(Dover, DE – March 17, 2026) – Advocates of the First State Health Leaders Alliance hosted a successful joint advocacy day Tuesday, highlighting efforts to advance a strong, safe, and supported healthcare workforce.

The First State Health Leaders Alliance, known as FSHLA, came together to issue  Delaware’s first-ever cross-sector joint advocacy agenda last year, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to tackle Delaware’s major healthcare challenges. Tuesday’s gathering at Legislative Hall in Dover centered around initiatives to support the healthcare workforce. Delaware is the 5th oldest and 6th fastest growing state in the nation, so it is imperative to have a robust healthcare infrastructure to meet the demand for care.

Founding members of FSHLA include the Ability Network of Delaware, Delaware Academy of Medicine & Public Health, Delaware Association for Home & Community Care, Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, Delaware Healthcare Association, Delaware Nurses Association, Delaware Pharmacists Society, Medical Society of Delaware, and LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware. A first-of-its-kind in the nation, this coalition is composed of association leaders who represent a critical workforce. Still, there is a healthcare workforce shortage, and we need more physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, including home and community-based support.

FSHLA’s eight-point plan highlights the importance of working together to address health workforce development, insurance reform, public health and emergency preparedness, ways to combat workplace violence, and community needs driven by the social determinants of health. Tuesday’s call-to-action highlighted the need to:

• Support comprehensive data collection of the healthcare workforce landscape to better define shortage professions and geographic areas.
• Target resources into incentives to recruit, educate and retain healthcare workers, including Graduate Medical Education programs, scholarships, and preceptor supports.
• Invest in programs that cultivate interest in health careers at a young age, increasing the workforce pipeline.
• Work collaboratively to ensure a culture of safety, protecting healthcare workers and supporting violence mitigation and de-escalation strategies.

In a joint statement FSHLA Members shared:

“Every day, there are new challenges facing the healthcare sector but in Delaware we’re breaking down barriers together. The First State Health Leaders Alliance brings advocates around the table to share experiences, raise issues, and make change. Delaware is special, and we’re fortunate to have exceptional health champions in government to join us as we embark on a new chapter of working together to make Delaware a national model for healthcare. Today, we highlight the backbone of the healthcare system – our workforce – and we will continue to advocate to grow and retain this critical pipeline in the First State.”

The advocates were joined by House Speaker Representative Melissa Minor-Brown and Representative Valerie Jones Giltner. The Delaware House of Representatives and Senate also acknowledged the work of FSHLA formally in a resolution presented by Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Senator Marie Pinkney.

“As a nurse I know our healthcare workers don’t back down from any challenge. It’s engrained in our DNA to fix problems and make a difference. Now as the highest-ranking nurse in that state, I’m fighting for the future our healthcare workers deserve. As we heard today, in order to have a strong Delaware we need a strong healthcare workforce. I’m committed to supporting our health workers and policies that provide a quality, affordable experience for our patients and families, strengthen communities, and improve health outcomes,” said Speaker Minor-Brown.

Added Representative Jones Giltner, “It’s fitting that this advocacy day coincides with Health Workforce Well-Being Day because our health workforce is the backbone of high-quality care. We must recognize that a large portion of the communities that we serve make up the healthcare workforce. By supporting and coming alongside our healthcare systems and the healthcare workforce with innovative approaches, we are supporting our communities holistically. One of the main ways in which we can support our workforce is to invest in creating the safest environments as possible for them. We must start here. Only with a protected workforce can we, as a state, achieve our healthcare system goals of providing quality healthcare to all our citizens.”

Dr. Neil Hockstein, chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission, shared his support of the alliance and their goal to break down barriers in the healthcare system.

“The Delaware Health Care Commission is a broad-based, multistakeholder group exploring all elements of the health sector, including the healthcare workforce. We can accomplish so much by working together and breaking down siloes. The First State Health Leaders Alliance is aligned with this mission and doing important work to improve the health for all Delawareans through partnership and collaboration,” said Dr. Hockstein.