Kind to Kids honors Christiana Care for service to youngest, most vulnerable neighbors
The Wilmington-based Kind to Kids Foundation, which provides emergency support for Delaware children transitioning to foster care and community-based life skills programs for at-risk youth, honored Christiana Care Health System with its 2017 Corporate Service Award. The award recognizes Christiana Care’s commitment to the health and wellness of children throughout our community.
“Christiana Care is deeply committed to caring for our community at every age and stage of life,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH. “The inspiring ways Kind to Kids serves our community helps us do our work better in caring for our youngest, most vulnerable neighbors.”
Christiana Care is a leader in health and wellness services and outreach for children of all ages, economic and social circumstances. Among its services are prenatal care and neonatal support, well-baby services, pediatric-ready emergency care and inpatient pediatric care, and community and school-based care for chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, and psychological and neurological disorders.
Christiana Care offers a Healthy Beginnings program to reduce Delaware’s premature birth and infant mortality rates, reading encouragement programs, the Camp FRESH youth program, school-based health centers and First State School for chronically ill students. Christiana Care also serves youth in partnership with community partners including the Delaware Division of Public Health, University of Delaware, New Castle County Public Schools, Safe Kids Delaware, Sunday Breakfast Mission, Arsht Cannon Foundation, United Way, Hope Commission and the Healthy Neighborhoods Committee of the Delaware Center for Health Innovation.
Through a $260 million enhancement project, Christiana Care is transforming health care for women, children and infants throughout the state. A new eight-story Women and Children’s building, expected to open on the Christiana Hospital campus in 2020, will feature a new neonatal intensive care unit and continuing care nursery specializing in care for infants exposed to opioid drugs during pregnancy.
Accepting the award on behalf of Christiana Care was Douglas P. Azar, MHA, senior vice president of the Medical Group of Christiana Care, which includes primary care and specialty practices that serve as medical homes for pediatric and adolescent patients.
“Christiana Care recognizes the complexity of the childhood and adolescent years, and we are committed to providing our youngest neighbors with the high-quality, diverse array of programs and services that offer a needed helping hand while respecting their unique needs,” Azar said. “Working with dedicated community partners, such as Kind to Kids, is a powerful way for us to serve and support Delaware’s children with excellence and love.”
