Rogers County Health Department is proud to announce that 15 local entities have been awarded Certified Healthy status for 2016. Certified Healthy Oklahoma is a free statewide certification that recognizes entities going above and beyond to make health and wellness a priority for all. The program is open to businesses, campuses, communities, congregations, early childhood programs, restaurants, and schools.
A crucial factor to improving the health of Oklahomans is providing a variety of opportunities for residents to make healthier choices where they live, work, learn, play, and pray. Certified Healthy Oklahoma meets this challenge by recognizing a wide variety of entities that encourage health-focused behaviors and policies.
“These certifications provide opportunities for Rogers County to create environments that support health policies and individual health decisions that ultimately will improve Oklahoma’s health outcomes,” said Larry Bergner, Rogers County Health Department Director. “We applaud all Certified Healthy Oklahoma recipients for making the healthy choice the easy choice and for helping to create a culture of wellness in their communities.”
Certifications are awarded at the Basic, Merit, and Excellence levels, dependent upon number of criteria fulfilled. The following entities received recognition by the Certified Healthy Oklahoma program, sorted by program area and certification level:
Certified Healthy Business
Excellence: CIEDA
Inola Schools Administration
MMS- Payne Funeral Home Cremation Services
Rogers County Health Department
Melton Truck Lines
Merit: Inola City Hall
Neely Insurance & Financial Services
Basic: Heart of the Shepherd
Hillcrest Hospital Claremore
MoreClaremore.com
Oklahoma Department of Human Services- Rogers County
Certified Healthy Community
Excellence: City of Claremore
Merit: Town of Inola
Certified Healthy Congregation
Merit: First United Methodist Church of Claremore
Certified Healthy School
Excellence: Stone Canyon Elementary
All award winners will be acknowledged at a ceremony and luncheon at the Embassy Suites in Norman on March 1, 2017 and are also listed on the Oklahoma State Department of Health website.
One recipient states how they implement healthy policies and wellness:
“During 2016, Claremore First United Methodist Church has made huge strides toward making our congregation healthier, and we invite all of our Rogers County neighbors to participate in any of our programs. We have created three youth-sized football fields on our campus. Last fall more than 100 people participated in Flag Football. Registration for Spring soccer begins soon. A quarter mile walking trail circles our church pond. The trail is part of an extensive renovation on the west side of our property. All are welcome to walk the trail and enjoy this beautiful area. Several bible study programs have included healthy eating and lifestyle components. We continue to have Tai Chi classes for improved balance. Our food pantry provides food, which includes fresh vegetables and high-quality protein, for those in need. We host several support groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous and other addiction support groups, grief support, and depression and bipolar support.”
The Certified Healthy Oklahoma program is a joint effort of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, The State Chamber, The Oklahoma Academy, Oklahoma Turning Point Council, and additional partners who are helping to shape a healthier future for Oklahoma.
The 2017 application opens on August 1st and can be found at www.certifiedhealthyok.com at that time, along with criteria details and additional information.
For local information on Certified Healthy Oklahoma, please contact: Renetta Harrison, Rogers County Health Department, (918) 341-3166.
