Lt. Governor's Challenge Winners

The Hall of Fame proudly recognizes the programs and participants who have worked hard to set themselves apart: from an in-school wellness center to healthy vending options to an environmental literacy initiative for children. Each of these winners provided great motivation for Delawareans to take similar action. We hope their achievements provide you and the communities you lead with even more inspiration to advance your own health and wellness goals.

Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long will formally recognize the 2021 Lt. Governor’s Challenge winners during a virtual reception on Wednesday, October 20.

2021 Winners

Brandywine Counseling & Community Services

	Emotional Well-Being
	Workplace
	Deployed a communication, wellness, and mindfulness program to keep employees connected and affirm the health and emotional well-being of the BCCS team.

Delaware Libraries

	Emotional Well-Being
	Community with a Shared Interest
	Provided telehealth support services by distributing hundreds of laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots; assisted with tech issues, scheduling, and directing patrons to resources to increase access to remote health and human services.

Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids

	Healthy Living
	School
	Created the School Garden Program to educate students in gardening, soil composition, plant biology, and more — as well as to improve eating habits — in over 30 Delaware schools.

Hispanic American Association of Delaware

	Healthy Living
	Community with a Shared Interest
	Worked with neighborhood-based groups to provide educational health sessions, workouts, and guidance to at-risk minority women. Local resources were also made available, such as cancer screenings and mental health support.

Reach Riverside Development Corporation

	Emotional Well-Being
	Workplace
	Deployed an employee mental well-being program offering workout sessions, recreation time, group counseling, and certified counselors to employees.

Rose Simon

	Emotional Well-Being
	Individual
	Hosted health seminars and food drives; distributed school supplies and vaccines by bringing health care providers and other experts to vulnerable communities.

Seaford School District Behavioral Health Team

	Emotional Well-Being
	School
	Deployed an integrated and coordinated mental/behavioral health program driven by student support teams at each school.

2020 Winners

Compassionate Schools Team

	Emotional Well-Being
	School
	Environmental Change — Created a Compassionate School team comprised of faculty and staff to utilize best practices and initiatives to build a safe environment that nurtures inclusion, respect, and acceptance of diversity.

Department of Health and Social Services

	Healthy Living
	Workplace
	Policy Change — Implemented policies such as mindfulness/exercise tracking and free workout classes to create an atmosphere that was more conducive to being physically active at work and eating healthier.

Delaware Department of Correction

	Emotional Well-Being
	Workplace
	Environmental Change — Developed a curriculum to educate DDOC staff on the five pillars of wellness: mind, purpose, nutrition, interpersonal connection and body. The success of their current programs has led to DDOC putting additional programs in place.

Christiana Care

	Healthy Living
	Community with a Shared Interest
	Policy Change — Connected inpatient smokers to the Delaware Quitline and worked to visit all smokers at their bedside for a conversation about smoking via an opt-out program. This program led to hundreds of Delaware smokers quitting smoking.

POLYTECH School District

	Healthy Living
	School
	Environmental Change — Developed an initiative which provided nicotine addiction education, resources, and cessation options rather than disciplinary consequences in classrooms where the most vaping incidents were occurring to decrease the number of vaping students.

Khayree Bey

	Emotional Well-Being
	School
	Environmental Change — Implemented a program that teaches students yoga, mindfulness, conflict-resolution, calming strategies, and self-awareness. Also provided these strategies to teachers, parents, and community members.

Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy

	Healthy Living
	Town, City, or Neighborhood
	System Change — Facilitated information sharing and communication between agencies and organizations to improve the availability of healthy food and work on food insecurity in Delaware.

Previous Winners

Hank’s Hope

	Emotional Well-Being
	Community with a Shared Interest
	Environmental Change — Provides resources and support to families who have been affected by pregnancy loss and infant loss, including peer to peer support groups, comfort packages, and professional education and grief support.

Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families

	Healthy Living
	Workplace
	Environmental Change — Improved access to physical activity, for campus students and staff, by identifying a one-mile trail to improve overall health and well-being.

Incyte Corporation

	Emotional Well-Being
	Workplace
	Environmental Change — Provided healthy lifestyle opportunities for employees, through a number of initiatives and environmental changes including office-based group fitness classes, sleep series and mindfulness webinars, healthy food choices and cooking demonstrations.

The Breastfeeding Coalition of Delaware

	Mother and Child Health
	Community with a Shared Interest
	Policy Change — Raises awareness and advocates for the benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mothers, families and communities, through a committed group of volunteers.

Newark Charter School

	Healthy Living
	Workplace
	Environmental Change — Fosters a healthy environment for their employees, to support physical and mental wellbeing, including yoga and meditation classes, childcare, running groups, access to water and healthy food options, a healthy living book club and wellness podcasts.

Sexual Offense Support (University of Delaware)

	Emotional Well-Being
	School
	System Change — Addresses the issues of sexual assault on college campuses by creating a hotline that provides emotional support and resources to address the trauma experienced.

Colonial District 1st Elementary Wellness Center – Eisenberg Elementary School

	Chronic Disease Management and Prevention
	School
	Environmental Change — Created an in-school wellness center to provide primary prevention and early intervention services to their student population.

Blind Vendors Committee: Healthy Vending Initiative

	Healthy Living
	Workplace
	System Change — Created a culture of healthy vending options in select state locations with 40% of healthy food options available.

Delaware Technical and Community College: Mindfulness Summit

	Emotional Well-Being
	Workplace
	Environmental Change — Implemented a community-wide event to educate on mindfulness, to help with stress-reduction and emotional well-being.

Perdue (Delaware Fit Biz)

	Healthy Living
	Workplace
	Policy Change — Helped improve employee health through the integration of healthy fundraisers to promote activity clubs, worksite farmer’s markets, integration of physical activity clubs, and worksite wellness committees.

IMPACT Delaware Tobacco Prevention Coalition

	Chronic Disease Management and Prevention
	Community with a Shared Interest
	Policy Change — Advocated for Clean Indoor Air Act, helped to increase tobacco excise tax, which in turn helped to reduce youth access to tobacco, as well as the most recent increase in the age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21.

Children in Nature

	Healthy Living
	Community with a Shared Interest
	Environmental Change — Developed environmental literacy plan and Outdoor Bill of Rights to increase opportunities for children to participate in outdoor experiences and promote healthy lifestyles.