HEALTH For All
HEALTH for All is a collaborative partnership between the University of Delaware with the support of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Laffey McHugh Foundation.
Through mobile services and outreach in Wilmington and New Castle County, HEALTH for All promotes healthy living choices and wellness while providing hands-on experience for undergraduate and graduate students. Site activities include, but are not limited to, physical and behavioral health screenings and education.
Program Goals
The program works to establish a replicable academic-community service model that:
- Provides workforce development opportunities and hands-on experience in population health for undergraduate and graduate students
- Expands street-level physical and mental health care, education and outreach opportunities to communities within our state that are in need of healthcare services
- Addresses social determinants of health through new and innovative programs, drawing from cross-college and cross-university engagement
- Promotes health and wellness in work, educational and community settings
- Provides an opportunity for data collection and research and evaluation to continuously improve and sustain these efforts
The program is evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine future extension and sustainability of the model.
Find Us In The Community
Students gain hands-on experience in population health to support improvements in health outcomes in Delaware.
Community Partners
Academia Antonia Alonso
300 North Wakefield Drive
Newark, DE 19702
Beautiful Gate Outreach Center
604 North Walnut Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Community Education Building
1200 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Cooke Elementary
EastSide Charter School
3000 N Claymont Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
Food Bank of Delaware
222 Lake Drive
Newark, DE 19702
Friendship House Clothing Bank
PO Box 1517
Wilmington, DE 19899
Great Oaks Charter
1200 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Holy Angels Church
82 Possum Park Road
Newark, DE 19711
HOPE Commission
38 Vandever Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19802
Kingswood Community Center
2300 Bower Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
Knollwood Community Center
4 Colby Avenue
Claymont, DE 19703
Luther Towers
1201 North Harrison Street
Wilmington, DE 19806
Meadowood Program
Mid-County Senior Center
1st Regiment Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
Network Connect
1200 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Pryme Unicut & Cafe
8 Halcyon Drive
New Castle, DE 19720
Route 9 Library & Innovation Center
3022 New Castle Avenue
New Castle, DE 19720
Rose Hill Community Center
19 Lambson Lane
New Castle, DE 19720
The Salvation Army
400 N Orange Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Howard J Weston Community Center
1 Bassett Avenue
Manor Park
New Castle, DE 19720
HEALTH for All wins library partnership award
HEALTH for All has been recognized as one of the 11 winners across the United States and Canada of the 2024 I Partner with My Public Library Award.
Contact Us
Contact HEALTH for All by email at health-for-all@udel.edu.
Student Engagement
Students gain hands-on experience in population health to support improvements in health outcomes in Delaware.
Weekly Community Care
- Nursing students have the opportunity to participate weekly in the community as part of their community health clinical rotation.
- Doctoral students in Epidemiology have the opportunity to connect with clients and community partners to survey individuals and analyze data for future programming and program reports.
- Nutrition students have the opportunity to engage with community members to inquire on their needs/wants of health education materials and develop materials to specific community sites.
- Health coaching students – have the opportunity to assist with health screenings and meet with community members to discuss wellness goals.
Community Health Fairs
Through participation in periodic community health fairs:
- Nursing students prep on skills and teach about the importance of regular screenings and results using student-produced information sheets.
- Nutrition students engage with community partners by providing nutrition demonstrations and education.
- Spanish in Healthcare Minor students assist with translation and interpretation.
Biomechanics and Movement Science students provide the community with information on research participation opportunities at the University of Delaware.
Student-Led Programming
Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences, Biomechanics & Movement Science, Spanish in Healthcare Minor and Nursing students prepare, facilitate, and present virtual and in-person programming to the community. Health Behavior & Nutrition Students BNS students have the opportunity to meet individually with community members to develop plans to achieve and maintain wellness.
Capstone Projects
Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences students have had the opportunity to work with community partners over the semester on a large project to increase health promotion for specific populations. Students from the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics have had the opportunity to work with a community partner on a project that was analytics-focused, with the students analyzing data collected from a community partner and collecting data from the state to compare. The final presentation highlighted some of the key graphs, and they were included in a final report explaining the key insights.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Students
Doctor of Nursing Practice Students work directly with HEALTH for All clinical providers to complete physicals and sports physicals for children in our partner schools and to develop and engage in research projects to improve healthcare in the community.
Department of Psychological & Brain Science
Staff, post doc, and graduate students from the Department of Psychological & Brain Science provided virtual behavioral health support and consultations, and developed and facilitated monthly small behavioral health groups.
Courses, Minors, and Programs That Engage
Students enrolled in the Spanish for Healthcare Minor assist community partners with interpretation and translation of materials to reach audiences in their native language. [link to video]
Students enrolled in technical communication courses created brochures and informational materials for Mom’s House Wilmington, Shiloh Baptist Church, Academia Charter School, HOPE Commission, Mid County Senior Center, Weston Center, and the HEALTH for All program. They analyzed the organization’s mission, needs, and audiences to produce documents that meet several objectives.
Students enrolled in Professional Writing Internship met virtually with community partners at Shiloh Baptist Church, Mid-County Center, Knollwood Community Center and their members to capture their lived experiences around COVID-19. Students created materials as their project portfolio and for communities to archive.
Nursing students facilitated virtual health education sessions and created health education videos for the children and families in our partner schools during COVID-19.
Resources
Nutrition
Nutrition & Weight Management
Learn more about ways to maintain weight management, nutrient-dense foods/snacks, healthy beverage choices, and the benefits of tracking food.
Presented by:
Anja Leefeldt, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, Associate Instructor/Dietetic Internship Director, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware
Emily Donahue, DTR, Dietetic Interns, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware
Nutrition & Picky Eating
This webinar provided an interactive session on how parents can help their child create a positive relationship with food. Terms are defined related to “picky eating” child development, and discussion includes parent modeling, age appropriate kitchen activities and outdoor activities.
Presented by:
Anja Leefeldt, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND Associate Instructor/Dietetic Internship Director, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware
Ashley Lackey and Ashley Westerman, DTR, Dietetic Interns, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware
Special Guest Rita Landgraf, former Director, UD Partnership for Healthy Communities, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Health & Social Services, Administrator in Residence, Managerial Operations Partner for Healthy Communities Delaware
Nutrition & Diabetes
Learn more about how to change your diet to improve your health while living with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. Discussion includes sources of carbohydrates, carbohydrate counting, and tips for healthy food choices.
Presented by:
Anja Leefeldt, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, Associate Instructor/Dietetic Internship Director, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware
Ashley Lackey and Ashley Westerman, DTR, Dietetic Interns, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware
Special Guest Lt. Governor Bethany A. Hall-Long, PHD, MSN, BSN, State of Delaware; and Professor, School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware
Nutrition & Aging
We can remain healthful, vibrant and active as we age. In this webinar we provide older adults with lifelong tips to staying healthy through movement, eating healthy foods, and portion control.
Presented by:
Anja Leefeldt, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, Associate Instructor/Dietetic Internship Director, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware
Ashley Lackey and Ashley Westerman, DTR, Dietetic Interns, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware
Special Guest Nicholas A. Moriello, RHU, President, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence - Recognizing & Referrals
This webinar defines domestic violence and sexual violence, discusses the connection between violence and health, describes how to respond to someone who may be experiencing domestic or sexual violence, and identifies resources in the community that can help you or those you care about who are affected by domestic or sexual violence.
Presented by:
Courtney Winkler, DVS, Training & Outreach Coordinator, Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Megan Bittinger, DVS, Medical Community Engagement Liaison and Medical Legal Partnership Coordinator, YWCA Delaware’s Sexual Assault Response
Special Guest Rita Landgraf, former Director, UD Partnership for Healthy Communities, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Health & Social Services Administrator in Residence, Managerial Operations Partner for Healthy Communities Delaware
Well-Being
Keeping an Eye on Your Mental Health
Learn more about common myths and facts, warning signs, and ways to protect and enhance your mental health.
Presented by:
Briana Haut, Associate Scientist, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware
Self-Compassion
Learn more about how to begin to practice self-compassion. Self-compassion is demonstrating the same compassion you have for others to yourself. It involves acknowledging pain and suffering and responding with kindness. It is not self-pity or self-indulgence. Self-compassion meditation can help healing and improve self-confidence.
Presented by:
Tara Leonard, MS, NBC-HWC, Clinical Instructor/Clinical Health Coach, Clinical Health Coaching Research and Training Center, Clinic Director, Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware
Dr. Kelsey Chambers, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist, Center for Counseling and Student Development, University of Delaware
Diane Beneck, BSN, NBC-HWC, Clinical Instructor/Clinical Health Coach, Clinical Health Coaching Research & Training Center, University of Delaware
Special Guest Cathy Weaver, Former Senior Vice President, Mission Integration, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, Saint Francis Healthcare
Stress, Recovery, & Mindfulness
This webinar provides a hands-on introduction to the effects of stress on our health and behavior, the importance of stress recovery and the central role of mindfulness in reducing and managing stress.
Presented by:
Michael Mackenzie, PhD, Associate Professor, Director, Mind Body Behavior Lab, Academic Director, Clinical Health Coaching, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware
Alyssa Saienni, MS, Health Coach and Mindfulness Educator, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Clinical Health Coach, Registered Yoga Teacher, RYT-200, Certified Health Education Specialist, CHES
Special Guest Sandra Gibney, MD, Medical Director, Mobile Health Program (2020-2021), Emergency Room Physician, Saint Francis Hospital
A Brief History
The Pilot
In the fall of 2019, Christine Sowinski joined the Partnership for Health Communities (PHC) team as the mobile health coordinator. In collaboration with the Lieutenant Governor’s office and representatives from Saint Francis Hospital, PHC secured funding from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware to support a partnership with the Saint Francis Healthcare mobile health van.
The first cohort of students joined the mobile health unit at the start of the spring semester 2020.
The van traveled to community centers, schools, senior centers, churches and other sites for several weeks, enabling faculty, staff and students to support improvements in health outcomes in Wilmington’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mobile Health van service was interrupted. In response, the Mobile Health team found other safe and effective ways of serving the local areas. Rita Landgraf, director of PHC until 2023, organized service teams to screen for COVID-19 symptoms among those experiencing homelessness.
Services teams were mobilized in every county in Delaware with the goals of identifying those with potential symptoms and providing isolation to individuals to prevent spread of the virus to at-risk community members.
HEALTH for All (Health | Engagement | Access | Learning | Teaching | Humanity)
HEALTH for All was officially established in 2021. Built on the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the pilot, the program aims to provide holistic care to communities experiencing health disparities.
The program embraced more opportunities for virtual programming, while working with more than 20 community partners in the greater Wilmington area to tailor on-site offerings that compliment and strengthen their approach to outreach and services.
HEALTH for All serves community members of all ages, socioeconomic, and geographic origins. Tailored health and wellness services include clinical care, behavioral health services, health promotion and nutrition, stress management, mindfulness, and resources for addressing social determinants of health. In turn, this work improves health outcomes, reduces health disparities, and lowers healthcare costs. Over 6,000+ community members have been served.
More than 1,000 UD students have participated in the program since 2020, creating direct experiential learning opportunities and a widespread impact on communities throughout Wilmington and New Castle County. Students across college departments in epidemiology, English, nutrition, nursing, linguistics, and more have had the opportunity to engage in the HEALTH for All program.
Expanding our team
In January 2022, the HEALTH for All program welcomed Heather M. Milea to the team, where she serves as the clinical lead and provides primary care to the most vulnerable members of the New Castle County community. Heather also oversees and teaches undergraduate and graduate nursing students on community health rotations.
Special thanks to our foundational community partners
Lieutenant Governor’s Office
UD Partnership for Health Communities
Tower at STAR, University of Delaware
100 Discovery Blvd
Newark, DE 19713
Suite 614
Email: phc-info@udel.edu