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Welcome to the Oklahoma State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Newsletter!
As we sail through 2025, the OK SHIP continues to chart a steady course toward healthier communities across Oklahoma. From May through August, our rotating workgroup meetings have featured meaningful updates and momentum across all six of our priorities: Cardiovascular Disease, Drivers of Health, Mental Health and Substance Misuse, Diabetes, and Obesity. Each stop along the journey has brought new insights, stronger collaborations, and shared strategies that help us navigate public health.
This issue brings you highlights from recent meetings, updates on statewide efforts, and partner spotlights that showcase the powerful work being done across our network. Thank you for helping keep the OK SHIP on course. We’re making waves together.
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SHIP TALK: WORKGROUP INSIGHTS |
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The OK SHIP Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Workgroup met on May 14, 2025, for updates, resource sharing, and an engaging program spotlight. Two newly launched Smartsheet hubs, the OK SHIP CVD Meeting Hub and the OK SHIP CVD Resource Hub were introduced as key resources for accessing past meeting materials, CVD-related tools, and best practices. The program spotlight featured the American Heart Association’s Outpace CVD initiative, presented by Megan Charlot, who encouraged eligible healthcare sites to register for the 2025 Outpace CVD Achievement Awards. Additional highlights included the launch of a new Chronic Disease Prevention training and technical assistance request form, along with updates from the SDoH Subcommittee. |
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The OK SHIP Drivers of Health Workgroup met on June 11, 2025, to spotlight innovative approaches to addressing drivers of health across Oklahoma. The meeting featured a presentation from the Potts Family Foundation on the Family Resource Center framework and a presentation from the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City highlighting work on Health Empowerment Zones. These initiatives emphasized strengthening public-private partnerships, expanding Medicaid access, and embedding community health workers to improve care coordination and health outcomes. Attendees also shared active resources, tools, and collaborative opportunities, including training and funding strategies. The session wrapped with announcements about ongoing initiatives, including the SDoH Facilitators Subcommittee meetings, Certified Healthy applications opening August 1, and a call for community spotlights at future workgroup sessions. |
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The OK SHIP Mental Health & Substance Misuse Workgroup met on July 9, 2025, to share updates, foster collaboration, and spotlight innovative community-led strategies addressing mental health and substance misuse across Oklahoma. Highlights included a discussion on creating a centralized resource hub for training and information, as well as updates to the Mental Health and Substance Misuse Dashboards. Field spotlights showcased Jackson County’s coalition-led distribution of lock boxes and educational outreach, as well as the Handle with Care Oklahoma program, which supports trauma-informed school responses to adverse childhood experiences. Additional resources were shared by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, DCCCA’s free Mental Health First Aid trainings, and the Oklahoma School-Based Services initiative. The meeting emphasized cross-sector coordination, accessible training opportunities, and uplifting local innovations to advance the state’s mental health goals. |
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As of April 2025, the Oklahoma State Obesity Prevention Plan continues to make strong progress toward its 2026 completion goals, thanks to the dedication and collaboration of partnering agencies across the state. To date, 53 of the 107 objectives have been completed, while 36 are actively in progress, reflecting ongoing programmatic activity. The remaining objectives are currently under review and being prioritized to guide next steps. These milestones reflect the continued momentum of the workgroup and the deep commitment of stakeholders to improving health outcomes and reducing obesity in Oklahoma communities. |
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OK SHIP Data Collection Now Open
The OK SHIP data collection period is officially open for the following workgroups: Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Drivers of Health, and Mental Health & Substance Misuse. Partners and stakeholders are encouraged to submit data related to the strategies and measures outlined in each workgroup’s plan. The reporting period covers activities and outcomes from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. Your input is vital in helping us track progress and drive informed decision-making across Oklahoma's public health priorities.
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The OK SHIP is proud to highlight the incredible work of our partners across Oklahoma who are making a difference in public health. From local initiatives to statewide programs, these spotlights showcase innovation, collaboration, and impact. Be sure to check out upcoming events, trainings, and opportunities to connect and learn. |
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Diabetes Small Group Training: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Prep Course Fall 2025
The Fall 2025 Diabetes Small Group Training, facilitated by TMF Health Quality Institute, will provide guidance and assistance to health center staff seeking to obtain the CDCES certification, which is recognized as the gold standard for diabetes care and support. The trainings will focus on improving and building workforce capacity to prepare participants for the CDCES exam and creating a sustainable diabetes program within a health center.
If you are interested in participating in the upcoming Diabetes Small Group Training, please complete the brief registration form: Register Here. The first of the biweekly sessions starts on September 16th.
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 The Handle With Care Advisory Team continues to meet monthly to address the needs of communities across Oklahoma and increase statewide and local cross-sector collaboration among law enforcement, schools, and behavioral/social/health providers in order to connect youth to support services after a traumatic event.
On average, schools implementing Handle With Care see an 80% reduction in suspensions and a 40% reduction in office referrals.
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 The Oklahoma Rural Health Conference conference kicks off at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, September 17 with an awards reception, honoring healthcare professionals from across the state, and wraps up on Friday, September 19. Join rural health leaders, public health professionals, and community partners for impactful sessions, networking, and resource sharing.
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 The National Family Support Network (NFSN) is proud to present the next event in its 2025 Family Support Summit series, powerful, topic-driven gatherings designed for the field, by the field.
The Fall 2025 Summit will take place October 22 through October 23 and will focus on two of the most requested areas from NFSN members and training participants, Father Engagement and Parent Leadership.
Register here: Family Support Summit Registration
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OK Facilitators for Socio-Ecological Drivers of Health (SDoH)
A statewide monthly planning call to increase public-private interagency collaboration around peer support groups to address SDoH.
The next meeting is Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
Calendar Invite to Monthly SDoH Meetings
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Interested in Getting Involved?
To participate in an OK SHIP workgroup meeting or to learn more about current initiatives, please complete and submit the interest form here. We welcome your engagement and look forward to collaborating with you.
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