The Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC), a newly developed initiative, is redefining Delaware’s support model for early childhood educators by removing barriers to advanced credentials like the CDA® certificate and college degrees. With a mission to create equitable, accessible pathways to professional growth and a vision for an inclusive system that uplifts educators and families,[…..]

Our Stay and Play groups in Harrington and Milford are going strong. We will share a new schedule on Facebook by early December. You can also request it by emailing us at christine.hoeflicholley@lf.k12.de.us. In late September, we hosted the Annual NDEHS Health Fair at DECC! This year featured the Food Bank’s mobile unit and on-site[…..]

Healthy Families Delaware at Children & Families First held its first graduation on October 24, 2024, at the Delaware Children’s Museum. Thirteen families completed this three-year program focused on parent-child interactions. Congratulations to our graduates!   Meghan Emmell and her son, Solomon, completed the program under Family Support Specialist (FSS), Lea. While raising Solomon, Meghan[…..]

  Thrive Quarterly would like to highlight Family Support Specialist Juanita Hopkins with Healthy Families Delaware in Kent/Sussex county. Juanita is very passionate about serving her families, and flexible to meet their needs. She received a referral for a new family from a family she now serves and enrolled them on 8/1/24. During her first[…..]

On Nov. 20, 2024, Social Contract hosted Gathering for Our Future: Transformative Talks in Early Education at Delaware State University, uniting stakeholders in Delaware’s early childhood education community to envision a stronger future for children, families, and educators. The event featured a keynote by Elizabeth Groginsky, Cabinet Secretary of New Mexico’s Early Childhood Education and[…..]

Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) helps pregnant women during incarceration and advocates for home visiting and support services after release through its MOMobile Program. Operating at Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution (BWCI) and Hazel D. Plant Women’s Treatment Facility (HDP), MOMobile provides three key services and support. Doula services including perinatal education, advocacy, and birth support Parenting[…..]

  Erin Troup from Sprout led a training for Delaware’s MIECHV Home Visiting Programs on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH). She shared valuable strategies to support young children’s emotional well-being and social development, paving the way for statewide integration of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC). IECMHC empowers home visitors to[…..]

New Directions Early Head Start prioritizes staff wellness and team bonding with monthly 30-minute virtual coffee breaks. These casual gatherings offer a refreshing space to discuss hobbies, books, movies, and more, fostering connections and a break from work-focused discussions. The positive impact of these sessions has been clear, with the management team fully supporting their[…..]

Since 2020, Lisbeth Rojas has been a passionate Health Coach and Community Health Worker with Quality Insights, contributing to impactful projects in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Her work spans maternal health, diabetes, cardiovascular care, cancer, Screening for Life, WISEWOMAN, COVID initiatives, lead poisoning prevention, immunizations, vaccine community engagement, and stroke prevention. With a global perspective gained[…..]

Marisol Martinez wears many hats at Delaware Early Childhood Center (DECC), serving as a parent educator with Parents as Teachers and a family service worker for the EHS First Start DE Childcare Partnership. Her dedication shines through in everything she does! Marisol is always ready to lend a helping hand, whether it’s assisting with translations,[…..]

Parents as Teachers (PAT) in New Castle County is transitioning and thriving, and we’re excited to welcome Andrea Collins White, principal of Stubbs EEC and a former NCC parent educator. Andrea’s deep connection to PAT and her experience make her a perfect fit to guide and support our program into the future. Quita Blackstock, our[…..]

Birth defects make it more difficult for your baby to be healthy and can put your baby at a higher risk of death during their first year. Thankfully, there are simple ways to lower your risk of these abnormalities.

The team will work with local implementing agencies (LIAs) on quality assurance, identifying and addressing missing demographic, service utilization, and performance data. The MIECHV team will also support LIAs with continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives. For PAT-NCC, this means improving visit frequency reporting; at PAT-Polytech, reducing no-show rates; and at PAT-DECC and CFF/HFA, focusing on[…..]

  Family Accomplishments: Paula Stratton, Parent Support Specialist During a visit, a parent asked when to change her baby’s car seat, mentioning that her baby was getting heavy in the infant carrier. I provided information on recommendations based on age and weight, and I gave her the Car Seats for Kids form. We set a[…..]

First-time mothers enroll in the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) program before 29 weeks of pregnancy and remain until their child turns two. A special NFP alumna, Robyn Lawrence, attended the June graduation with her daughter Kylee and grandmother. When asked, “What does NFP mean to me?” Robyn said, “Being a new mom with high blood[…..]

Prevent Child Abuse Delaware (PCAD) is thrilled to announce Asaiah Beaman Fisher will be the new Statewide Home Visitor Wrap-Around Training Coordinator. Fisher succeeds long-term contractor Janet Umble, who is retiring after over a decade of dedicated service. Fisher brings over 20 years of experience in community engagement and early childhood education, plus a B.A.[…..]

My success story is about a Spanish-speaking client who was denied food benefits, Medicaid, and purchase of care. She was upset because, by law, she should have received Medicaid for a year after giving birth. When I called social services, the representative was uncooperative and gave false information. I asked to speak to her manager,[…..]

In May, 170 caregivers gathered in Dover for the Home Visitors Retreat. Organized by the Home Visiting Community Advisory Board, the Family Health Systems Section of the Division of Public Health, and the Department of Education, this retreat celebrated Delaware’s free statewide Home Visiting Program for pregnant women and families with children up to age[…..]

lt has been my honor to spend 23 years as Program Supervisor for Parents as Teachers, NCCo. This experience has been exhilarating and fulfilling. I am humbled by the support I’ve received since announcing my retirement from the Christina School District. Stepping away for self-care and family time has provided reflection, fond memories, and insights.[…..]

Black Maternal Health Week takes place nationally April 11–17. Founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), the week raises awareness of the inequities that Black women and their infants encounter, builds activism, rallies our communities, and empowers all voices to drive change. While it is truly inspiring to see this happening nationally, some of[…..]

The best part of your day is the time you spend with your child. Spend at least thirty minutes doing quality time activities with the child in your life. Quality time supports your child’s growth and boosts his or her development. Quality time with a child exercises the mind, creates an avenue for learning, and[…..]

Breastfeeding is an incredible act of love for mothers and babies, creating a bond that can last a lifetime. Through breastfeeding, a mother gives her child one of the very best starts in life, in terms of physical and emotional wellness. Plus, when a mother breastfeeds, she practices “self-love,” because it provides her with benefits[…..]

Free Baby Formula Available for Delawareans We all want what is best for our children, and of course that includes proper and safe nutrition for our babies and toddlers. We understand the toll the low supply of baby formula has taken on Delaware families, and we are here to help guide you with trusted and[…..]

A child’s brain rapidly grows and constantly transforms. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are a period of super-fast changes in their bodies, their brains, and their emotions. Spending quality time with kids is important to support their development. You help children learn with each moment of eye contact, each new word you[…..]

The second Saturday in June is National Family Health and Fitness Day. Here are 8 spots in Delaware that are perfect for the whole family to enjoy getting fit, spending quality time with your family, and still having fun!