Nominations Open for Delaware’s Compassionate Champion Award

Program recognizes individuals, organizations providing trauma-informed services

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Monday announced nominations are now open for the Compassionate Champion Award, the State of Delaware’s trauma-informed care recognition program that highlights outstanding achievement by individuals and organizations that provide trauma-informed services. Nomination forms are available online until midnight on June 30, 2020.

View nomination form.

“We know that folks are experiencing trauma, and we need to continue doing everything we can to support children and families in Delaware,” said Governor Carney. “We have many dedicated workers across the state who serve their fellow Delawareans, and who have been leaders and advocates in the trauma-informed approach. We thank them for their compassion, leadership and commitment to our state and our citizens, and I look forward to again formally recognizing these efforts that help build a stronger and healthier state.”

View videos of 2019 Compassionate Champion Award winners.

The Compassionate Champion Award recognizes individuals or teams in government, non-profit and private organizations, first responder professions, education, and other agencies that have taken steps toward providing services in a manner consistent with trauma-informed care criteria in the Delaware Developmental Framework for Trauma Informed Care, a document that outlines best practices for trauma-informed care. The Framework was adapted from the Missouri Model of trauma-informed care, and was produced in collaboration by the Family Services Cabinet Council ACEs Subcommittee and the Compassionate Connections Partnership.

Since 2018, the Family Services Cabinet Council has worked to implement Executive Order #24, which launched efforts to make Delaware a trauma-informed state. The Family Services Cabinet Council released in November 2019 a Trauma-Informed Care Progress Report and Action Plan for State of Delaware agencies. The plan serves as a progress report of each agency’s work to implement Executive Order #24, which tasked the Family Services Cabinet Council to lead efforts to make Delaware a trauma-informed state. Other initiatives from the Family Service Cabinet Council include the Wilmington Group Violence Intervention Project, and the creation of the Dual Generation Center at Stubbs to improve the delivery of job-related services, and services for Wilmington children. The Family Services Cabinet Council – a cabinet-level group reestablished by Governor Carney in February 2017 to coordinate public and private services for Delaware families.

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Division of the Arts Announces New Focus for Two FY2021 Grant Categories

Grants from community-based organizations and schools that have a
trauma-informed focus will receive funding priority

Wilmington, Del. (January 24, 2020) – As part of its FY2021 grant application cycle, the Division of the Arts invites grant proposals from community-based organizations and schools that demonstrate the utilization of the arts to address trauma-related issues and challenges in communities and schools. Funding priority in the FY2021 grant year will be given to projects that employ the arts to promote mental health. Project Support applications must be submitted through the smARTDE online system and are due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2020. Artist Residency applications have a rolling deadline and must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the scheduled residency.

“The Division is pleased to introduce this funding priority,“ says Division Director Paul Weagraff, “which aligns with Governor Carney’s Executive Order #24, signed in 2018, making Delaware a trauma-informed state.”

The goal of this Executive Order is to help mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and build resilience in children, adults and communities.

ACEs can include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; physical or emotional neglect; household dysfunction, including substance abuse, untreated mental illness, or incarceration of a household member; domestic violence; and separation/divorce involving household members.

“We have children and families in Delaware who are affected by trauma in their lives, and we need to do everything we can to support them,” said Governor John Carney. “Addressing these issues as a community will help Delaware become a stronger and healthier state.”

Below are two of the Division’s grant programs that are eligible for this funding priority. Please visit arts.delaware.gov/grant-overview/ to access the full guidelines for each program and a description of the grant review process.

Grant for Delaware Community-Based Organizations (CBOs):

Project Support – support of arts programs provided by CBOs that assist in the growth of a vibrant cultural environment by encouraging the continued development of arts activities in communities throughout the state. College and university projects must be non-credit and serve the general community. Deadline March 2, 2020.

Grant Contact: Kathleen Dinsmore, 302-577-8287

Read guidelines

Grant for Delaware Schools and School Districts:

Artist Residency – grants for residencies with visual, literary, performing or media artists working with students in the classroom or in professional development workshops with teachers. Rolling deadline.

Grant Contact: Sheila Dean Ross, 302-577-8286

Read guidelines

About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278. Image: 2019 Award Winners exhibition at the Biggs Museum. Paintings by Geraldo Gonzalez, 2019 Established Professional, Folks Arts: painting

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

Governor Carney Releases Delaware’s Trauma-Informed Care Progress Report and Action Plan

Plan highlights accomplishments, sets benchmarks for state agencies

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday released the Family Services Cabinet Council’s Trauma-Informed Care Progress Report and Action Plan for State of Delaware agencies. The plan serves as a progress report of each agency’s work to implement Executive Order #24, which tasked the Family Services Cabinet Council to lead efforts to make Delaware a trauma-informed state.

Click to view Trauma-Informed Care Progress Report and Action Plan.

“We need to do everything we can to support children and families in Delaware who are affected by trauma, and to continue to create trauma-informed communities across the state,” said Governor Carney. “Over the last year, Delaware took steps to train our state workers and collaborated with partners to promote and share the importance of trauma-informed care. Thank you to all of our partners on trauma-informed care, and to our state workers, for the progress you’ve made to better serve Delaware families. We will continue these efforts to help mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences and build resilience in children, adults and communities.”

Using the Delaware Developmental Framework for Trauma-Informed Care, a document that outlines best practices for trauma-informed care, each state agency set benchmarks for their departments to reach by December 2019 and by June 2020 in order to become trauma-informed. The Framework was adapted from the Missouri Model of trauma-informed care, and it was produced in collaboration by the Family Services Cabinet Council ACEs Subcommittee and the Compassionate Connections Partnership.

Governor Carney also announced two public community discussions on the State of Delaware’s efforts to become trauma-informed:

Monday, November 25, 2019, 6:30 p.m. – First State Community Action Agency in Georgetown
Thursday, December 12, 2019, 6:30 p.m. – Delaware Technical Community College – George Campus in Wilmington

Speakers will discuss progress on implementing Executive Order #24 and the statewide plan to make Delaware a trauma-informed state. The Family Services Cabinet Council members will then take questions and suggestions from members of the public.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION – GEORGETOWN

WHAT: Governor Carney and the Family Services Cabinet Council will hold a community discussion on trauma-informed care.

WHO: Governor John Carney

Josette Manning, Secretary, Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families

Cerron Cade, Secretary, Delaware Department of Labor

Anas Ben Addi, Director, Delaware State Housing Authority

Detective Joey Melvin, Georgetown Police Department

Members of the Family Services Cabinet Council

WHEN: Monday, November 25, 2019

6:30 p.m.

WHERE: First State Community Action Agency

308 N Railroad Ave

Georgetown, DE 19947

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION – WILMINGTON

WHAT: Governor Carney and the Family Services Cabinet Council will hold a community discussion on trauma-informed care.

WHO: Governor John Carney

Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services

Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education

Claire DeMatteis, Commissioner, Delaware Department of Correction

Members of the Family Services Cabinet Council

WHEN: Thursday, December 12, 2019

6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Delaware Technical Community College – George Campus

300 N Orange Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

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Delaware Children’s Department to Host Nearly 400 for Foster Parent Conference

For Immediate Release Contact: Joseph Smack joseph.smack@delaware.gov

May 14, 2019 302-633-2501 or 302-893-8930 (m)

Delaware Children’s Department to Host Nearly 400 for Foster Parent Conference

Workshops offer best practice for parenting children exposed to trauma and recognize the contributions of foster families in Delaware

Bridgeville – Nearly 400 foster families, Division of Family Services staff and service providers will gather in Bridgeville on Thursday, May 16th at Heritage Shores Clubhouse (1 Heritage Shores Circle), 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 ‘Full Hands – Full Hearts’. 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 Trenee Parker. “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 challenging teen behaviors, understanding the impact of trauma on children’s behavior and techniques to build resiliency, caring for substance-exposed babies, 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 and transition into adulthood. Workshops begin at 9:00 am with foster parent recognition awards beginning at 12:30 pm.

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 approximately 650 children currently in foster care in Delaware.

“I see foster parents as the starting point for our children’s healing journey”, said Josette Manning, Cabinet Secretary for the Children’s Department. “Our foster parents are some of the most dedicated and caring people in Delaware. This conference is a great opportunity for the Children’s Department to hear from them regarding what they are experiencing on a daily basis and what supports they might need to better provide a nurturing environment for our children. It is also our chance to share the initiatives we’re developing to better support their work with children in very challenging circumstances.” Manning concluded. 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 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 behavioral 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 kids.delaware.gov

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Governor Carney Announces Trauma-Informed Initiatives

Family Services Cabinet Council launches Compassionate Champion Award, Trauma Awareness Month Planning

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday announced two new initiatives from the Family Services Cabinet Council to implement Executive Order 24, which launched efforts to make Delaware a trauma-informed state. The Family Services Cabinet Council – a cabinet-level group reestablished by Governor Carney in February 2017 to coordinate public and private services for Delaware families – will promote Trauma Awareness Month throughout Delaware during May 2019 and launch the Compassionate Champion Award, a recognition program for champions of this work.

“We need to do everything we can to support children and families in Delaware who are affected by trauma in their lives,” said Governor Carney. “Delaware has many dedicated, boots-on-the-ground workers and organizations that are practicing trauma-informed care and helping Delawareans get the services they need. We are committed to working together to support, promote, and recognize more of these efforts to help build stronger, healthier and more trauma-informed communities across our state.”

Learn more about the Family Services Cabinet Council: de.gov/fscc

The Compassionate Champion Award is a new trauma-informed care recognition program to highlight outstanding achievement by individuals and organizations that provide trauma-informed services.

This award will recognize individuals or teams in government, non-profit and private organizations, first responder professions, education, and other agencies that have taken steps toward providing services in a manner consistent with trauma-informed care criteria in the Delaware Developmental Framework for Trauma Informed Care, a document that outlines best practices for trauma-informed care. The Framework was adapted from the Missouri Model of trauma-informed care, and was produced in collaboration by the Family Services Cabinet Council ACEs Subcommittee and the Compassionate Connections Partnership.

The Compassionate Champion Award nomination form is now available, and the deadline to apply is April 1, 2019. Nominations may also be submitted by downloading the application found on the Compassionate Champion Award webpage and emailing the form to fscc@delaware.gov, or mailing it to Compassionate Champion Award, Office of the Governor – Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, 12th Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801.

“The Children’s Department is pleased to be on the frontline of Delaware’s efforts to become a trauma-informed state,” said Josette Manning, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families. “Adverse childhood experiences can have life altering impacts if they are not recognized and addressed properly. The Compassionate Champion Award will help recognize the important work that is being done every day in Delaware to help increase awareness and mitigate the impact of trauma on our children, families and communities.”

“We must support our educators by providing the training and resources they need to be better informed about of the effects of trauma on students,” said Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “Recent state-sponsored professional development has offered educators the chance to learn more about the research around childhood trauma and the effect of toxic stress on brain development. Our hope is that such training will translate into their more effectively supporting those who have been impacted by trauma.”

“Awareness of trauma is a critical step in supporting and promoting recovery for Delawareans, young people and adults, who have experienced trauma in their lives,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a board-certified family physician and Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. “At the Department of Health and Social Services, we have trained 1,000 employees who have the greatest level of direct client contact in the trauma-informed approach. A workforce that understands what trauma is, how it affects people across their lifespans, and the most effective ways to assess and meet our clients’ needs will help us build resilience among the people we serve so they learn to thrive in their communities.”

The Family Services Cabinet Council also invites members of the public to participate in planning for Trauma Awareness Month happening this May. Organizations and individuals involved with trauma-informed care are encouraged to submit event ideas for Trauma Awareness Month, and information for trauma-related events already scheduled in May, using an online form.

Events submitted before March 15, 2019 will be reviewed and added to a digital calendar that is shared with the public prior to Trauma Awareness Month to promote trainings, workshops and other events.

Members of the public who would like to be involved with Trauma Awareness Month planning are invited to attend the Trauma Awareness Month Steering Group’s public meetings on February 20, and March 20, 2019. The meeting details will be listed on Delaware’s public meeting calendar.

In October 2018, Governor Carney signed Executive Order 24, making Delaware a trauma-informed state and providing direction for the Family Services Cabinet Council to help mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and build resilience in children, adults and communities.

Find more information about the Family Services Cabinet Council, the Compassionate Champion Award, and Trauma Awareness Month here: de.gov/fscc

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