development benefits of adopting renewable energy. As such, I am opposed to any oil and gas leasing in federal waters offshore of Delaware, or elsewhere in the Atlantic.”

Download Governor Carney’s letter to Secretary Zinke here.

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Related news:
Governor Carney’s Statement on President Trump’s Order to Review Offshore Drilling Restrictions

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Sunday published an op-ed in The News Journal titled, “Innovation is Delaware’s path to jobs and prosperity.” In the op-ed, Governor Carney outlines what his administration is doing differently to transition Delaware’s economy, to keep the state competitive, and to make sure Delaware is positioned to create good-paying jobs.

Below is the text from Governor Carney’s op-ed:

CARNEY: “Innovation is Delaware’s path to jobs and prosperity”
By Gov. John Carney

Incyte near Alapocas. Avalanche Industries in Selbyville. Fair Square Financial in Wilmington. ILC Dover in Frederica.

These Delaware-based companies all have this in common: they are relying on innovation to compete in their industries, and create jobs right here in our state.

And that’s something we need more of.

It’s no secret that Delaware’s economy has undergone a period of significant transition.

Since 1990, the percentage of Delaware’s economy consisting of manufacturing jobs has been cut in half.

DuPont now employs fewer than 6,000 people in Delaware, down from more than 30,000.

Automobile manufacturing plants closed in Newport and Newark, and the steel mill in Claymont was shuttered, eliminating job opportunities that existed for generations of Delawareans.

These losses have been difficult for many in our state.

But the bottom line is this: Delaware’s economy has changed and we must change with it.

Our economy has become more entrepreneurial and small-business driven. Innovative companies demand higher-skilled workers, and we’re competing not just with other states, but with other countries, for jobs and talent.

We must do things differently to ensure that Delaware remains a leading state to do business, and create good-paying jobs.

Here’s what my administration is doing to help:

Earlier this year, we partnered with DuPont and the University of Delaware to create the Delaware Innovation Space. This is a nonprofit that offers what many start-ups cannot afford on their own: state-of-the-art laboratories, premium lab equipment, and quality office space.

It uses the campus at DuPont’s Experimental Station near Wilmington. This is the same research campus where Delaware scientists invented Nylon and Kevlar — inventions that powered the company, and supported good-paying Delaware jobs for generations. Delaware entrepreneurs at the Innovation Space now have access to business and scientific leaders at the Experimental Station, mentoring programs, hands-on support and education to help them grow, thrive, and create jobs.

We believe this has the possibility to be transformational for companies housed at the Innovation Space. But we also believe this kind of partnership — one that draws on our state’s economic strengths to support new business and job growth — ought to serve as a model for how we improve Delaware’s economy.

Last week, I visited the Innovation Space, and signed paperwork creating the Delaware Prosperity Partnership — a public-private partnership that will lead business marketing efforts for the state. The Partnership will focus on attracting early-stage and technology-focused businesses, recruitment of large employers, and expansion of international business opportunities for Delaware companies.

The Partnership is the centerpiece of our new economic development strategy to position our state to lead in a 21st century economy.

I am personally committed to this effort.

I will chair the Board of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership. The Partnership’s directors will include members of the business community in all three counties, and it will be run day-to-day by a chief executive officer and a full-time staff.

It will work with employers and Delaware educators to make sure we’re training our students to do the jobs Delaware employers need to fill. The University of Delaware, Delaware Tech, Delaware State University, and other leaders in education, have an important role in preparing Delawareans for the workforce, and positioning Delaware’s economy to succeed.

Government, of course, will continue to play an important role in economic development. Within the Department of State, we have created the new Division of Small Business, Development, and Tourism that will focus on supporting Delaware’s small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Division leaders will provide guidance to small business owners on how to navigate local, state and federal laws and regulations. They will help small businesses identify local incubator programs, financing programs, networking events, and other resources.

And the division will improve the state’s outreach to women, minority and veteran-owned businesses. These businesses are crucial to empowering entrepreneurs and creating economic opportunities in diverse communities.

Importantly, this new state government division also will continue to provide oversight of taxpayer-funded programs that provide incentives for businesses to create new jobs in Delaware, and re-locate here.

We operate in a competitive environment, and it is important that we do not allow other states to out-compete Delaware for jobs. But oversight of these taxpayer-funded incentives belongs in government, and that will not change under our new plan.

This month, I am traveling our state to listen to Delaware’s business leaders on a Jobs & Economy Tour. Alongside members of the General Assembly, I have begun a series of roundtables with small business owners. Already we’ve heard the importance of addressing balanced tax and spending policies and addressing rising healthcare costs for businesses.

We also will tour innovative businesses to learn what has made them successful, and see how we can contribute to their success. I visited The Mill in Wilmington this week. I plan to tour companies like Avalanche Industries in Selbyville.

And we’ll visit the pharmaceutical company Incyte — a real Delaware success story. The company grew out of its space at the DuPont Experimental Station and, later this year, will move hundreds of employees into a renovated headquarters at Augustine Cut-off.

We intend to continue building on this momentum.

We recognize that our economy has fundamentally changed, and we must be willing to adapt to keep pace with changing times. As I said when I took office in January, we can no longer expect any single industry or company to be responsible for Delaware’s economic stability, let alone our future.

We are working hard to transition Delaware’s economy, to keep our state competitive, and to make sure we are positioned to create good-paying jobs. This has to be our top priority.

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Legislation, sponsored by Representative Baumbach, requires additional notifications, free credit monitoring

NEWARK, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday signed into law House Substitute 1 for House Bill 180, legislation that requires additional protections for Delawareans whose personal information may be compromised in a computer breach, including additional notifications and free credit monitoring services.

Representative Paul Baumbach sponsored the legislation, which passed the General Assembly with broad bipartisan support. The new law requires businesses to safeguard information, and requires businesses to provide free credit monitoring services for customers whose sensitive personal information is compromised in a cybersecurity breach. With Governor Carney’s signature on Thursday, Delaware became just the second state to require businesses to provide those services, after Connecticut.

 

“We live in a digital world where threats to personal information are becoming more common, and the cyber threat is one of the most serious economic challenges we face,” said Governor John Carney. “It makes sense to offer additional protections for Delawareans who may have their information compromised in a cybersecurity breach. At the same time, we will continue to connect businesses to training and resources that will help them safeguard and protect their data. I was also proud to sign this legislation on Thursday alongside Dr. Assanis at the University of Delaware, an institution that is helping lead innovation around cybersecurity. Thank you to Representative Baumbach for leading on this issue, and to all members of the General Assembly who voted to approve these new consumer protections.”

“We have worked with many stakeholders to perfect this cybersecurity legislation so that Delawareans will have proper consumer notifications and protections in place when there is a security breach of personal information. In our technological-driven world these data breaches have become too common and impact a wide variety of individuals. We had to find a way to address those concerns,” said Representative Baumbach, D-Newark. “This is a meaningful step forward in addressing these breaches so that we guarantee better protections for our residents and help them rebuild their lives after a cyber-attack. In particular, the bill focuses on notification requirements and additional help with identity theft mitigation services in cases where Social Security numbers are breached.”

House Bill 180 provides the first updates in Delaware law in more than a decade to address advances in cyber threats. The new law will require all companies doing business in Delaware to implement and maintain reasonable security to protect personal information. Delaware is one of 14 states to impose explicit data security obligations on the private sector.

Thursday’s signing ceremony was held at the University of Delaware, which offers a master’s program in cybersecurity to help drive innovation. UD’s Small Business Development Center also trains small businesses to identify cybersecurity threats and protect their business and customer data.

“The University of Delaware is committed to working with the state and our other partners to address the large and growing challenges of cybersecurity,” said Dr. Dennis Assanis, President of the University of Delaware. “UD is devoting unique resources to developing and advancing technologies and solutions for a safe and resilient cyberspace by contributing our expertise in computer science, corporate governance and public policy.”

“The Delaware Small Business Development Center is proud to be part of the Governor’s signing of House Bill 180,” said Daniel Eliot, the Manager of Technology Business Development at UD’s Small Business Development Center. “For the last two years, we have worked closely with the state and other stakeholders, focused on providing training and resources to help Delaware’s small businesses make a reasonable effort to secure their businesses. It’s a matter of fact: all businesses today are technology-based businesses and are vulnerable to cyber breach. We want to be sure Delaware’s businesses are technologically and behaviorally prepared to combat such attacks.”

“The increase in cyberattacks and data breaches creates an imperative for Delaware to protect citizen information commonly used by criminals to perpetrate identity theft and fraud,” said James Collins, Chief Information Officer at the Delaware Department of Technology and Information. “We all know that prevention is the best strategy and that is our main goal. We want to be proactive so that our citizens and business community can avoid these threats.”

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