Category: Child Support

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 10, 2022) – Due to challenges presented by recent increases in COVID-19 cases across the state, the State Office of Volunteerism has made the difficult decision to postpone the Virtual Ceremony honoring the 48 individuals and 13 groups selected to receive the 2021 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award.

The ceremony will now air on Feb. 24, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. and can be viewed from either the Volunteer Delaware Facebook page or by visiting volunteer.delaware.gov. The ceremony had been originally scheduled for Jan. 17, 2022.

The Governors Outstanding Volunteer Award recipients will be recognized for their significant contributions, engagement and impact in diverse service activities. Comprehensive profiles of the recipients were shared in a press release on Dec. 22, 2021.

For more information, contact Suzanne Farris at (302) 381-3594 or Suzanne.Farris@Delaware.gov

The Governor�s Outstanding Volunteer Service Awards, administered by the State Office of Volunteerism, honor individuals and groups in Delaware that have made a positive impact in their communities or across the state through diverse service and volunteering.

The awards are sponsored by the Office of the Governor, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Division of State Service Centers, the State Office of Volunteerism, as well as the Governor�s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.

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.

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 10, 2022) – With Delaware facing the coldest temperatures of the winter Monday and Tuesday nights, Code Purple is being declared across the state by the nonprofit and volunteer organizations that operate the shelters to keep people who are homeless safe during dangerous winter weather. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, capacity is limited.

When severe snowstorms or sub-freezing temperatures are forecast in Delaware, the organizations that manage Code Purple sites often activate their shelters. The Code Purple declarations, which vary by county and site, open up additional beds and warm shelter space beyond the year-round shelter beds available across the state.

To be connected to Code Purple resources, call the individual shelter locations or call the Delaware Housing Alliances Centralized Intake Line at 1-833-FIND-BED (833-346-3233). If you see someone outside who appears to be homeless, encourage them to seek emergency shelter or call a non-emergency police number to alert the police to the situation.

The wind chills across the state are expected to be in the single-digits to the low teens Monday and Tuesday, with overnight lows in the teens to low 20s. That means the risk for frostbite and/or hypothermia increases after even a short time outside.

“We are always grateful to the series of nonprofits and volunteers that operate Code Purple shelters across our state, but we are especially thankful for the work they are doing during the pandemic to keep vulnerable people safe,” said Governor John Carney. “This is the true meaning of neighbors helping neighbors.”

“The dropping temperatures, the strong winds and the wind chills arriving in Delaware will mean dangerous conditions outside,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik. �We encourage anyone without a place to go to find a spot at a Code Purple shelter.”

Details about the shelters, which are organized and operated by nonprofit organizations or volunteers:

NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Wilmington: The City of Wilmington, the Salvation Army and Friendship House have declared Code Purple for Monday and Tuesday nights. The Salvation Army building operates a shelter for women and families with children only at 400 N. Orange St starting at 9 p.m. To access Friendship House�s Code Purple, individuals must register for location and details. To register, call 302-652-8033 or visit 720 N. Orange St., Wilmington, between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Newark: Friendship House has declared Code Purple for Monday and Tuesday nights. To access Friendship House’s Code Purple, individuals must register for location and details. To register, call 302-544-0165 or visit 62 E. Delaware Ave., between 1 and 3:30 p.m.

Middletown: Friendship House has declared Code Purple for Monday and Tuesday nights. To access Friendship House’s Code Purple, individuals must register for location and details. To register, call 302-416-0982 or visit 44 W. Main St., Middletown between 9 and 11:30 a.m.

KENT COUNTY

Code Purple Kent County has ongoing sanctuaries (hotline is 1-800-733-6816 or www.codepurplekentcounty.com), with check-in beginning at 5:30 p.m. and check-out at 8 a.m. The sites:

Men: Peoples Church, 46 S. Bradford St. Dover.
Women and children: Maranatha Life Changing Church, 1235 E. Division St., Dover.
SUSSEX COUNTY

Western Sussex: Code Purple shelters are housed in churches, with a central location for an evening meal. For more information call the hotline at302-519-0024 or visit codepurplesussexcounty.com

For men: Church of God, 425 Stein Highway, Seaford. Check-in is at 8 p.m. and check-out is at 7 a.m.
For women: Grace Seaford Church, 805 Atlanta Road, Seaford. Check-in is from 8:30-9 p.m. and check-out is at 7 a.m.
For men: Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church Ave., Milford. Check-in is from 8:30-9 p.m. and check-out is at 7 a.m.

For women, with or without children: Milford Nazarene, 11 NW Salevan Place, Milford. Check-in is from 8-9 p.m. and check-out is at 7 a.m.

Eastern Sussex: This Code Purple location operates all winter at the former Troop 7 Building, 18006 Coastal Highway, Lewes. Shelter hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. To reserve a spot, call:

• 8 a.m.-2 p.m.: 302-269-7050
• After 2 p.m.: 302-519-0024

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, DE (Jan. 7, 2022)– The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021. DPH reported the highest number of new positive daily cases since the start of the pandemic with 3,554 positive cases reported to the state Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. In addition, the total number of current COVID-19 hospitalizations surpassed the record high this week with 692 individuals hospitalized as of Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022.

Delaware is experiencing a surge in cases and hospitalizations. It is important that Delawareans take important steps to keep themselves and others safe.

• Get vaccinated and boosted. COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer the best protection against infection, hospitalization and death.
• Wear a well-fitting mask in public and when around others outside of your household. Make sure your mask fits properly over your nose and mouth.
• Stay home if you have symptoms or if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Avoid non-essential in-person social gatherings.
• Go to the emergency room if you have a true emergency, but do not go to the ER only for a COVID-19 test. Our hospitals are strained, and emergency departments need to be preserved for life-threatening emergencies.
• Tests are in high demand. Get tested if:
  • You have symptoms.
  • It has been five days after you were exposed to someone with COVID-19.
  • You are unvaccinated (those not vaccinated should be tested once per week).

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations:

• Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 198,507
• 7-day average of new positive cases: 2,505.4, a significant increase from 1,622
• 7-day average for the percentage of total positive tests: 32%, an increase from 27.7% last week
• Hospitalizations: 692, an increase of 207 from last week; critically ill: 63, an increase of 8 from last week
• Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,330
• Total COVID-19 deaths reported since last week: 44

COVID-19 Vaccinations:

• Total number of doses administered in Delaware: 1,574,845
• Percentage of Delawareans 5+ who received at least one dose (CDC data): 82%
• Percentage of Delawareans 12+ who have received at least one dose (CDC data): 87.4%
• Percentage of Delawareans 18+ who received at least one dose (CDC data): 89.5%
• Percent of Delawareans who are fully vaccinated (CDC data): 64.5%

All qualifying Delawareans should get vaccinated. Individuals who qualify for a booster dose should get one as soon as possible. For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Delaware, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine.. For information on boosters, visit de.gov/boosters. Delaware’s latest COVID-19 vaccination statistics can be found under the Vaccine Tracker dashboard at de.gov/healthycommunity.

Expanded COVID-19 Booster Eligibility:

DPH announced earlier this week that Delaware’s vaccine providers can now begin administering booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to individuals ages 12 to 15 who completed their initial Pfizer vaccine series at least 5 months ago.

In addition, the FDA and CDC also shortened the booster interval from 6 months to 5 months for people who received either the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. This means that anyone 12 and older can now receive an mRNA booster shot 5 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna primary series. The booster interval recommendation for people who received the J&J vaccine (2 months) has not changed. Individuals younger than 18 are only able to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and are not able to mix and match vaccine brands for their booster as those individuals 18 and older can do.

The FDA and CDC also moved to allow for moderately or severely immunocompromised 5- to 11-year-olds to receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second shot. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for children aged 5-11. Children in this age group who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who have been diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise, may not respond adequately to the two-dose primary vaccination series, and benefit from a third dose. The FDA previously authorized a third primary series dose for use as part of the primary immunization series in individuals 12 years and older. DPH encourages providers to use their clinical judgment and to consider additional factors for their patients when determining if the person meets the qualifications for immunocompromised status and is eligible for an additional/third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 Case Vaccination Status Report:

The following reports capture a weekly breakdown of vaccination status for cases, deaths, and hospitalizations for the time frame for Dec. 20– Dec. 26 as well as Dec. 27– Jan. 2.

Weekly Overview (12/20– 12/26)	# of Unvaccinated Cases
Total Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated	4315
Total Cases	6933
Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated	62%

Hospitalizations	# of Cases
Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Hospitalized	124
Total Hospitalized	174
Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Hospitalized	71%

Deaths	# of Cases
Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Covid-19 Deaths	14
Total Covid-19 deaths	19
Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Covid-19 Deaths	74%

Weekly Overview (12/27– 1/2)	# of Cases
Total Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated	9120
Total	16392
Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated	56%

Hospitalizations	# of Cases
Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Hospitalized	180
Total Hospitalized	274
Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Hospitalized	66%

Deaths	# of Cases
Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Covid-19 Deaths	17
Total Covid-19 deaths	25
Percent of Unvaccinated / Partially Vaccinated Covid-19 Deaths	68%

Breakthrough Cases (cumulative since vaccinations began):

• Total breakthrough cases: 13,166, or 2.3% of fully vaccinated individuals
• Total breakthrough hospitalizations: 166
• Total breakthrough deaths: 138

A breakthrough case is defined as testing positive for COVID-19 after an individual has been fully vaccinated for two weeks or more.

*Please note, these data may be updated as additional information is received.

COVID-19 Variant Cases in Delaware:

Due to the length of time between sample collection (when a person is tested) and when samples are sequenced by laboratories, which can be lagged by two weeks or longer, DPH will begin providing variant data based on sample collection date rather than sequencing date. This will more accurately reflect the proportion of specific variants that are circulating in the community at various points in time.

Of the samples collected during the week of Dec. 20– Dec. 26, the Omicron variant represented 78% of cases sequenced for a variant of concern, variant of interest, or variant being monitored. The remaining 22% of sequenced cases were identified as Delta.

The Delaware Public Health Laboratory and other laboratories regularly monitor for the presence of COVID-19 variants, including Delta and Omicron, through routine genomic sequencing of test specimens. Genome sequencing is a public health surveillance tool used to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 variants; it is not used to diagnose individuals with a specific strain of COVID-19, as treatment recommendations do not differ based on variant strains. COVID-19 tests identify current infection of COVID-19, but do not identify a specific variant of the virus the individual might have.

Long-term Care Statistics:

As of Thursday, Jan. 6, there have been a total of 3,035 positive COVID-19 cases involving long-term care residents, and 879 residents of Delaware long-term care facilities have died from complications related to COVID-19.

Flu Update:

There were 80 laboratory-confirmed cases reported the week of Dec 26– Jan. 1. As of Jan. 1, 2022, the most recent date for which flu statistics are available, there have been 550 laboratory-confirmed cases for the current season. The cases involved 388 individuals from New Castle County, 67 from Kent County and 95

from Sussex County. This number reflects only the number of lab-confirmed cases; the actual number of cases circulating statewide is likely higher as not all people with the flu seek treatment, and many cases are diagnosed through rapid test kits in a provider’s office versus a lab.

All individuals 6 months and older are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu if they haven’t already. Flu vaccines are available at pharmacies (including those in grocery stores), participating medical provider offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers (for their patients), as well as Division of Public Health clinics. DPH is also advising the public that the flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine.

For the latest information on the flu in Delaware, visit flu.delaware.gov.

Resources

Individuals with general questions about COVID-19 should call Delaware 2-1-1, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211, or email delaware211@uwde.org. Hours of operation are:

Monday– Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.

Delawareans 18 or older are encouraged to download COVID Alert DE, Delaware’s free exposure notification app to help protect your neighbors while ensuring your privacy. Download on the App Store or Google Play

Questions related to business re-openings or operations as businesses re-open should go to COVID19FAQ@delaware.gov. Questions regarding unemployment claims should be emailed to: UIClaims@delaware.gov.

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

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.

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.

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, DE (JAN. 6, 2022)– The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) today announced that Delaware’s vaccine providers can now begin administering booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to individuals ages 12 to 15 who completed their initial Pfizer vaccine series at least five months ago.

Today’s announcement comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave its approval Monday to expand Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to allow for the Pfizer booster to be administered to this age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met Wednesday and agreed with the FDA findings. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky endorsed the advisory committee’s recommendations later that evening.

Earlier this week the CDC also shortened the booster interval from 6 months to 5 months for people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This means that people can now receive an mRNA booster shot 5 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series. The booster interval recommendation for people who received the J&J vaccine (2 months) or the Moderna vaccine (6 months), has not changed. Individuals younger than 18 are only able to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and are not able to mix and match vaccine brands for their booster as those individuals 18 and older can do.

Data show that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. The FDA and CDC reviewed real-world data from Israel, including safety data from more than 6,300 individuals 12 through 15 years of age who received a booster dose of the vaccine. The data show there are no new safety concerns following a booster in this population. There were no new cases of myocarditis or pericarditis reported to date in these individuals.

“Given the record number of COVID-19 cases we are seeing in our state and how transmissible the Omicron variant is proving to be, this is welcome news,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Vaccines and booster doses offer the best protection against infection, hospitalization and death. I urge all Delawareans who are eligible to receive a booster dose to get one now. If you or your children have not received an initial round of the COVID-19 vaccine series, now is the time to protect yourself, your children and those you love. The more Delawareans who are vaccinated and protected against this virus, the better protected we all will be.”

According to CDC data, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are 7 and 11 times higher, respectively, in unvaccinated adolescents, compared to vaccinated adolescents.

The FDA and CDC also moved to allow for moderately or severely immunocompromised 5-11-year-olds to receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second shot. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for children aged 5-11. Children in this age group who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who have been diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise, may not respond adequately to the two-dose primary vaccination series, and benefit from a third dose. The FDA previously authorized a third primary series dose for use as part of the primary immunization series in individuals 12 years and older.

DPH encourages providers to use their clinical judgment and to consider additional factors for their patients when determining if the person meets the qualifications for immunocompromised status and is eligible for an additional/third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Delawareans who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot are recommended to seek vaccines at existing vaccine sites, including pharmacies, health care providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, DPH clinics and the following standing DPH Vaccine sites:

• Blue Hen Corporate Center: 655 S. Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901
• Georgetown Plaza: 19 Georgetown Plaza, Georgetown, DE 19947
• Canby Park: 1920 Maryland Ave., Wilmington, DE 19805
• University Plaza, 256 Chapman Road, Suite 100, Newark, DE 19702

For a complete list of locations where vaccines are available, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine

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.

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.

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.

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 3, 2022) – The Department of Health and Social Services’ (DHSS) Division of Substance Use and Mental Health (DSAMH) has surpassed a milestone of 100,000 referrals through its Delaware Treatment and Referral Network (DTRN), a system for Delawareans seeking substance use and mental health services.

Delaware is the first state to make more than 100,000 referrals using this system, built on the OpenBeds platform, a bed registry platform owned by Bamboo Health (formerly Appriss Health + PatientPing). The DTRN system identifies and tracks behavioral health and social determinants of health resources throughout the state, giving providers immediate visibility into resource availability across a shared network. This makes it easier to get people the help they need when they need it.

“One death from an opioid overdose or from a mental health crisis is one too many,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Ph.D., RN. “For families coping with a loved one, who suffers from substance use disorder or mental illness, finding help is an immediate need that must be met. The 100,000 referrals through DTRN demonstrates that we are mending the fractured behavioral health system in Delaware, so people can get access to treatment and on the path to recovery. As Chair of Delaware’s Behavioral Health Consortium, we remain committed to saving lives through platforms like DTRN and the network of behavioral health providers. Newsweek recently recognized Delaware in November 2021 as one of only four states that the CDC reported as having a decrease in the annual percentage rate of opioid deaths. DTRN was a significant tool contributing to this reduction.”

“This milestone represents a systematic improvement in identifying and treating individuals with substance use disorders,” said Joanna Champney, Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. “That is 100,000 times where a pathway to treatment was made available for someone so they didn’t have to end up in the emergency room or worse.”

The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health launched DTRN in October 2018 as a way to improve outcomes for Delawareans suffering from a substance use disorder, while coordinating support for accompanying needs for housing, employment, education and other wraparound services. A recent white paper summarizing first-year results showed that the cloud-based network for expedited client referrals to inpatient and residential behavioral health programs generated a 45% increase in treatment referral requests in its first year, while improving rapid acknowledgement of referrals by 25%.

“Open Beds has been a fantastic platform that has provided transparency like never before,” said Steve Beltran, MSN, an RN Nurse Manager for ChristianaCare. “It has allowed us to place our patients in the right level of care faster. And has proven to be an effective method to communicate with care providers and agencies across the state.”

Overdose deaths continue to rise in Delaware, reaching 447 in 2020 (up from 431 in 2019 and 401 in 2018). Of those 447 deaths, 372 (83%) involved the use of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine.

The state’s opioid prescribing rate in 2020 of 45.2 per 100 people is higher than the U.S. average of 43.3, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lack of visibility for providers in determining current inpatient and residential treatment center capacity can make it challenging to connect clients with appropriate substance use and behavioral health services in a timely manner. Referring physicians and treatment providers often struggle to share client data, admission criteria, and availability. For clients in need, these delays can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

By assisting providers with the onboarding process to encourage adoption of the Delaware Treatment and Referral Network, Delaware expanded the number of active users on its network by 264% in its first year. The referral platform also improved response rates to referral requests, with 65% of receiving organizations acknowledging a client referral within 30 minutes, an increase of 25% since the program’s inception a year prior.

“DTRN has been pivotal in connecting individuals with behavioral health and substance use issues with appropriate providers in an efficient and collaborative manner,” said John McKenna, CEO of Rockford Center. “This technology has substantially improved not only access to treatment for individuals and families, but also has facilitated an enhanced level of communication between the referring agency and our Assessment Center. Whether it’s accepting individual referrals at our front door, or helping our discharging patients get connected to community services prior to leave our facility, DTRN has assisted in removing barriers and promoted access to a wider range of resources in our state. The system also provides us with critical data that allows us to better understand patient and family needs, engagement in treatment, and potential service gaps.”

“The Delaware Treatment and Referral Network has allowed the Department of Correction to connect individuals in our custody to vital health care services upon their release to the community,” said Department of Correction Commissioner Monroe B. Hudson Jr. “DTRN makes possible a seamless transition to resources like Medication-Assisted Treatment for offenders who struggle with addiction. Simply put, keeping these behavioral and medical health care services in place without interruption saves lives and is helping the DOC and our partners improve reentry outcomes across Delaware.”

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction in Delaware, call DHSS’ 24/7 Crisis Hotline to be connected to treatment and recovery options at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or visit www.HelpIsHereDE.com or treatmentconnection.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.