Skip to main content

New Locations Added for OHEC Meeting for Health Literacy Month

Wednesday, September 23, 2015
More communities have been added to the list of videoconference locations where the public can participate in the Oklahoma Health Equity Campaign (OHEC) meetings for Health Literacy Month.
OHEC is preparing for October’s Health Literacy Month with a meetingTuesday, Sept. 29 to discuss libraries and health organizations as partners in community (public) health. The public is welcome to attend the meeting being held from 9:30 -11:30 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), 1000 N.E. 10th St., Oklahoma City in Room 806. Those unable to travel to Oklahoma City will be able to participate via video conference at numerous locations across the state.
Health literacy is the ability of a person to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions.
The OHEC is collaborating with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries’ Adult Literacy Office and the Institute of Museum and Library Servicesto bring Michelle Malizia to Oklahoma.
Maliziahas more than 13 years of experience providing instruction in a wide range of topics including grant writing, emerging technologies and health information literacy. She created a workshop for grants and proposal writing in 2002, and has presented it to more than 700 people representing a wide array of organizations such as health departments, libraries, universities, hospitals and community-based groups.
Other guest speakers include Lori Lake, executive director of the Reach Out and Read program, and also Dr. Marny Dunlap who is a pediatrician and an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She is also the medical director for Reach Out and Read Oklahoma.
Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based pediatric literacy program that partners with providers to "prescribe" books and encourage families to read together. Doctors, nurse practitioners and other medical professionals incorporate the program into regular pediatric checkups by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books to children.
The meeting will also offer updates concerning housing and public transportation.
The following local health departments are scheduled to link:  
  • Canadian County Health Department, 100 S. Rock Island, El Reno; Contact Amy Vanness, (405) 262-0042.
  • Carter County Health Department, 405 S. Washington, Ardmore; Contact Dana Dorsey-Turner, (580) 223-9705
  • Cleveland County Health Department, 250 12th Ave. NE, Norman; Contact Debbie Dixon, (405) 321-4048
  • Craig County Health Department, 115 E. Delaware Ave., Vinita; Contact Jennifer Dehart, (918) 256-7531
  • Garfield County Health Department, 2501 Mercer Dr., Enid; Contact Della Helm, (580) 233-0650.
  • Jackson County Health Department, 401 W. Tamarack Rd., Altus; Contact Karen Testerman, (580) 482-7308.
  • Kay County Health Department, 433 Fairview, Ponca City; Contact Erica Macy, (580) 762-1641
  • Murray County Health Department,730 Cambridge Dr., Sulphur; Contact Cindy Kesler, (580) 622-3716
  • Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 NE 10th St., Room 806, Oklahoma City; Contact Karla McGuire, (405)271-9444, ext. 56543.
  • Payne County Health Department, 1321 W. 7th Ave., Stillwater; Contact Tami Hicks, (405) 372-8200.
  • Pontotoc County Health Department, 2330 Arlington St., Ada; Contact Anita Cariker, (580) 332-2011.
  • Rogers County Health Department, 2664 N. Hwy 88, Claremore; Contact Debbie Andrews, 918-341-3166
  • Texas County Health Department, 1410 North East St., Guymon; Contact Kay Allen, (580) 338-8544.
  • Washington County Health Department, 5121 SE Jacquelyn Lane, Bartlesville; Contact Paula Palmer, (918) 335-3005
  • Woodward County Health Department,1631 Texas Avenue Woodward; Contact Jeri Dwinelle, (580) 256-6416.
  • For more information about the Oklahoma Health Equity Campaign, visit www.okhealthequity.org or call Marisa New, Manager, OSDH Health Equity & Resource Opportunities Division, (405) 271-9444 ext. 56410. 
    Last Modified on Jun 03, 2022
    Back to Top