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. May their achievements provide you and the communities you lead with even more inspiration to advance your own health and wellness goals.
About Past Award Categories
The Lt. Governor’s Challenge has evolved over time. Past recipients were selected under the award categories and criteria in effect during their respective Challenge cycles. The 2026 award categories and eligibility criteria have been updated to reflect the current scope of the Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium and should not be applied retroactively to past recipients.
Past Lt. Governor’s Challenge recipients reflect the program’s history and the priorities in place during each award cycle. The archive below recognizes earlier honorees under the categories and criteria used at that time.
2024 Winners
Hope on Deck was named a Delaware Health Hero for its work in helping to erase the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health issues. Headed by Dawn Sheehan and run with the help of 350 volunteers, Hope on Deck meets those struggling with addiction where they are. Since 2018, the organization has provided Narcan® training as well as clothing, food, and other necessities to more than 7,000 needy Delawareans.
Bayhealth was named a Delaware Health Hero for its Hunger Relief Box initiative. When patients facing food insecurity are discharged from Bayhealth, there’s often a time gap before they receive deliveries and benefits from organizations such as the Food Bank of Delaware and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The Hunger Relief Box provides low-sodium, low-sugar foods that not only fill the gap for the food insecure but also guide recipients toward healthier food and lifestyle choices.
The Family Medicine Residency Program at ChristianaCare was named a Delaware Health Hero for developing a substance use disorder treatment program that aims to close gaps in treatment capacity. By developing and conducting a standardized screening process to identify those at risk, providing low-barrier treatment services, and training resident physicians in substance use disorder treatments, the program is taking measurable steps to expand access to care in the community.
W.B. Simpson Elementary School was named a Delaware Health Leader for its Comprehensive School Health Program, which promotes healthy fitness habits and improves learning conditions for students. Led by the 2022 Caesar Rodney School District Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Karine Scott, the program encourages family and community involvement and gets students active through initiatives that have included a Bicycle Rodeo, schoolwide Workout Wednesdays, and an annual Family Health Night.
The City of Wilmington was named a Delaware Health Leader for its prediabetes initiative, which fosters a culture of wellness and proactively addresses a health issue among city employees. Noting such health challenges as elevated weight and A1C levels, the city empowered the Employee Benefits Team to institute a holistic program to enhance employee health. Along with the efforts of community partners like the YMCA, the program has resulted in a 33% decrease in employee medical costs over the three years since its implementation.
Rain Vasey was named a Delaware Health Leader for supporting community teen mental health through her “Soulful Art” workshops. Using materials donated by churches, libraries, and even the Delaware 4H, teen participants are encouraged to creatively express problems and feelings by writing or drawing on the pages of donated books, reducing their stress levels. To date, Rain has reached over 175 teens through workshops at youth groups, clubs, and teen festivals — helping them to recognize their amazing self-worth.
The Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA) was honored for their Delaware Creative Aging program, which seeks to promote artistic expression and social interaction among older adults in Delaware, enhancing mental and physical health through engagement in the arts. In partnership with the Division of Libraries, which oversees 33 public libraries across the state, DDOA is complementing the state’s multipronged strategy to support Delaware’s older adults.
Mother Baby & Beyond was honored for the comprehensive support it offers expectant and new mothers, fostering a healthy start to the crucial early years of child development. Faced with an unmet need to address both the physical and emotional well-being of mothers and their children, the organization has launched initiatives that include monthly pregnancy and postpartum pop-up clinics around the state, providing free health assessments and critical supplies at no cost.
Dr. Keith Pettiford was honored for his efforts to identify and address mental health needs within the community. Connecting with over 500 individuals to get a wide range of perspectives, he identified ways to increase access, reduce stigma, improve mental health literacy, and enhance collaboration through such interventions as integrating mental health education into school curriculum and creating safe spaces for those experiencing mental health challenges.
2023 Winners
- Erin Ridout and the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence was named a Delaware Health Hero in the 2023 Lt. Governor’s Wellness Challenge for implementing statewide services to address domestic violence as a health issue and to integrate domestic violence and health services. The services have helped more than 600 domestic violence survivors throughout the state.
- The University of Delaware’s Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood was named a Delaware Health Hero in the 2023 Lt. Governor’s Wellness Challenge for creating a health and wellness program supporting family childcare educators. The program improves mental health and physical wellness, as well as providing social support to reduce stress and lower the risk of chronic disease. Participants reported that the program significantly reduced both personal and work-related stress.
- Providence Creek Academy Charter School was named Delaware Health Hero in the 2023 Lt. Governors Wellness Challenge for creating a program that provides alternative therapeutic methods, such as art and farm therapy, to students experiencing loss and grief. Making this therapy accessible to students has decreased absences and improved the mental health of participants. This program could serve as a case-study for other schools to adopt similar programs.
- Nemours Children’s Health was named a Delaware Health Leader in the 2023 Lt. Governor’s Wellness Challenge for creating the First Oral Feed Initiative for parents of infants with congenital heart defects. The initiative provides education and fosters important early feeding experiences, such as skin-to-skin contact, as well as breast and bottle feeding. The program achieved a 77% participation rate at Nemours and has achieved participation amongst other children’s hospitals across the nation.
- The Sussex County Health Coalition was named a Delaware Health Leader in the 2023 Lt. Governor’s Wellness Challenge for improving physical health by providing grants for libraries. The grants enabled the libraries to conduct exercise classes, and to provide access to community health workers who offered health and wellness coaching. Their program educated underserved residents about health and fitness and led to improved physical health outcomes.
- Face The Facts Delaware was named a Delaware Health Leader in the 2023 Lt. Governor’s Wellness Challenge for providing resources and support to those who have lost loved ones to overdose or substance use disorder. Face the Facts Delaware also works to increase overdose awareness, and provides Narcan training and other resources to help those in recovery. Thousands of people who have lost loved ones have found solace at their meetings.
- Charity Crossing defines a clear health need with a unique solution of incorporating physical activity into volunteer opportunities. The number of volunteers, community hours, and repurposed goods that Charity Crossing has been able to produce and accomplish over the years is admirable, and we applaud their continue dedication to Delaware youth.
2022 Winners
Emotional Well-Being
City or Neighborhood
Created a program to educate Beebe Healthcare staff on trauma and how it affects physical health over a person’s lifetime. A total of 1,100 employees volunteered to participate in the second part of the program, which has led to improved emotional well-being and a better understanding of trauma and how it affects people.
Healthy Living
City or Neighborhood System Change
Created a cooking class for children to broaden their food preferences and to include healthier choices, setting them on a pathway to a healthier life. Students learn about the foods, why they are healthy, and even how to grow the food from seed to harvest. The program resulted in an improvement in students’ food preferences and willingness to try new foods.
Emotional Well-Being
City or Neighborhood System Change
Developed a survey to screen for food insecurity and mental health impacts within their student population. DSU began monitoring student mental health levels and created a food pantry that has served over 1,000 students.
Healthy Living
City or Neighborhood Environmental Change
Created a “Wellness Wednesdays” program to improve the physical, emotional, and financial health of their staff. The program provided healthy snacks on-site, set up consultations with a nutritionist, provided access to mental health services, and more.
Healthy Living
Town, City, or Neighborhood
Environmental Change
Created an education program to expand on environmental literacy and knowledge, including lessons on recycling and composting as well as more frequent outdoor classes. The program helps students become more environmentally conscious and reduce waste.
Healthy Living
City or Neighborhood Environmental Change
The organization worked with a network of partners to provide a healthy ecosystem for students, children, and families in Delaware. Their health initiative included providing food security, health services, access to physical and behavioral health services, and much more to those in need.
Chronic Disease Management and Prevention
Community with a Shared Interest
Environmental Change
Improved physical health by sponsoring exercise classes, having an on-site personal trainer, and building a gym for employees and their families. Their program also includes an exercise break for employees and daily exercise classes, as well as a yearly “Biggest Loser” competition with prizes to encourage physical health.
Emotional Well-Being
Community with a Shared Interest
System Change
Developed programs, including life-enrichment classes and wellness screenings, to combat social isolation and depression for residents at Selbyville’s Bayside community. She also created a biweekly internal wellness program featuring health care providers, educators, and artists. It provides tips on nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and more.
2021 Winners
Emotional Well-Being
Workplace
Environmental Change
Deployed a communication, wellness, and mindfulness program to keep employees connected and affirm the health and emotional wellbeing of the BCCS team.
- Provided telehealth support services by distributing hundreds of laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots as well as assisting with tech issues, scheduling, and directing patrons to resources to increase access to remote health and human services.
- Created their school-garden program to educate students in gardening, soil composition, plant biology, and more, as well as improve eating habits in over 30 Delaware schools.
- Worked with neighborhood-based groups to provide educational health sessions, workouts, and guidance to local resources such as cancer screenings and mental health support to at-risk minority women.
- Deployed an employee mental well-being program that included workout sessions, recreational time, group counseling, and certified counselors being made available to employees.
- Hosted health seminars and food drives; distributed school supplies and vaccines by bringing doctors and other experts to vulnerable communities.
- Deployed an integrated and coordinated mental/behavioral health program driven by Student Support Teams at each school.
2020 Winners
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Healthy Living
Workplace
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.
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.
Mother and Child Health
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.
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.
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.
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.
Healthy Living
Workplace
System Change
Created a culture of healthy vending options in select state locations with 40% of healthy food options available.
Emotional Well-Being
Workplace
Environmental Change
Implemented a community-wide event to educate on mindfulness, to help with stress-reduction and emotional well-being.
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.
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.
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.
