For Release: June 11, 2015 – Jamie Dukes, Office of Communications (405) 271-5601
OHEC to Discuss the Impacts of Housing and Legal Partnerships
The Oklahoma Health Equity Campaign (OHEC) will meet Thursday, June 25 to discuss housing and how it impacts health outcomes. There will also be discussion about the role of accessible legal services in health improvement. The public is welcome to attend the meeting being held at 2 p.m. at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), 1000 N.E. 10th St., Oklahoma City in Room 806.
Guest speakers will include Wanda DeBruler, who will discuss the impacts of affordable housing on health, where housing resources are located and what can be done to connect health and housing policy.
DeBruler has worked to help provide necessary services to low-income residents throughout the United States. She works with dozens of federal, state and local organizations to identify, secure and invest millions of dollars in programs that house, educate, employ and otherwise enhance the lives of working families and their children. Her career includes various leadership positions with the Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies and Oklahoma Department of Commerce, as well as serving on numerous state and national boards.
Other guest speakers include Michael Figgins and April Merrill who will discuss the partnership between medical and legal services as one in five Oklahomans have a legal need which is negatively impacting their health.
Figgins has spent 32 of his years in practice as an attorney providing legal services to the poor. In March 2012, he was chosen as the executive director of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma where he is responsible for developing staff, program and community resources.
Merrill, also an attorney, has completed a fellowship with the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation managing the child advocacy grant making portfolio. She has been with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma since 2012. She recently took on a statewide position as lead attorney of Medical-Legal Partnership Initiatives.
The newly elected chair of the Oklahoma Health Equity Campaign is Richard Marshall who is the director of leased housing at the Oklahoma City Housing Authority.
“We are glad that partners from housing, public health and the legal community are reaching out to inform and educate so we can strengthen communication and decision making,” Marshall said.
Although the meeting originates in Oklahoma City, anyone can participate by going to a local health department. If your local health department isn’t listed, please contact Karla McGuire at (405) 271-9444, ext. 56410 or by email karlab@health.ok.gov.
Videoconferencing is available at the following locations:
· Bryan County Health Department, 1524 W. Chuckwa, Durant; Contact Donna Hartline, (580) 924-4285
· Carter County Health Department, 405 S. Washington, Ardmore; Contact Dana Dorsey-Turner, (580) 223-9705
· Comanche County Health Department, 1010 S. Sheridan Rd., Lawton; Johnetta Miller, (580) 248-5890
· Garfield County Health Department, 2501 Mercer Dr., Enid; Contact Della Helm, (580) 233-0650
· Muskogee County Health Department, 530 S. 34th St., Muskogee; Contact Lisa Howard, (918) 683-0321
· Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 NE. 10th St., Oklahoma City: Karla McGuire, (405) 271-9444, ext. 56543.
· Payne County Health Department, 1321 W. 7th Ave., Stillwater; Contact Tami Hicks, (405) 372-8200
· Pittsburg County Health Department, 1400 E. College Ave., McAlester; Cheryl McElhany, (918) 423-1267
· Pottawatomie County Health Department. 1904 Gordon Cooper Dr., Shawnee; Contact: Ruth Larman, (405) 273-2157
· Tulsa City County Health Department, 5635 N. MLK Jr. Blvd., Tulsa; Contact Heather Witt, (918) 595-4484
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.
###
Stay Connected to OSDH!