The 2024 winners were recognized at the 21st annual Champions of Health awards for their efforts to improve the health of Oklahomans.
2024 Winners
Dr. Rodney L. Huey Memorial Champion of Oklahoma Health
Winner: Emergency Infant Services (Tulsa)
Emergency Infant Services (EIS) is on a mission to provide immediate help with a minimum of barriers to families in crisis who have children who are 5 years or younger. EIS does not ask for the client’s age, gender, proof of income or citizenship, only proof of guardianship in order to receive services. Due to structural barriers that have been EIS’ long-standing challenge, they knew it was imperative to devise a way to get closer to the point of need in order to alter the trajectory for hard-to-reach, notably disadvantaged communities with underserved families. In April 2023, EIS launched a mobile unit, something not done by any other social service agency in Tulsa.
Champion of Children's Health
Winner: Global Gardens (Tulsa)
Global Gardens (GG) uses gardening to promote students’ nutritional health by involving them in all aspects of growing, harvesting, and preparing healthy food. Based in Tulsa, GG has gardened and cooked with over 15,000 students since 2007, and is bringing these experiences to over 4,400 students and individuals this year through during- and after-school programs, a family food farm, summer programs, and outreach initiatives. In fall 2023, GG published its first cookbook, a collection of student-friendly recipes featuring garden produce and tips for involving even the youngest children in meal preparation. The cookbook is being used by more than 2,000 students and 350 families this year and is available at local libraries.
Community Health Champion
Winner: Be Well Community Development Corporation (Tulsa)
In 2016, the North Tulsa Community Coalition was formed after a Culture of Health summit, which later evolved into the Be Well Community Development Corporation (BWCDC). The event was held in north Tulsa, an area with the greatest health disparities in Tulsa County. The summit, hosted by the Tulsa Health Department, aimed to introduce the social determinants of health—factors other than clinical care that affect community health. BWCDC became a non-profit organization in 2017 and has engaged in activities such as enhancing parks in north Tulsa, executing a Men's Health Expo, a Homebuyer Expo, addressing issues such as abandoned neighborhoods and facilitating discussions on bridging generational gaps for better health. BWCDC works across sectors in a culturally sensitive manner to improve health as a cross-sector organization based on public health principles.
Champion of Senior Health
Winner: RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) of Central Oklahoma (OKC)
RSVP of Central Oklahoma’s Volunteer Recruitment and Placement Program has matched older adults with volunteer opportunities in our community for 50 years. These opportunities provide volunteers with the joy of contributing skills and knowledge while also maintaining a second half of life full of purpose and connection. RSVP has 300+ active volunteers and works closely with 65 local nonprofit partners to help these organizations meet needs in the community. Our volunteers serve in a variety of ways. They deliver meals to elderly homebound residents, thoughtfully knit comfort items for people in need, serve at local elementary schools, food banks, veterans’ centers, libraries, domestic violence shelters, as well as assist disaster victims.
Champion of the Uninsured
Winner: Community Treatment Integrations OK (Tulsa)
Community Treatment Integrations OK provides comprehensive mental and behavioral health and substance use care to Oklahomans. Their mission is to educate, treat and support patients through integrated care tailored to each individual's needs. Patients find support with a medical and clinical team providing quality care, like group &individual counseling, crisis services, problem gambling treatment, trauma treatments like EMDR & infant mental health, parenting programs, recovery support services, and comprehensive and innovative addiction treatments. Services are offered regardless of ability to pay, at low/no cost. CTI-OK doesn’t just see a diagnosis: they see a person first, and treat them with the kindness and tenacity they would want for their loved ones.
The Champions of Health Awards is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, in partnership with Care Providers Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, the Oklahoma Dental Association, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Oklahoma Hospital Association, the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, the Oklahoma Primary Care Association, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Oklahoma State Medical Association.