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Department of Health and Social Services Library

What is the DHSS Impact Award?

The DHSS Impact Award (previously called RIH Day) is a judged competition that provides an opportunity for DHSS employees to be recognized for their exceptional work. No project is too big or too small! If your work made a difference this year or you have an exciting idea you want to share, this is the award for you. Employees at all levels are encouraged to participate. Here is how to enter:

  • Submit your project proposal between January 6 and February 7, 2025
    • The proposal is a written narrative of about 100 words describing your project or idea
  • Receive a notification of acceptance by February 14
  • Design an infographic showcasing your project or idea
    • Attend an infographic design training session, if needed, hosted by the DHSS librarians
  • Submit your finished infographic by March 28
  • Watch the winner announcement video on April 16

Winner Announcement

RIH Day 2024 Winners

Research

1st

Mapping the Opioid Epidemic:
Optimizing Naloxone Distribution in Delaware 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Nuno Martins, PhD; Claire Wang, MD; Aarti Behal, Jaclyn Black, Brent Waninger, M.Ed
2nd

25 Years After Olmstead:
Understanding the Connection Between Housing and Health for People with Developmental Disabilities in Delaware 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Ankita Mohan, M.S.; Jody A. Roberts, Ph.D.
3rd

Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

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Reporting Drug Overdose Deaths in Delaware
from 2020-2023: A Fact Sheet 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

 

Jessica Ryan, Terry Cowan, Shannon Robson, Donna Paulhamus, Kathleen Linton, Alex Weyd

----------------------------------------

Asia Coleman, MS, MPH; Abigail Storm, MS; Caroline Judd, MPH; Erica Smith, PhD, MPH;
Judith Ramierz, EDD, MA; Melissa Newell,
John Evans, Anjali Jella, MS

Innovation

1st

The Scoop on Poop: How Wastewater Surveillance is Used to Inform Public Health 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Emily Hanlin, Ryan Hollingshead, Ali Janik,
Cindy Pearson, Kathy Jo Robbins, 
Paul Weston Townsend II, MPH

2nd

DHSS Leadership Academy
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Leigherin Williams, Sharie Matos, Reggie Brown


3rd

Raising Rabies Awareness: A Comprehensive Training for Healthcare Providers 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

 Jamie Ahlers, MPH; Kathy Jo Robbins,
Doug Riley, DVM

Humanity

1st

One Health Discussions: EpiChats 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Kathy Jo Robbins, One Health Public Health Treatment Program Administrator;
Jamie Ahlers, One Health Lead Epidemiologist III; Lisandra Clarke, Enteric Epidemiologist;
Antonio Alvarado, Vector-Borne Epidemiologist; Susana Baumann, Rabies and Zoonotic Epidemiologist II; Shelly Stewart, Planner III;
John Chase, Planner II; Brooks Belle, Planner II;
Felix Almonte, Planner II
2nd

Defend Delaware Against Measles
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Paul Weston Townsend II, MPH;
Erica D. Griffin, BA; Victoria Pyne, MA

3rd

DERSS to DELI: Lessons Learned from Implementing a New Disease Surveillance System to Promote and Protect the Well-being of Delawareans, 2021-2024 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Erica E. Smith, PhD, MPH; 
James Dowling, MPH; Alfred Finch, Camille Moreno-Gorrin, MPH; Uche Njoku, Kurt Olinger, Charlene Rodriguez, Mohammed Shdifat,
Attillio Zarrella PhD, ThD, D CPC;
Tracey Johnson, MS

People's Choice (Popular Vote from DHSS employees)

Research

25 Years After Olmstead:
Understanding the Connection Between Housing and Health for People with Developmental Disabilities in Delaware 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Ankita Mohan, M.S.; Jody A. Roberts, Ph.D.

 Innovation   

The Scoop on Poop: How Wastewater Surveillance is Used to Inform Public Health 
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Emily Hanlin, Ryan Hollingshead, Ali Janik,
Cindy Pearson, Kathy Jo Robbins,
Paul Weston Townsend II, MPH

Humanity

Defend Delaware Against Measles
(Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 

Paul Weston Townsend II, MPH;
Erica D. Griffin, BA; Victoria Pyne, MA

2024 RIH Day Infographics

  1. 25 Years After Olmstead: Understanding the Connection Between Housing and Health for People with Developmental Disabilities in Delaware (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  2. Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  3. Mapping the Overdose Epidemic: Optimizing Naloxone Distribution in Delaware (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  4. Reporting Drug Overdose Deaths in Delaware from 2020-2023: A Fact Sheet (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  1. DHSS Leadership Academy (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  2. Raising Rabies Awareness: A Comprehensive Training for Healthcare Providers (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  3. The Scoop on Poop: How Wastewater Surveillance is Used to Inform Public Health (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  4. Transition Made Easy: Succession Planning in DHSS (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  1. Defend Delaware Against Measles (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  2. DERSS to DELI: Lessons Learned from Implementing a New Disease Surveillance System to Promote and Protect the Well-being of Delawareans, 2021-2024 (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  3. One Health Discussions: EpiChats (Library blog | Kaleidoscope) 
  4. The SUPPORT Act - Transforming Substance Use Treatment in Delaware (Library blog | Kaleidoscope)

(Infographic created by Donna Siebold, DHSS Library)