Mobilizing the Community through Partnerships
Improving the health of our community is profoundly affected by the collective beliefs, attitudes and behaviors of everyone who lives in the community. It is therefore a shared responsibility that requires the active participation and leadership of government officials, business executives, educators, community leaders and members of the general public. It is through these community partnerships that a great deal of the work in improving community health status is accomplished. The following are active community partnerships in Delaware County:
Domestic Violence Medical Advocacy Coalition partnership of all hospitals in the County along with the Medical Society and Domestic Abuse Project that aims to increase awareness of the problem of domestic violence, reduce the incidence and ensure appropriate services for victims.
Weed and Seed Project: major focused initiative to eliminate crime (weed) and concentrate human services (seed) in a targeted geographic area in Chester.
Violence Prevention Initiative: community-wide and county-wide initiative intended to reduce the level of violence affecting children and families in Chester City and Delaware County.
Communities that Care (CTC) Initiatives: broad based coalition working to improve overall quality of life for youth in several communities in Delaware County.
Healthy Families Partnership: multi-provider partnership formed to assist CKHS to improve birth outcomes and reduce infant mortality in Chester.
First Steps for Healthy Kids: partnership with the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council (DVHC) and a broad array of other health care providers to reduce the number of uninsured children, ensure a medical home for each child and maximize availability of early childhood care.
Family Centers Project: co-sponsored initiative with the Delaware County Intermediate Unit that provides a comprehensive one-stop information and referral center to promote healthy growth and development of children and families.
Chester Housing Authority Revitalization Council: multi-agency partnership created to assist HUD in the total revitalization of four (4) housing projects in Chester and improvement in the overall quality of life for the residents.
Delaware County Immunization Coalition: broad based partnership of health care providers committed to significantly improving compliance with the full schedule of recommended immunizations for children, adolescents and adults.
Smedley Wellness Center: partnership with Chester Upland School District to provide a school based primary care center for middle school children.
Delaware County Smoking Prevention and Cessation Coalition: partnership with stakeholders for community awareness, prevention and smoking cessation services to adolescents, adults and seniors.
Cultural Connection Collaborative: partnership with Upper Darby School District, Pennsylvania Department of Health, ChesPenn Health Services and other community stakeholders to address better access and sensitivity to the health needs of recently immigrated children, primarily from Asian communities.
