BUILDING A HEALTHIER SUSSEX:

Saving Lives and Strengthening Communities
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Fall is a time to celebrate a bountiful harvest, and at the Sussex County Health Coalition (SCHC), we have much to be proud of over the past several months. Our achievements include receiving an award from the Delaware Academy of Medicine in recognition of our impactful work, reigniting our valuable partnership with Nemours, and awarding grants in prevention that have served over 1,000 youth and their families. We also relaunched the "Let’s Get Healthy Sussex Campaign," which reached over 1,200 residents. We also marked a significant achievement with the graduation of 138 Community Health Workers, a vital step in our  commitment to enhancing community health.

Additionally, we have been actively shaping ideas to increase the uptake of SNAP-Ed utilization, and we hosted over 200 participants at the Rural Health Conference in partnership with DPH. Our expansion of the Mini Med School in southern Delaware saw over 300 youth enrolled, in collaboration with the Delaware Academy of Medicine. Finally, through a significant $400,000 grant from Longwood, we are excited to announce that we will be expanding our offices to host, incubate, and support fellow non-profits, entrepreneurs, and providers in Sussex County, with a  launch set for fall 2025. We have been busy!

Overdose deaths during the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter.

SUPPORTING RURAL AREAS

At SCHC, our mission is to increase capacity,services, and funding to better support rural andmarginalized communities. While  we’ve accomplished so much, we recognize there is stillimportant work to be done. Our ongoing effortswill continue to focus on senior support, workforce training, and community collaborationinitiatives.

DELAWARE GOES PURPLE

As we prepare to launch this year’s fifth annualDelaware Goes Purple Campaign, our focus will beon building Recovery Friendly Communities. Atour upcoming Quarterly Meeting, we will befeaturing a National Trainer from Rochester, NewYork, to guide us through this initiative. We will also be hosting a Recovery Friendly Train theTrainer event in Kent County and supporting theRecovery Friendly Workplace initiative inpartnership with the Behavioral HealthConsortium (BHC). Through our ‘YES, I narCAN!Save A Life’ Campaign, we aim to build capacityfor our citizens to take an active role in the life-saving adoption of Narcan.

TOGETHER, WE THRIVE

All of this work is made possible through our partnerships with funders, community-based organizations, government entities, and you—our valued members. The SCHC team is here to offer support, serve as thought leaders and advocates, and provide effective communication channels. We invite you to continue this journey with us by becoming a member, chairing a committee, or partnering with us in our shared mission.
 

"Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of Sussex Counrty residents. We look forward to serving our community alongside you."

Peggy M. Geisler
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - SCHC