Why Champions of Health?
It started with a report card for our state's health - one that no citizen would have been proud to sign.

For the past several years, the Oklahoma State Board of Health has published the State of the State's Health Report, an annual publication with a report card that grades Oklahoma on several key health indicators.

While many of Oklahoma's health grades before and since are cause for concern, one statistic in the 2004 report was particularly alarming: Between 1990 and 2002, Oklahoma was the only state in the U.S. that experienced a decline in overall health status. Instead of continuing to move foward, Oklahoma actually took a step backward, as its residents became less healthy.

Months later, the Champions of Health awards were created with the idea that our state can do better. By recognizing those doing good work and encouraging others to follow their lead, Champions of Health seeks to "move the needle" by forming partnerships to address Oklahoma's health challenges.

Oklahoma's Health Ranking
National health rankings provide insight into what is hurting the state's health status. Oklahoma ranks...

...50th in the nation in health status improvement since 1990

...47th in the nation for deaths due to stroke

...49th in the nation for deaths due to heart disease

...40th in the nation for deaths due to lung cancer

...25th in the nation for its childhood immunization rate

...46th in the nation for percentage adults who smoke

...38th in the nation in obesity

...43rd in the nation for child mortality

...37th in the nation for infant mortality

Source: Oklahoma State Board of Health 2007 State of the State's Health Report