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Our Mission
The mission of UD Partnership for Healthy Communities is to strengthen University of Delaware research, educational, & service capabilities to improve the health & well-being of Delaware communities & beyond through effective community partnerships. Focusing on communities currently experiencing social inequities.
Our History
February 2021 to Present
We began in 2021 and was built off of the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from a previous pilot that was launched the year before. With the COVID 19 pandemic arriving within weeks of the pilot launch, the pilot experience taught us a great deal about being nimble and working with community and campus partners to be innovative and collaborative in making education and outreach initiatives accessible and meaningful for all involved. As a result, the new program embraces more opportunities for virtual programming while also working with community partners to tailor on site offerings that compliment and strengthen their approach to outreach and services in the light of the pandemic.
Our partners include Lieutenant Governor’s office, UD Partnership for Healthy Communities (PHC), and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware.
February 2020 to January 2021
In collaboration with the Lieutenant Governor’s office, and Saint Francis representatives, UD Partnership for Healthy Communities (PHC) secured funding from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware to support a partnership with Saint Francis Healthcare mobile health van.
Christine Sowinski joined the PHC team in the fall of 2019 as PHC’s Mobile Health Coordinator and worked with partners to have the first cohort of students on the mobile health unit in February 2020 at the start of the spring semester. An official kick-off was held in Wilmington in March. The van traveled to community centers, schools, senior centers, churches and other sites across the greater Wilmington area for several weeks as part of a monthly schedule.
The van enabled faculty, staff and students to support improvements in health outcomes in Wilmington’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, through Community Health Services Outreach.
The van was also devoted to community Health and Wellness Outreach (HWO). On HWO days the van visited sites identified in collaboration with the Lieutenant Governor Challenge, a public health initiative to address community health needs, promote healthy living choices and wellness. Site activities include physical and behavioral health screenings and education.
Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Mobile Health van was interrupted and unable to service the Delaware community during spring 2020 as planned in the pilot. However, this did not stop the Mobile Health team from finding other safe and effective ways of serving the local areas during these difficult times. Rita Landgraf organized service teams to screen for COVID-19 symptoms among those experiencing homelessness. Services teams were sent out in every county in Delaware. The goal was to screen and identify those with potential symptoms and provide isolation to the individuals to prevent spread of the the virus to others who are vulnerable and at risk.
Read More About Our COVID 19 Response Work
Click the links below to see the news story:
Program Report Highlights
Jobs
Data & Accountability
Access
We provide workforce development opportunities and hands on experience in population health for undergraduate and graduate students.
Access
Data & Accountability
Access
We expand street-level physical and mental health care, education and outreach opportunities to communities within our state that are in need of healthcare services.
Data & Accountability
Data & Accountability
Data & Accountability
We promote health and wellness in the workplace, educational and community settings, and provides an opportunity for data collection and research and evaluation to continuously improve and sustain these efforts.