The creation of the Delaware Center for Health Promotion (DCHP) was spearheaded by former Lt. Governor John C. Carney, Jr. in early 2007.

It started out as a joint initiative between the state of Delaware and the University of Delaware. DCHP was created to provide statewide health promotion programing that focuses on health maintenance and illness prevention. Working in conjuntion with the Healthy Delaware Foundation (HDF), programming is offered under the auspices of the HDF slogan, "Be Healthy Delaware."

DCHP provides worksite/community seminars, e-mail based programs and media placements. Several large-scale behavior-change programs have been created for The News Journal, such as the Ten Ton Challenge which resulted in 2500 Delawareans losing over 20,000 pounds, and the more recent "Be Healthy Delaware: Walk It Off" program - participants logged almost 500,000 miles in 10 weeks!

Since July of 2009, the state of Delaware has been unable to continue its financial support due to the budget crisis. Effective July 30, 2010, the University of Delaware has chosen to discontinue its support of this statewide community health initiative.

DCHP moved to Delaware State University's campus in Dover in October 2010. Director Marianne Carter is thrilled that DSU's President Harry Williams supports this health initiative and that the Center's statewide programs will be able to continue.

DCHP is grateful to the following local corporations who have previously provided financial support through contributions to the Healthy Delaware Foundation: Christiana Care Health System, Astra Zeneca, Valero, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware.

Contact information:

e-mail: mcarter@desu.edu