As the Wellness Now community health initiative gets underway, the Oklahoma City-County Health Department is inviting people to share their opinions about health concerns and the obstacles to good health in their neighborhoods.
Wellness Now will hold a series of community forums beginning on July 12th, and is also asking residents to participate by completing surveys that are available now at public libraries, health facilities and other venues in the metropolitan area. The surveys are also available online.
Wellness Now is a collaborative effort to improve the health of our entire community by addressing problems including obesity and tobacco use, as well as senior and children’s health issues. The initiative involves dozens of community organizations and individuals and is chaired by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and County Commission Chairman Ray Vaughn.
“Evidence-based studies and expert opinion are important, but we believe the real answers to this challenge will be found in our own communities,” says Wellness Now co-coordinator Claire Dowers-Nichols. “People understand the problems in their own neighborhoods, and they are the ones who will lead us in the right direction. They can tell us about the barriers they face in trying to stay healthy, and that’s where we’ll find the solutions.”
Wellness involves much more than clinical health care. “Everything from access to healthy food to safe places for kids to play is important,” says Wellness Now co-coordinator John Kidd. “We’re hoping that people in all of our neighborhoods will fill out the surveys and attend the community forums to speak their minds. That’s the only way we can really understand the scope of the health crisis here.”
Oklahoma is currently ranked 49th in the nation in health, and Oklahoma City is among the fattest cities in the country and is high on the list in tobacco use. Obesity and smoking are two of the most important contributors to high rates of diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses that lead to premature death.
The community forums are not intended to be referendums on national health care reform or other politically charged issues. “We’re looking to see how people assess their own health and well-being and find out what they need in order to achieve better health,” Kidd says.
Wellness Now Community Forum Dates and Locations
Community forums are currently scheduled at the following locations:
July 14th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
5th Street Baptist Church
801 NE 5th St., OKC
July 15th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Reaching Our City
7710 NW 10th St, OKC
July 19th, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Ralph Ellison Library
2000 NE 23rd, OKC
July 19th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Crossings Community Center
2208 W. Hefner Rd, OKC
July 20th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
OK County Social Services
7401 NE 23rd St, OKC
July 26th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Public Strategies
301 NW 63rd, Suite 110, OKC
July 26th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Spencer City Hall
8200 NE 36th Street, Spencer
July 29th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Latino Community Development Agency
420 SW 10th St
Wellness Now surveys are anonymous and confidentiality is assured.
The surveys are available online at:
English: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FRP9RDV
Spanish: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FT8SLGL
Vietnamese: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FH6RBCD
Surveys are also available at Metro Libraries, YMCAs, OCCHD Clinics, WIC Clinics, Mary Mahoney, Variety Care, the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic and other locations.
For more information, please visit our Wellness Now section.