The Delaware Center for Health Innovation (DCHI) announced the launch of its initial “Healthy Neighborhoods” project in West/Central Sussex County—an area that includes approximately 10 percent of Delaware’s population and covers a large geographic area. The program
At the quarterly meeting of the Sussex County Health Coalition (SCHC) in Georgetown on July 21, the SCHC was named by DCHI to lead the rollout of this effort, in partnership with health care delivery systems and other stakeholders in the area. The “Healthy Neighborhoods” program is designed to bring community leaders and organizations together to help people lead healthier lives.
At a meeting last month, the SCHC was named by DCHI to lead the rollout of this effort, in partnership with health care delivery systems and other stakeholders in the area. The “Healthy Neighborhoods” program is designed to bring community leaders and organizations together to help people lead healthier lives.
“A Local Council has been formed of 10 individuals representing the community, including residents, community organizations, employers and health systems,” said Peggy Geisler, director of the SCHC, who is also leading the implementation of the “Healthy Neighborhoods” program across the State. “The SCHC Local Council has already started working on designing locally tailored solutions to address pressing health needs, such as mental health and addiction, chronic disease prevention and management, maternal and child health, and healthy lifestyles.”
Furthermore, the Local Council will develop an approach that focuses on building capacity and skills within community-based agencies to ensure sustainability of programs and interventions that integrate health care delivery and community services to effectively address population health issues.
“West/Central Sussex has a strong infrastructure of community engagement prepared to tackle these priority areas,” added Geisler. “Advocacy and collaboration can make a huge impact on many of the issues currently facing Sussex County.”
According to DCHI’s executive director, Julane Miller-Armbrister, future “Healthy Neighborhoods” programs are planned for the Wilmington/Claymont and Smyrna/Dover areas this year.
In addition to implementing the “Healthy Neighborhoods” model, DCHI is driving other broad strategic initiatives in the State Health Care Innovation Plan.
The plan aims to improve the overall health and control health costs of Delawareans, who have a high rate of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
