NEW CASTLE  – The Delaware Health and Social Services’ Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities will seek public comment on its proposed State Plan on Aging covering October 2012 through September 2015.

The state plan has been developed to meet requirements under Title III and Title VII of the Older Americans Act. The titles provide funding for a variety of programs and services for older Delawareans and their caregivers including supportive services; nutrition programs; disease prevention and health promotion initiatives; elder rights protection activities; and caregiver support programs.

A copy of the draft plan may be obtained by following the links on the division’s website at:
http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsaapd/index.html

The state also has scheduled three hearings, one in each county, to provide an opportunity for the public to offer comments and suggestions on the plan. The schedule is:

April 24: 1-3 p.m., Easter Seals Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 61 Corporate Circle, New Castle.

April 25: 1-3 p.m., Modern Maturity Center, East Wing Conference Room, 1121 Forrest Ave., Dover.

April 26: 10 a.m.-noon, CHEER Community Center, 20520 Sand Hill Road, Georgetown.

The older population in Delaware, as in the rest of the nation, is growing quickly. Currently, about one in five Delawareans is 60 or older. By 2020, that age group will make up one-fourth of the state’s population, or more than 250,000 people. That same year, the population consisting of the “oldest old” (age 85 and older) is projected to have grown by 147.5 percent since 2000.

“As Delaware’s aging population grows, so will the demand for vital state services,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “It is important to have the input of as many Delawareans as possible so we tailor these services to meet the needs of our seniors.”

The Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities will use the strategies in the State Plan on Aging to address the growing and changing needs of older Delawareans and persons with disabilities.

“Consistently, AARP studies show that 90 percent of individuals 65 and older want to age in their own homes,” DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf said. “In Delaware, we must support this growing population by improving their ability to access important services. Supporting the expansion of home- and community-based services will allow seniors and adults with disabilities to achieve a high quality of life, while also keeping them fully engaged in their communities.”

The 2012-2015 State Plan on Aging focuses on such initiatives as:

• Sustaining the Delaware Aging & Disability Resource Center and increasing its reach. The ADRC — www.delawareadrc.com or 800-223-9074 — is a clearinghouse for information to help people navigate the choices and decisions they face for themselves or family members.
• Addressing support issues of certain target populations including individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Today, an estimate 26,000 Delawareans are living with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder, and the numbers are expected to increase dramatically as baby boomers age.
• Reaching out to caregivers who provide most of the long-term care services in the country to more effectively identify their support needs.
• Promoting telehealth, a service delivery technology that will allow older Delawareans and individuals with disabilities to receive some medical care at home or in other more convenient setting, rather than traveling to their provider’s office.
• Changing the service delivery system to ensure greater consumer direction of services, including an expanded and improved attendant services program and other programs.
• Supporting the expansion of home and community-based services, including ADRC staff members who provide personalized assistance to help families find and use community services.

For more information about the plan and the public hearings, go to http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsaapd/index.html
or contact Denise Weeks-Tappan, planning supervisor in the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, at (302) 255-9360.

Twelve new locations in all three counties will welcome visitors

DOVER — Delaware’s farmers’ market season will kick off bigger and better than ever this month, with the number of markets selling farm-fresh produce around the state substantially increased over last year.

Twenty-seven local farmers’ markets will be open during the spring and summer, including 12 new sites, offering a vibrant medley of just-picked Delaware produce as it comes into season. This is the seventh year of Delaware’s farmers’ market program. The Milton Farmers’ Market will launch the season on April 20, followed by Selbyville on April 21.

The farmers’ markets provide a significant economic boost to Delaware agriculture. The 2011 season, which featured 16 community-sponsored markets, brought in $1.8 million. In 2010, with 14 markets, they brought in $1.3 million.

The growth is due to the rising interest in locally grown food and healthy eating, Delaware leaders said.

“The tremendous growth in Delaware’s farmers’ market program helps strengthen the agriculture industry and support local jobs,” Governor Jack Markell said. “The markets benefit farmers and consumers. My family, and thousands of other Delaware families, is looking forward to enjoying our state’s fresh nutritious produce and other agricultural products.”

“Farmers’ markets have historically served as a community gathering place, and Delaware’s markets are showing this year that our communities are strong,” Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee said. “The markets also help connect residents with their neighboring farmers, and build an appreciation for our farmers’ service. When consumers can learn more about how their asparagus and apples come to their kitchens, everyone wins.”

Grant funding from the Department of Agriculture will enable two of the markets – Cool Spring and Village Fresh, both in Wilmington – to offer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card transactions this year, allowing families to purchase local produce and food items as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

New markets this year include 12th and Brandywine (Wilmington), Barn at Five Points (near Lewes), Garfield Park (New Castle), Hockessin, Long Neck, Millsboro, Millville, Orchard Point (Bridgeville), Selbyville, Smyrna, Trolley Square (Wilmington) and Village Fresh (Wilmington).

Depending on the vendors, other products such as cut flowers, bedding plants, baked goods, jams, jellies or honey may also be offered. Consumers also will be able to attend special programs and pick up information on nutrition, community events and recipes.

The farmers’ markets are supported and coordinated by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, but are funded and hosted by local groups, organizations and municipal governments.

For a complete list of farmers’ markets and on-the-farm markets, along with opening dates and hours, visit dda.delaware.gov.

Recommendations Focus on Prevention and Treatment of Child Sex Abuse

DOVER – A special committee charged by the General Assembly with assessing child mental health services in Kent and Sussex County, with a focus on child victims of sexual assault, delivered its findings and recommendations today. The recommendations include the recruitment of new mental health professionals to Sussex County, training for clinicians in detection and treatment of trauma in children, and improved case management of mental health services for children.

The committee, formed by House Joint Resolution #7 in August, 2011, was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Matthew Denn and included input from social service and law enforcement agencies, school district officials, legislators, child mental health experts, and advocates for children with disabilities.

“The recommendations we are making today are targeted, specific, and manageable,” said Lieutenant Governor Denn. “The result if these recommendations are implemented will be more prompt and effective mental health services for all children in Kent and Sussex County, and quicker and more effective intervention for children who are the victims of sexual abuse.”

The recommendations include:

• Specific recommendations for recruitment of two new child psychiatrists to Sussex County, and recommendations for a new collaborative service approach for those psychiatrists with family doctors and pediatricians.
• A recommendation for new training for mental health professionals working with children in Kent and Sussex Counties, focused on early detection and treatment of trauma.
• Recommendations regarding secure funding for the Children’s Advocacy Center’s case managers, and creation of a Kent/Sussex County case manager for child trauma victims who are not treated through the Children’s Advocacy Center.
• A request for a formal review of the child mental health networks made available by the state’s private and public health insurance carriers, to ensure that those networks are large enough that children are not being subjected to unreasonable travel or waiting periods for mental health services.

A full list of the committee’s recommendations is included in the attached report, which includes a summary of recommendations.

Throughout the committee’s recommendations, it emphasizes the importance of providing services targeted at Kent and Sussex County’s growing Spanish-speaking community.

“I would like to thank the members of this study group for the time they invested in preparing this report,” Lieutenant Governor Denn said. “Through a great deal of collaboration and hard work, they prepared a comprehensive and thoughtful set of recommendations in a very short period of time.”

Electrified outlets at Trinity Distribution Services improve quality of life for neighbors

(NEW CASTLE, Dec. 9, 2011) – Neighbors of Trinity Distribution Services in New Castle are benefitting from an environmentally-friendly project that improves air quality and the quality of life for residents in neighborhoods adjacent to the facility. Twenty diesel generators used to power refrigerated storage containers at the company’s Roger Road site have been replaced with electrified outlets, significantly reducing air pollutants, diesel fumes and noise in the community.

“We’re looking for ways to make our air cleaner to breathe,” said Governor Jack Markell. “These electrified outlets provide a cleaner, safe, effective alternative to diesel. Together, we’re making progress eliminating odors and noise while reducing health risks in the community.”

The project was made possible by an agreement between the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and DuPont, under which DuPont, as a condition of its Delaware Coastal Zone permit, funded this project to offset air emissions from two new boilers at the DuPont Edge Moor facility in Wilmington. The project will eliminate up to 120 tons of harmful air pollutants annually from the Trinity site and produce significant health and environmental benefits for the community.

“Ensuring that all Delawareans can breathe clean air is a top priority for DNREC. Through this project, New Castle area residents will experience significantly less pollution, noise and odors than were produced by the diesel generators at Trinity’s facility near the Port of Wilmington,” said Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara.

Under the agreement, DuPont provided $225,000 to replace Trinity Distribution Service’s diesel generators with electrified outlets and an additional $25,000 to fund technical and administrative oversight of the project by the Clean Air Council through its diesel pollution reduction program.

“The Clean Air Council is proud to be a part of a project that will have a significant impact not only on the environment but also on public health, both at the port and in the surrounding community,” said Joe Minott, executive director of the Clean Air Council.

“We are happy to work collaboratively with DNREC on projects that improve air quality and the overall quality of life for the community,” said Edge Moor Plant Manager Elizabeth Schowe.

“Rose Hill Community Center is absolutely delighted that after years of work by Oakmont community residents, the trucking company and state officials, this community concern is headed for a positive outcome,” said Deborah Deubert, deputy director of the Rose Hill Community Center.

“This project demonstrates Trinity’s support of greener achievements as an EPA Smartway Transport Partner and as a partner in the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care® program. Our nationwide corporate purpose is to continually improve people’s lives by constantly striving to be our best in logistics and in everything we do, and this project is another way to enact that purpose,” said Darrel Banning, Trinity Distribution Services President.

This project complements the state’s ongoing efforts to reduce diesel emissions, including projects funded by EPA and grants made available through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.

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Former Governor Russell Peterson signed the Delaware Coastal Zone Act into law on June 28, 1971. The Governor and General Assembly of 1971 recognized that the coastal areas of Delaware are the most critical areas for the future of the State in terms of quality of life. This law is designed to protect Delaware’s coastal area from the destructive impacts of heavy industrialization and offshore bulk product transfer facilities. The Act is intended to protect the natural environment of the coastal areas and safeguard their use primarily for recreation and tourism.

An application for a Coastal Zone Permit is necessary for any new or expanded manufacturing activity that will have an impact on the environment, the economy, the aesthetics or neighboring land uses.

Delaware’s Division of Public Health – For Immediate Release

Reporters’ contact: 302-744-4704

One Of The Most Destructive Pandemics In History Is Still A Fight In Progress

Despite progress, HIV/AIDS remains one of the most frightening yet preventable diseases of our time, killing over 25 million people worldwide from 1981 to 2007 and identifying itself as one of the most destructive pandemics in history. Delaware’s Division of Public Health (DPH) asks all Delawareans to unite in the fight against this disease and, as part of the world community, observe the 24^th annual World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

“World AIDS Day marks an opportunity to educate Delawareans on preventing this devastating disease and the community resources available to help,” said Gov. Jack Markell. “With partners in our communities, we will continue to work every day to prevent more Delawareans from being infected with HIV/AIDS, and to treat those with the disease with the utmost care and compassion.”

Delaware has more than 3,600 people battling this disease—two-thirds who are African Americans. Long-term and steady efforts by DPH and its partners continue to educate, treat and prevent HIV/AIDS. However, new cases among young homosexual and bisexual men ages 15-29 are rising, from 15 cases in 2001 to 31 in 2010.

“Now more than ever it is important that people get tested if they are at risk of being infected,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH director. “This is because people who test positive can be treated and treatment is prevention. The drugs that are available today often reduce the levels of virus in the blood to such low levels that they are unlikely to infect others.”

For those coping with HIV/AIDS, there is hope. New studies are encouraging, showing that proper treatment of HIV/AIDS can not only extend the healthy life of those with HIV, but can also greatly decrease the chances of transmission. If you have HIV and are not getting treatment, please call the Delaware HIV Consortium at 302-654-5471. There is no waiting list for treatment in Delaware! Go to www.hivtest.org to find a testing center near you and a counselor that can help you figure out which safer practices are best for you.

World Aids Day events scheduled statewide include:

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.