Empowering School Nurses in Delaware: A Collaborative Approach to Improving Diabetes Management in Schools

Children with diabetes require skilled, consistent support during the school day to ensure safety, academic participation, and long-term wellbeing. In Delaware, a lack of access to updated training left school nurses underprepared to manage complex diabetes care in students. In response, the Delaware Department of Education, Delaware Diabetes Coalition, and Lions Club District 22D collaborated to bring free, evidence-based training to school nurses statewide. Through a grant from the Lions Club International Foundation, the Salus University course "Diabetes Care at School: Bridging the Gap," was offered to all school nurses. One year into the program, 242 nurses-representing just over 60% of the state's school nurse workforce and all 19 school districts-participated in the training. This statewide initiative demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships and targeted education in improving school-based chronic disease care.