• The community will know that your congregation is supportive of providing wellness opportunities

• Serve as a testimony for the implementation of proven strategies to improve the health of congregants

• Include certification level in mission and outreach work with communities

• Certified Healthy Congregations build awareness of and understanding around how policies impact health. 

• Congregations will be able to identify other certified healthy congregations and increase community collaborations over shared health.

• Recipients are invited to professional development opportunities to grow in their wellness efforts. 

  
  Certified Healthy Congregations 2021 Map

Congregations of all faiths and sizes are encouraged to apply to become a Certified Healthy Congregation.  There are three levels of certification congregations are eligible for; basic, merit, and excellence.

Congregations that have a school or early childhood program also have the opportunity to apply to become a Certified Healthy School and/or a Certified Healthy Early Childhood program.

Smokefree/Tobacco-free

• As a reminder, a Smoke-Free (prohibiting the use of smoking) policy is required for Basic, Smoke-Free indoor and outdoor for Merit, and a tobacco-free policy, submitted with the application, is required for Excellence. Tobacco-Free (prohibiting the use of all tobacco and vapor products) policy must include covering All Products, and your smoke-free policy should prohibit use of any products including commercial tobacco products as well as vapes and e-cigarettes. Your policy may also prohibit smoking marijuana if you wish. 
  • All People: Your smoke-free policy should be applicable to anyone who may be on the property including employees, students, volunteers, guests, residents, and others as needed.
  • All Property: Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use on any of your property, indoor and outdoor, whether owned or leased and should include organization owned or leased vehicles.
  • All Times: Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use 24/7 so there is no exception allowing smoking or other tobacco use at specific times. 
• All policies must be submitted at the time of application submission. All policies must include the name of their organization, be codified, signed, and/or show proof it is part of the agency handbook. No handwritten, signage, video, or screen shot of a sample policy found online will be accepted for Excellence Certification. For assistance with developing or edit a tobacco policy please visit Breathe Easy or e-mail OnlyAir@health.ok.gov.
• Note: The OSDH acknowledges the traditional and sacred use of tobacco among American Indian people living in Oklahoma. Whenever the word tobacco is referenced it refers to the use of commercial tobacco.

Applicants select activities and policies that are currently offered by their congregation in each of eight criteria categories: (1) Health Services and Screenings; (2) Health Education; (3) Physical Activity; (4) Tobacco Prevention; (5) Nutrition; (6) Safe and Healthy Environments; (7) Leadership in the Community; (8) Behavioral Health.  Within the eight categories there are 49 total criteria, and a total of three criteria with a possible N/A response, depending upon the congregation.

Congregations are scored according to the number of criterion checked, and each is worth one point. Certification status is assigned according to the percentage of criteria selected by the applicant overall. 

• As a reminder, a Smoke-Free (prohibiting the use of smoking) policy is required for Basic, Smoke-Free indoor and outdoor for Merit, and a tobacco-free policy, submitted with the application, is required for Excellence. Tobacco-Free (prohibiting the use of all tobacco and vapor products) policy must include covering All Products, and your smoke-free policy should prohibit use of any products including commercial tobacco products as well as vapes and e-cigarettes. Your policy may also prohibit smoking marijuana if you wish. 
  • All People: Your smoke-free policy should be applicable to anyone who may be on the property including employees, students, volunteers, guests, residents, and others as needed.
  • All Property: Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use on any of your property, indoor and outdoor, whether owned or leased and should include organization owned or leased vehicles.
  • All Times: Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use 24/7 so there is no exception allowing smoking or other tobacco use at specific times. 
• All policies must be submitted at the time of application submission. All policies must include the name of their organization, be codified, signed, and/or show proof it is part of the agency handbook. No handwritten, signage, video, or screen shot of a sample policy found online will be accepted for Excellence Certification. For assistance with developing or edit a tobacco policy please visit Breathe Easy or e-mail OnlyAir@health.ok.gov.

Congregation Scoring Matrix

• % of Criteria Selected
  
  • Basic: 30% (15 pts)
  • Merit: 45% (22 pts)
  • Excellence: 65% (32 pts)
• Smokefree policy
  
  • Basic: Yes
  • Merit: Yes
  • Excellence: Yes
• Tobacco-free policy uploaded to system
  
  • Basic: No
  • Merit: No
  • Excellence: Yes
• At least one criterion from each category selected
  
  • Basic: No
  • Merit: No
  • Excellence: Yes

The Oklahoma State Department of Health Certified Healthy Oklahoma Team provides assistance and consultation regarding wellness to any Oklahoma business, health department, state or community agency, organization, association, or coalition. We can provide the following services:

• Sample policies related to physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco

• Resources on how to begin or enhance a wellness program

• Content expertise and information regarding best practices 

• Information and technical assistance – trends, data, and best practices

• National and state data related to physical activity, nutrition, tobacco, and health outcomes

• Information or technical assistance regarding the Certified Healthy process

• Linkages to other health partners 

Helpful Documents

• Example of Application
  
• Resource Guide
• Fact Sheet
• Shaping the Health of your Congregation Manual
• Faith Leaders Toolkit
• Breathe Easy

Commitments

• Commitment to Wellness
• Healthy Food and Beverage Commitment
• Physical Activity Commitment
• Tobacco-Free Commitment