The City of Wilmington (19801-19805) the largest city of Delaware with a community with long-standing problems of poverty and violence that reached the national stage with the race riots and civil unrest in the city following the 1968 assassination of Dr. King. Many government attempts to overturn conditions have failed and left the population with distrust and further send of being disenfranchised. Now labeled “Murder Town USA” and the 10th most dangerous city in America. Of the total city population, 19686 are children and youth (Delaware Population Consortium for 2016), 86% are receiving some form of public assistance from the State, with many living in families in which the caregiver is unemployed or underemployed and not able to earn a living wage to support their families. Of the population receiving services from DSCYF, 62.6% re engaged with the Division of Family Services in which there has been a substantial report of abuse or neglect; 16.2% are involved with the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services, the juvenile justice division ; 12.3% are receiving services from the Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health, and 8.4% are receiving services from two or more of the divisions. Wilmington’s high inner-city poverty and unemployment rates persist in making life tenuous and volatile. Conditions support the growth of illegal activities like drug-trafficking as Wilmington is the hub to places like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Baltimore and New York. Illicit drug sales help support many families. Family conditions lack stability. A loosening of social norms regarding marijuana and now opioids will continue to be a challenge as Delaware faces legalization legislation, as well as potentially instituting “Safe Heroin Injection Sites” where users can get high and be safe…oxymoron. TLPPC is in its fifth year of operation. The coalition originated as a collaborative of native community churches, providers, youth and stakeholders from the New
Castle County/ City of Wilmington communities who joined together early 2013 with a sense of importance to address their communities high risk for negative child outcomes. Members began a strategic planning process and developed coalition direction and capacity. The coalition has made a positive impact on youth engagement and providing alternative activities and information on the prevalence of youth substance use in their community. However, there is always do much more work to do as social norms change and social media features messages that alcohol and drugs are fun. The contributing factors (i.e. prescription drugs, opioids, alcohol, poverty, gun violence and teen pregnancy) still exists. The gun violence unfortunately has increased and African American males in the City of Wilmington between ages 15-35 are dying at an alarming rate. Research shows that inner city poverty is an insidious condition undermining positive development of strong families and communities that can raise healthy children with positive outcomes.
