This award recognizes those individuals and organizations that work hard for the well-being of mothers and children in Delaware, for the health of community and for health equity.
Do you know an individual or organization that goes the extra mile to put better health in reach of everyone, no matter how much money they have, their race, or the language they speak?
It may be your doctor or nurse, a community health worker, an elected official, clergy or someone else you know who has all the people’s best interest at heart. Or, it might be a local clinic, school health center, wellness program or other place you look to when you are sick, or when you just want to feel better.
We want you to help us say thanks to those individuals and organizations that are making healthy changes in our communities. They stand for diversity, social justice and equality. They help make sure everyone has a fair chance for better health. You know them by their words and actions. Some provide compassionate, culturally competent care. Some fight for better laws and policies. They go where they are needed most, and listen openly to what others have to say.
2022 Organization Recipient: Westside Family Healthcare, for their work to provide integrated primary medical, oral, and behavioral health services to more than 28,000 Delawareans.
2022 Organization Recipient: Planned Parenthood of Delaware, for their work to improve health outcomes across the state, including increasing access to prenatal care as well as reducing rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
2022 Individual Recipient: Delaware State Representative Melissa Minor-Brown, for her staunch advocacy for vulnerable women and children in Delaware — including addressing disparities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
2021 Individual Recipient: Shane Darby with Black Mothers in Power for her work to raise awareness, provide educational programming, and advocate for legislation to address racial inequity among mothers in her community.
2021 Organization Recipient: Delaware Community Legal Aid Society Inc. for their work to provide free legal services to vulnerable populations to help them address the social determinants of their health.
2019 Individual Recipient: Cecilia Lopez of La Red Health Center for her hard work and dedication towards her patients.
2019 Organization Recipient: Mom’s House of Wilmington for their work to empower single parents to complete their education.
2018 Individual Recipient: Jessica Baxter, APRN of Nanticoke Health Services for her passionate care of patients and ability to include them in their care management.
2018 Organization Recipient: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul for their work responding to the needs of Delawareans including food, utility and rent / mortgage assistance, and medical transportation.
2017 Individual Recipient: Allen Conover of Rick VanStory Resource Center for using his own mental health experience and desire to provide a peer to peer model to start the Rick VanStory Resource Center.
2017 Organization Recipient: Rick VanStory Resource Center for their work with the homeless population with co-occurring disorders, ensuring access to care and resources.
2016 Individual Recipients: Mona Liza Hamlin, MSN, RN, IBCLC of Nemours Children’s Health System and Stephanie Rogers, BS, BSN, RN of Christiana Care Health System for their work to reduce disparities in breastfeeding in Delaware.
2016 Organization Recipient: Westside Family Healthcare for their leadership in community health and dedication to providing access to quality healthcare services.
2015 Individual Recipients: Mark-Anthony Umobi, MD, and Gail Smith, RN, BS, IBCLC, Lactation Program Coordinator
2015 Organization Recipient: Health Equity & Quality Services at Highmark Inc.
2014 Individual Recipient: Dr. Deborah Ehrenthal, Christiana Care Health System, co-chair of the Health Equity Committee at Christiana Care Health System.
2014 Organization Recipient: Office of Health Equity and Inclusion, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children-The Office of Health Equity and Inclusion embraces both internal Nemours and community partnerships to ensure the highest level of healthcare and respect for all of the pediatric patients, families, and communities that they serve.
2013 Individual Recipient: Brian Olson, Executive Director, La Red Health Center in Georgetown, Seaford and the Sussex Technical High School Wellness Center.
2013 Organization Recipient: La Red Health Center- La Red Health Center’s mission is to be a Center of Excellence which provides quality patient centered care to the diverse members of the community.
This guide includes the most current evidence and strategies to assist the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Public Health (DPH) and its partners in moving farther upstream to address the underlying causes of health inequities in Delaware’s communities.
