May 9th, 2012
By Susan Cycyk, Director, Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services Delaware Children’s Department
Today more than 1,100 communities across the country will join forces to celebrate National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
Awareness Day is a key strategy of the federal Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign, an effort to highlight the importance of positive mental health from birth. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues, if left unattended, can evolve to more serious problems later in life, including physical difficulties. However, when we intervene early and connect children and families with effective services and supports, emotional challenges can be addressed and the entire family’s life can improve.
Studies show that at least one in five children and adolescents has had or is experiencing a mental health challenge. Sometimes we blame parents or tell our children to “Just handle it.” At least one third of our children, youth and their families do not receive help to 
address their issues. With the right resources, children and youth with mental, emotional and behavioral health needs and their families can achieve a better quality of life. When untreated, however, mental health issues can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and even suicide. Untreated mental illness disorders can be very costly to families, schools, communities, and the health care system. The life changing results of early intervention and evidenced-based treatments are estimated to save society between $30,000 and $100,000 per child.
In Delaware we work diligently to address the needs of children, youth and families from birth through age 18. We are particularly focused on our youngest population, children between the ages of birth to 5, and their families. Through Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in early education centers and through the provision of specific counseling approaches and effective treatment, such as Parent Child Interaction Therapy, we are supporting families in living healthier, happier lives.
For more information about children’s mental health services in Delaware call the Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services at 1-800-722-7710 or visit www.kids.delaware.gov. Emotional health is as important as physical health – Every Child’s Mental Health Matters!
Tags: Children's Mental Health, Delaware, Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services, Susan Cycyk
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May 8th, 2012
This past Sunday, we celebrated the rich history and bright future of the Charles W. Cullen Bridge at the Indian River Inlet. Its history includes different bridge designs over the course of several decades, an ever-changing physical environment and the emergence of Delaware as one of the east coast’s premier resort locations. Its future will work to enhance its status as a treasure of the Delaware coast.
Tags: Charles W. Cullen Bridge, Indian River Inlet, Secretary Shailen Bhatt
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May 4th, 2012
During some particularly challenging times these last few years, our state has made clear – again and again – that whether it was meeting the challenge of the federal race to the top contest, trying to reopen the shuttered refinery at Delaware City, tackling rapidly rising pension and health care costs, or putting our state back on the path to financial stability – our model has always been that Delawareans come together to fight alongside each other for things that matter.
Tags: Delaware, Education, Stem
Posted in Education Comments Off
April 27th, 2012
Delaware is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Agency to sponsor National Take-Back Prescription Drug Day this Saturday, April 28, as a convenient, safe way to dramatically reduce the amount of expired and unused drugs in our medicine cabinets and in our homes.
Tags: drug, prescription drugs
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April 26th, 2012
On April 28, 2012, the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), in partnership with DFLI~The Money School and the Delaware Federation of Housing Counselors, will hold its second annual Homebuyer Fair.
Tags: DSHA, homebuyers, housing
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January 3rd, 2012
Guest Post from Dr. Lillian Lowery, Delaware Secretary of Education:
Almost 10 years ago, the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act began requiring states to report disaggregated student test scores. Aggregated results had masked serious deficiencies among many of our country's most vulnerable students. The law's great legacy is bringing accountability for states, districts, schools and teachers to the forefront, but it also has its flaws.
Recognizing this, in September, President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan offered states the chance to apply for flexibility from certain requirements of the law in exchange for aggressive state-led reform. Eleven states applied during the first round in November, and Delaware is among 30 expected to apply in February for the second round.
We're hosting community meetings this week to talk about our proposed application...
Tags: community meeting, Delaware, Department of Education, Ed reform, Education, NCLB, No Child Left Behind, Partnership Zone, school turnaround
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December 4th, 2011
Guest Post from Delaware's Secretary of Education, Dr. Lillian Lowery: This week, the Delaware Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators will re-launch its annual “Financial Aid Nights,” a statewide program running through March that is designed to provide college-bound students and their families with valuable information and free assistance in applying for financial aid...
Tags: Delaware, Department of Education, financial aid, Governor, Jack Markell, paying for college, scholarships
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November 30th, 2011
Today is the last day of National Pancreatic Awareness Month, but I hope it we'll work on raising awareness all year round. As I look back at November, I want to thank all of the advocates - the family members, patients, and survivors - for sharing their stories. I also want to share mine--I lost one of my best friends and one of the finest people I ever knew to pancreatic cancer.
Tags: Delaware, Governor, Jack Markell, PANCAN, pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Posted in Blog Posts, Helping Our Neighbors Comments Off
November 19th, 2011
We love delicious local, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving meals, so we asked the head of Delaware's Division of Public Health, Dr.Karyl Rattay, to provide some tips on food safety for the holidays. Good nutrition, food safety, and preventing illness are as important during the holidays as the rest of the year, so here are some tips on separating foods, sterilizing tools, thawing your meat the right way, cooking your turkey to the right temperature, and storing your leftovers safely.
Tags: contamination, Delaware, food safety, holiday cooking, thawing turkey, turkey
Posted in Agriculture, Blog Posts Comments Off
November 16th, 2011
Guest Post from Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock: I see the creativity of Delaware’s state employees in the workplace on a daily basis. Outside of the workplace, our employees pursue a variety of creative interests from singing in choirs to participating in community theatre to taking photographs of Delaware’s beautiful landscapes. The key ingredients for success in the arts – inspiration, creativity, and hard work – are traits that are beneficial in the workplace. The Delaware Division of the Arts is organizing a new exhibition with support from the National Arts Program to showcase and celebrate the talents of the visual artists among our fellow state employees and their families.
Posted in Blog Posts, Recognizing State Employees Comments Off
November 5th, 2011
Since the weather is getting cool and the holiday season is upon us, we asked Anne Fitzgerald, the Public Information Officer at the Department of Agriculture, to share her plans for feeding her family with Delaware's incredible offering of local food. WARNING: if you're hungry, you might not want to read this... If you're not hungry, you probably will be by the time you finish it:
It’s November and I am making plans to shop, shop, shop for local food and other items. First on my list is what Greatmamma called Thanksgiving’s “groaning board” feast – turkey time for my family. I have reserved a yummy, all natural, tender turkey from TA Farms in Wyoming that will feed about 20 hungry people and provide leftovers for the week after – love that turkey salad and turkey soup....
Tags: agriculture, Delaware, eat local, farmers market, farms, fresh, local food, sausage, Thanksgiving, turkey, vegetables
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By Susan Cycyk, Director, Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services Delaware Children’s Department
Awareness Day is a key strategy of the federal Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign, an effort to highlight the importance of positive mental health from birth. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues, if left unattended, can evolve to more serious problems later in life, including physical difficulties. However, when we intervene early and connect children and families with effective services and supports, emotional challenges can be addressed and the entire family’s life can improve.
address their issues. With the right resources, children and youth with mental, emotional and behavioral health needs and their families can achieve a better quality of life. When untreated, however, mental health issues can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and even suicide. Untreated mental illness disorders can be very costly to families, schools, communities, and the health care system. The life changing results of early intervention and evidenced-based treatments are estimated to save society between $30,000 and $100,000 per child.
In Delaware we work diligently to address the needs of children, youth and families from birth through age 18. We are particularly focused on our youngest population, children between the ages of birth to 5, and their families. Through Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in early education centers and through the provision of specific counseling approaches and effective treatment, such as Parent Child Interaction Therapy, we are supporting families in living healthier, happier lives.
