Delaware County’s Office of Workforce Development, through PA CareerLink® Delaware County is offering job training and employment search assistance to the hundreds of people impacted by the layoffs by Crozer Health.

On March 16, Crozer Health and its parent company, Prospect Medical Holdings publicly announced the layoff of over 200 employees as part of its operational restructuring plan. Hundreds of Crozer Health employees have also been affected by Prospect’s decision in 2022 to suspend medical services at Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Springfield Hospital.

The layoffs of Crozer staff, the halting of medical services, and closures of medical buildings continue to be a concern to the County. The County remains concerned that Prospect/Crozer Health has not demonstrated that the health and well-being of our community is among its corporate priorities.

“The County continues to strive to find healthcare providers to step in and serve the healthcare needs of our residents in the gaps created by Prospect/Crozer's withdrawal of services, and we will now also step in to support the impacted workforce through the efforts of our Office of Workforce Development,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor.

Crozer employees who have been impacted by the layoffs are encouraged to contact PA CareerLink® Delaware County for career-related assistance. 

PA CareerLink® is comprised of multiple employment, social service, and educational partner organizations and provides free help to job seekers and employers for a variety of career, workforce development, and employment-related needs. They provide a broad range of valuable workforce development services to businesses and individuals in Delaware County in their Chester and Media offices.  

The goal is to provide high-value, low-cost employment and training services and information to jobseekers and businesses throughout Delaware County and surrounding communities.

The job training services can help Delaware County jobseekers acquire the workplace skills needed to be competitive when entering or re-entering today’s dynamic and highly skilled workforce. Professionally trained staff work collaboratively with each person using a customer-centered service model, to effectively move jobseekers forward into the high demand occupations and growth industries that interest them.

Residents can learn more on the PA CareerLink Delaware County Website.

Delaware County Holds Opioid Settlement Roundtable Discussion for Local Universities and Colleges

Delaware County held an Opioid Settlement Roundtable Discussion for leaders of local colleges and universities on March 23. The forum, hosted by Delaware County Council, was held to engage higher education stakeholders around the opioid settlement funds that the County will receive. 

The County will receive the funds as part of the $26 billion multi-state opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson. Delaware County will receive $63 million in 18 annual payments. The funding will be used to tackle the devastating opioid epidemic affecting Delaware County residents, their loved ones, and the community. 

It’s critical that Delaware County move quickly to put the new funding into use, because every day is another day that someone struggles with addiction and its devastating impact on their lives, the lives of their loved ones, and the community. 

“Delaware County has taken enormous strides to reform how it thinks about and addresses public health and safety in recent years, and these funds will continue the progress we are making to treat addiction as a public health epidemic and deliver necessary care and services to treat it,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor.  

To ensure that the funds are used to combat the opioid crisis to the best of their ability, Delaware County formed an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary Task Force last fall to provide recommendations to County Council for short-term and immediate uses, as well as long-term programming that can be supported by the new funding. As part of our planning- the County is also engaging with stakeholders in our community who share the County’s common goal of tacking the opioid abuse epidemic. 

During the forum for members of higher education the County provided a status update on the settlement planning process and institutions were invited to share their existing programs, learn best practices from higher education colleagues, and discuss remaining opportunities to support Delaware County communities. 

Representatives from Cabrini College, Delaware County Community College, Saint Joe’s University, Temple University, and Widener University attended and contributed to the discussion- sharing current programs, successes, ideas, and experiences. 

This forum will result in a report by the Delaware County Health Department that will be shared with participants, and it will also inform the County’s planning process to utilize the settlement funds.  

“The County values and appreciates your expertise and passion surrounding opioid abuse prevention and treatment and we are grateful for your participation today, which provides insight as to how Delaware County can use the settlement funds to make a significant impact on the addiction epidemic in our county,” Dr. Taylor told the participates. 

Future Opioid Settlement Roundtable Discussions for various groups including those in healthcare are being planned. 

Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Office of Sustainability have announced that the County has been awarded a Certificate of Environmental Stewardship from WGL Energy for the County’s recent purchase of significant renewable energy credits.

The Certificate is in recognition that the County, as part of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Energy Partnership Agreement (SEPA) has purchased the highest level of renewable energy credits possible through 100% offsite wind renewable energy credits. SEPA, an inter-county sustainability group that includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties and spearheaded by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, leverages purchasing power as a group to procure renewable energy at the greatest value. 

In total, WGL Energy is providing 25,731,000 kilowatt hours of 100% green energy certified wind power to Delaware County. This amount of renewable energy eliminates the emissions of 18,325 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is equivalent to taking 3,929 cars off Delaware County roadways for one year and eliminates the consumption of 2,051,886 gallons of gasoline. 

“Adopting sustainable practices really begins with energy,” explained Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “This recognition demonstrates that the County, led by our Office of Sustainability and Francine Locke, is on the right path towards a sustainable future.”

As the regional energy grid builds its capacity for more local renewable energy sources, Delaware County and its partnering counties will continue to look to procure energy directly from local and regional sources of solar, wind and hydro energy producing facilities. This aligns with Delaware County’s sustainability goals increasing renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The purchase of renewable energy is a key component of the County’s first ever Sustainability Plan. The plan is currently being drafted by the Office of Sustainability in consultation with community advocates, partners, and experts from Delaware County and the surrounding region.

Sustainability Plan Open Houses

To ensure community input and feedback about the goals, targets, and actions input on the plan, Sustainability is holding four public Sustainability Plan Open Houses—three in-person and one virtual. All Open Houses are being hosted in walkable and transit-accessible communities. The first Open House will be held on Wed., March 29, from 6 - 8 p.m., at the Upper Darby One Center at 100 Garrett Road in Upper Darby, with additional open houses scheduled for the following week in Chester and Media.

Information about all four Sustainability Plan open houses can be found on the Office of Sustainability's website, linked below. 

District Attorney, Court, and County Council Announce Initiatives to Support Delaware County's Children

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office is announcing a number of initiatives that are designed to support and safeguard Delaware County’s children.

Delaware County Child Abuse & Exploitation Task Force

On March 2, 2023, President Judge Linda Cartisano swore in twelve new members of the Delaware County Child Abuse & Exploitation Task Force. The Task Force, established by District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer in September of 2020, is the first of its kind in the County.

Its members are comprised of officers from the County’s municipal police departments who regularly work on child abuse cases under the supervision of the Deputy District Attorney for Special Victims and the Criminal Investigation Division’s Child Abuse Unit, receives special training in the best practices in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving child abuse. 

District Attorney Stollsteimer stated, “Child abuse cases are singularly difficult to prosecute. No other type of case presents such consistently complex psychological and social dynamics. No other type of case so often requires the assistant district attorney to go to trial with a child as the most crucial witness. Child abuse victims face unique challenges. In the vast majority of these cases the offender is a trusted authority figure—family member, friend, neighbor, babysitter, clergy member, scout master or teacher—who physically or sexually abuses a child dependent on that person. The stress on a child in this situation is extraordinary. Our office is committed to ensuring that we limit the additional trauma experienced by these child victim/witnesses.” 

The Task Force is part of a multi-pronged strategy by District Attorney Stollsteimer, the Court, and County Council to protect the County’s children from abuse and exploitation. 

The Children’s Court

In addition to the Task Force, in the summer of 2022 then-President Judge Kevin Kelly signed an order designating a single District Court as the Delaware County Child Abuse Magisterial District Court (aka, the Children’s Court). Presided over by MDJ Andrew Goldberg in Upper Providence, the Children’s Court handles cases where the victim is a minor and the matter was charged by a member of the Child Abuse & Exploitation Task Force, or a minor is a necessary witness to a crime. 

The designation of a single District Court to hear these difficult cases reflects the recognition by the Court that steps must be taken to ensure that the legal process – in its search for justice for the victims - does not inflict additional trauma on the children involved. 

By making various changes from the normal District Court process, the goal of the Children’s Court is to reduce the stress on the children. For example, the Court has a separate space for the victims, so they do not need to wait with their offenders prior to the hearing. With contributions from the Victim Assistance Center, books and toys have been added to the space to make it more comfortable for the children. In addition, each case will have a specific time for their hearing, so that the children do not wait through a list of dozens of other cases. The Court will also allow comfort animals as requested. 

“Simply put, there can be no higher priority for the Court than the protection of our children, particularly those that have been traumatized as victims of abuse. The Court has been gratified by the success of its collaboration with all of the stake-holders in the creation of the Children’s Court, and we see it as evidence of the continuing commitment of the County to employ best practices in the prosecution of these difficult cases,” said President Judge Linda Cartisano.

Children’s Advocacy Center

In addition to supporting the development of the Task Force and the Children’s Court, County Council has been working closely with the Children’s Advocacy Center, a program of Family Support Line, to ensure that both the CAC and FSL have the funding and the space that they require to do their work. Prosecutors and the Court rely on the CAC to conduct the forensic interviews that are absolutely critical to any successful prosecution. 

In order to conduct their work in the most accessible, comfortable and professional manner possible, in 2021 it was recognized that new accommodations were required. To that end, the CAC has worked with County Council to identify new accommodations and to ensure that adequate funding would continue to available. 

“Our children are our future, and supporting the organizations that perform critical services to protect and support our children is an essential part of County Council’s mandate. We are enormously grateful for the work done by all of our partner agencies, and we welcome the opportunity to support their critical work,” said Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. 

The Court, the District Attorney’s office, and County Council encourage the public to become more aware of the signs of child abuse and neglect and how to report suspected abuse. If you suspect a case of child abuse or endangerment, please call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.

The Delaware County Parks & Recreation Department maintains almost a thousand acres of park land throughout the county, providing residents with scenic nature trails, picnic groves, playgrounds, cross country running trails, bike trails and athletic fields for multiple sports. 

To help residents better access outdoor spaces in the county, Delaware County Parks & Recreation Department recently collaborated with Delaware County’s Office of Data and Mapping Innovation to create the Delaware County Parks & Trails Explorer — an easy-to-use web-based tool that provides detailed maps and information for all County-managed parks and trails. 

Residents can access the new web page—optimized for use on mobile devices and desktop—by clicking the green Delaware County Parks & Trails Explorer button found on the Parks & Rec Department website.

Once the Parks & Trails Explorer is launched, a map showing all County-managed parks will display. Residents can then select the park they wish to explore using a drop-down list or by simply clicking the park name on the map. Once selected, the tool will display the park’s hours of operation, location, and a list of amenities such as parking and public transportation access, picnic and pavilion locations, sport field types, bench locations, bathroom locations, and more. 

Most County parks have walkable marked trails, and the outline of these trails are viewable in the Parks & Trails Explorer. Trails can also be pre-viewed in topographical view.

The County of Delaware's Parks and Trails

The County manages a total of seven ADA-accessible public parks, including Catania Park in Ridley Park, Clayton Park & Golf Course in Garnet Valley, Glen Providence Park in Media, Kent Park in Upper Darby, Rose Tree Park in Media, Smedley Park in Springfield, and Upland Park and Redwood Recreational Center in Brookhaven.

In addition, the County of Delaware manages the Chester Creek Trail, a 2.8 mile rail-trail in central Delaware County that runs through Middletown and Aston townships and the Darby Creek Trail in Upper Darby,

Catania Park consists of 15 acres of land that the county purchased from the Boeing Corporation in 1999. It is located on Chester Pike, behind the Ridley Park police station and adjacent to the borough’s Hetzel Park.

Amenities Include: Baseball/Soccer fields, Basketball Court, Picnic Pavilion, Restrooms (Open April 1-November 1), ADA Accessible.

Hours: Dawn Until Dusk. Public Transportation: SEPTA Regional Rail Crum Lynne Station; Bus Route #114 

The Chester Creek Trail is a 2.8 mile rail-trail in Aston and Middletown Townships. The trail follows Chester Creek along the Civil War-era Chester Creek Branch line of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Amenities Include: Benches, Bike-Fix Station, Restrooms (Open April 1-November 1), ADA Accessible.

Hours: Dawn Until Dusk. Public Transporation: SEPTA Bus Route #114 

Clayton Park, the largest of the county's park and recreational facilities, sits on 165 acres of scenic woodlands and rolling greens in Concord & Bethel Townships. 

Amenities Include: Golf Course, Ballfields, Trails, Picnic Tables, Restrooms (Open April 1-November 1), ADA Accessible 

Hours: Dawn Until Dusk. Public Transportation: SEPTA Bus Route #110 

Glen Providence Park is the county’s oldest park, established in 1935 as the result of a gift of ground from George Butler, a late owner of the Broomall House and estate. The park encompasses 32 acres of hillsides covered with mature trees and bushes of many varieties, providing an ideal environment for nature study and habitat protection for nesting birds.

Amenities Include: Bird Watching, Hiking Trails, Picnic Tables 

Hours: Dawn Until Dusk. Public Transporation: SEPTA Bus Route #109; Trolley Route 101 

Kent Park is a scenic 10-acre stretch of green that runs along Darby Creek under the historic Lindbergh Bridge. This park has traditionally been used for hiking and fishing and now features a renovated multi-recreational area. 

Amenities Include: Dog Park, Playground, Pavilion, Adjacent Darby Creek Trail, Restrooms (Open April 1-November 1), ADA Accessible 

Hours: Dawn Until Dusk. Public Transporation: SEPTA Bus Route #109 

Rose Tree Park is situated on 120 acres in Upper Providence Township. The picturesque park features grassy rolling hills, mature trees, woodlands, a charming gazebo, picnic areas, and a retired steeplechase. 

Amenities Include: Amphitheater, Community Garden, Picnic Tables, Trails, Bird Watching, Restrooms (Open April 1-November 1), ADA Accessible 

Hours: Dawn Until Dusk. Public Transporation: SEPTA Bus Route #118 

Smedley Park was named after Samuel L. Smedley, the founder of Delaware County's Parks & Recreation Board. Conveniently located on 120 acres of land between Media and Springfield, Smedley Park is accessible by trolley and attracts many outdoor enthusiasts, scout groups, and local sports teams.

Amenities Include: Hiking/Biking Trails, Soccer Fields, Baseball Fields, Playground, Restrooms (Open April 1-November 1), ADA Accessible 

Hours: Dawn Until Dusk. Public Transporation: SEPTA Trolley Route #101 

Formerly called Camp Upland, this parcel of parkland was once owned by the Salvation Army and used for twenty-five years as a summer day camp for underprivileged youngsters. It was purchased by Delaware County in 1968. With over 60 scenic acres, the park offers a great variety of activities.

Amenities Include: New Playground, Community Center (Redwood) Picnic Tables, Softball Fields, ADA Accessible  

Hours: Dawn Until Dusk. Public Transporation: SEPTA Bus Route #117 

The Delaware County Parks & Recreation website maintains up-to-date information about all parks, including info about community gardens, picnic permits (free but required for parties of 10 or more), the dog park at Kent Park, the Senior Games, the Summer Concert Series, and more!

Questions about a Delaware County park? Visit the Parks & Recreation website at delcopa.gov/departments/parks or send an email to DelcoParks@co.delaware.pa.us.

March 22 marks the first day of Ramadan. Ramadan begins during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar when the new crescent moon is first sighted. For the duration of the month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day, perform meaningful rituals that illuminate their faith, exercise humility, and engage in self-reflection. 

This sacred month is a time for reflection and spiritual growth for Muslims across the world. Muslims come together to practice forgiveness and resilience, to show compassion and generosity, and to celebrate the many blessings of life with loved ones.

Ramadan Kareem!

Original Artwork to be Featured during County’s 2023 Juneteenth Celebration

The County is extending the deadline for students to participate in our Juneteenth Logo Contest an additional week, accepting submissions through Fri., March 31, as part of the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration scheduled for Mon., June 19 at Rose Tree Park.

All Delaware County students from any school or home-school program, kindergarten through 12th grade, are invited to participate.

The winning artwork will be featured on the official 2023 Delaware County Juneteenth flyer and other promotional items for a celebration featuring live music, activities for kids and families, food, resources for the community, talented local vendors, and much more.

As a reminder, all artwork submissions must be original (either digital or physical), include the words “Delaware County’s 2023 Juneteenth Celebration”, and be submitted with the student’s name, school, age, and a contact phone number.

Submissions can be mailed or emailed through 5 p.m. on Friday, March 31. 

Digital submissions can be emailed to Juneteenth@co.delaware.pa.us. 

Physical artwork can be mailed to:

Juneteenth Logo

ICO/ Adrienne Marofsky, Public Relations Director

201 West Front Street

Media, PA 19063

PA CareerLink® Delaware County, in partnership with Delaware County Workforce Development, is hosting an adult job fair on Thursday, March 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Springfield YMCA in Springfield, located at 194 W. Sproul Road, in Springfield, PA.

The job fair will feature over 50 businesses located in Delaware County and the surrounding area looking to fill hundreds of full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions. 

Representatives from manufacturing, the hospitality industry, retirement communities, educational institutions, banks and financial services, and health care will be in attendance. 

Job seekers will have the opportunity to meet with human resources professionals from small and large companies!

55 EMPLOYERS SCHEDULED TO ATTEND

- Allied Universal

- Always Best Care

- Amazon

- American Water

- Ampro

- Astound Broadcasting

- Bonduelle (Ready PAC)

- Choice Linens

- Community Interactions

- Community Integrated Services

- Compeer of Suburban Phila

- County of Delaware

- CrozerHealth

- Crozer Hospital

- DCIU

- Defensive Driving Academy

- Devereux Advanced

Behavioral

- DrexelBrook 

- EDSI

- Edward Jones 

- Excellence Staffing Global

- Fairfield Inn and Suites

- Harpoon Pest Solutions

- Harrah's

- Healing Hands of Gardenia

- Horizon House 

- Jefferson Hospital

- Independence Home Care

- Kelly Services

- Liberty Coca-Cola

- Marple Newtown School District

- Mustang Expediting 

- New Life Staffing

- Oliver Heating & Cooling

- PA Office of Administration

- Payer Matrix

- PECO

- Penn Delco School District

- SCI Chester

- SEPTA

- Serenity Care

- Smith Flooring

- Summit Pools

- Sun East FCU

- Surrey Services for Seniors

- The Sub Service

- Truly Helping Hearts

- U.S. Security Care

- Upper Darby School District

- UPS

- USLI 

- US Medical Staffing

- UTCRAS

- White Horse Village

- YMCA

JOB SEEKERS: BRING YOUR RESUME!

Job seekers are advised to bring copies of their resume — no pre-registration required! On-site interviews will be held for strong candidates and same-day hiring may occur for some positions. Job seekers can also visit the PA CareerLink® Resource Table for helpful resume advice, as well as general job search and interview tips.

If you are looking for a new job opportunity, this is an event you will not want to miss.

Contact Tanya Harris, Business Services Team Lead, at TanyaHarris@edsisolutions.com for additional information.

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website