DOVER, DE (OCT. 27, 2022) – As part of the Delaware State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) will conduct a series of community health assessments. The health assessments will help improve understanding of the health concerns and needs of Delaware communities and to improve the future health in Delaware. DPH has partnered with the University of Delaware’s Epidemiology Program and Partnership for Healthy Communities to survey each of Delaware’s three counties. Teams of students and community members will go door-to-door to canvas households in each county. The program will provide incentives for completed surveys. 

The dates for canvassing to begin by county are: 

• New Castle County – Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022 
• Kent County – Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 
• Sussex County – Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023 

The community assessments are part of a broader and more comprehensive State Health Assessment (SHA) underway through 2023. It includes hosting community conversations across the state, gathering and analyzing existing data, and convening a collaborative coalition. 

“The State Health Assessment is the foundation for developing Delaware’s next SHIP,“ said DPH Interim Director Dr. Rick Hong. “This information will describe the health of Delaware’s population and identify areas for health improvement, contributing factors that impact health outcomes, and community assets and resources that can mobilize to improve Delaware’s health over the next five years.” 

“We are excited to support the Delaware SHIP and appreciate the opportunities for our students to apply their skills in gathering, analyzing, and presenting health information, said Dr. Jennifer Horney, founding director of the Epidemiology Program at the University of Delaware. “Whether canvassing neighborhoods with community residents, facilitating a community conversation, or working alongside diverse stakeholders as part of a statewide coalition, our students are learning the importance and value of a health assessment and improvement process aimed at involving the community, stakeholders, and partners each step along the way.” 

A State Health Improvement Plan is a long-term, systematic plan to address the public health issues identified in the State Health Assessment. It reflects the public health system and its strategic priorities, the state’s demographics, and the community makeup. A SHIP addresses the highest health priorities of a state’s population. These priorities cover various public health issues such as access to healthcare, infant mortality, obesity, and tobacco prevention. 

To learn more about Delaware’s State Health Improvement Plan, visit https://delawareship.org. 

###   

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation. DPH 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.  

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. 

DOVER, DE (MAY 9, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Diabetes & Heart Disease Prevention & Control Program (DHDPC) and the Delaware Diabetes Coalition are co-sponsoring the 20^th Annual Diabetes Wellness Expo on May 10, 2022, at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, Delaware. The event is free to the public and will be held in the Kent Open Air Barn from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m..

More than 96,800 Delaware adults reported in 2020 that they had been diagnosed with diabetes, according to Delaware Behavioral Risk Factor Survey.  The survey also shows 75,100 additional Delaware adults reported being diagnosed with pre-diabetes.  Progression to type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing weight, engaging in at least 150 minutes of physical activity weekly, and improving one’s diet.  

People with diabetes, pre-diabetes, caregivers, employers, and health professionals are encouraged to attend the Diabetes Wellness Expo to learn how to prevent complications of the chronic disease, such as kidney failure, adult blindness, lower-limb amputations, heart disease, and stroke.  

About the Annual Diabetes Wellness Expo 

More than 50 exhibitors and educational seminars will provide information about diabetes management, nutrition, exercise, medication adherence, foot care, and depression.  Diabetes and blood pressure screenings, cooking demonstrations, dental and eye exams, and COVID-19 vaccinations are offered at no cost.  Complimentary $10 lunch vouchers for onsite food trucks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional co-sponsors include DPH’s Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention Program, Bayhealth, Simon Eye Associates, and AmeriHealth Caritas Delaware.  

To register or become a vendor for the Diabetes Wellness Expo, visit https://www.dediabetescoalition.org/wellness-expo/.  For more information about the Diabetes Wellness Expo, send questions to director@dediabetescoalition.org or call the Delaware Diabetes Coalition at 302-388-9728. 

To learn more about diabetes management and prevention programs and resources, visit https://www.healthydelaware.org/Individuals/Diabetes#knowing or call DPH’s Diabetes and Heart Disease Prevention and Control Program at 302-744-1020. 

# # #  

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit 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.

DOVER – Stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie are some of our favorite things to eat for Thanksgiving meals. Our favorite foods however aren’t always the healthiest, especially when we overindulge. This Thanksgiving, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) wants everyone to enjoy their holiday meal, but recommends some small changes that can make this a healthier start to your holiday season.

• Go easy on your portions. Know what a serving of each item is and stick to it. As tempting as it is, skip going back for a second round.
• Incorporate healthier food choices into the meal. Make sure you have a variety of salads, and high protein foods available to balance out the carb heavy dishes.
• If serving appetizers, serve fruit or vegetable trays, salsa or low-fat dips.
• Cook using non-stick pans and skillets, to reduce or eliminate using oil when cooking.
• Cut back on sugar, salt and fat as you are cooking. Use herbs and spices instead or look for healthier substitutes such as:
  o Use fat-free chicken broth to baste the turkey and make gravy;
  o Use sugar substitutes in place of sugar and/or fruit purees instead of oil in baked goods;
  o Try plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream in creamy dips, mashed potatoes, and casseroles.
• Make water your drink of choice. Drinking plenty of water helps stomachs feel full, while drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages can dehydrate you.

DPH also recommends incorporating some physical activity to your Thanksgiving Day activities. Start a new holiday tradition by going for a family walk or run in the morning before the craziness of food preparation sets in, or take a walk after dinner instead of lying on the couch to watch football after a heavy meal. Other suggestions include playing outdoor games like flag football, soccer, basketball or anything else that gets your heart rate going.

“Make your family and friends the focus of the Thanksgiving holiday, as opposed to the food,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH director. “Making healthier food choices and increasing your physical activity reduces the risk for chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, while improving mental health and wellness.”

For fun and easy physical activity ideas, visit www.getupanddosomething.org. For more information on healthy eating options, visit DPH’s 5-2-1 Almost None campaign webpage.

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.

NEW CASTLE – The Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Public Health (DPH) has been awarded a Health Champion Designation by the American Diabetes Association for instilling wellness in its worksite culture. Delaware is the first state-level office in the country to win the inaugural award. The Health Champion Designation recognizes companies and organizations that inspire and encourage organizational well-being and is part of the Association’s Wellness Lives HereSM initiative. Successful applicants met healthy living criteria in three categories: nutrition and weight management, organizational well-being, and encouraging physical activity.

“We are honored to be recognized as a Health Champion,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH Director. “Employee wellness initiatives encourage healthy lifestyles to prevent diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and several cancers. It is important for the Division of Public Health to model the practices and healthy lifestyles that we promote to the public.”

“This is truly exciting news, and an honor for the state’s public health agency to receive this designation,” said Rita Landgraf, Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Services. “We appreciate the Association’s recognition of our efforts to improve not only health on a statewide level, but within our own agency.”

“It is with great pride that we acknowledge the focus towards employee wellness that the Delaware Division of Public Health exemplifies,” said Jennifer Fassbender, Director of Wellness and Community Partnerships for the Association. “Providing a culture of wellness for employees is not only the ‘right thing to do’, but benefits the employer with a more engaged and productive workforce. The American Diabetes Association applauds the efforts of Delaware.”

Examples of DPH policies and activities that qualified it for the Healthy Champion Designation include:
• Producing a guide, titled Healthier Food and Snacks for Meetings, Seminars, and Catered Events.
• Allowing employees to wear ‘active wear’ clothing when staff have no scheduled meetings with vendors or outside meetings in exchange for at least 30 minutes of physical activity during the workday (ie: walking during lunch break)
• Placing posters throughout building to encourage healthy activities such as taking the stairs/providing additional health information including ADA brochures and resources
• Encouraging/permitting employees to stand at their desks and use stationary foot pedals/standing desk/active desks, etc.
• Forming walking clubs
• Adopting a smoke-free workplace policy (state policy)
• Integrating health and wellness information into employee communications such as the internal newsletter

An estimated 70,000 adult Delawareans have diabetes. The prevalence of Delaware adults diagnosed with diabetes more than doubled from 4.9 percent in 1991 to 11.1 percent in 2013, and the state rate mirrors the national trend. Severely overweight and obese individuals risk developing pre-diabetes or diabetes, especially if they have a family history of the disease.

For more information about healthy lifestyles, visit healthydelaware.org.

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. The Division of Public Health (DPH), a division within 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, drink almost no sugary beverages.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, its mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. To learn more about the organization and Wellness Lives Here, go to www.diabetes.org/wellnessliveshere.