For Release:  March 15, 2011 – Pamela Williams, Office of Communications – 405/271-5601 

Health Equity Meeting to discuss 2-1-1 Oklahoma and Access to Services

The Oklahoma Health Equity Campaign (OHEC) Partners will meet to discuss “2-1-1 Oklahoma:  Get Connected. Get Answers” on Thursday, March 31, at 2 p.m. in Room 314 at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), 1000 N.E. 10^th St. in Oklahoma City. The public is invited to attend.

The 2-1-1 Oklahoma network is a confidential, free, three-digit number that connects people with information about critical social services. It is available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

The guest speaker, Lori Linstead, is the state director of Oklahoma’s information and referral network called “2-1-1 Oklahoma”. This presentation is designed to provide an overview of 2-1-1 Oklahoma, how it works, the benefits to being connected and specific ways to get connected whether you are a person in need or a human service agency with resources to offer. Linstead provides staff support to the 2-1-1 Oklahoma Coordinating Council and oversight to the 2-1-1 Oklahoma call center regions. She sits on various boards including the 2-1-1 U.S. National Steering Committee, and the 2-1-1 U.S. Public Policy Committee and Organizational Development Committee.

“This is an opportunity for those attending to find ways to improve access to community services to help reduce health inequities and improve the quality of life in Oklahoma,” said Marisa New, director of OSDH Health Equity and Resources Opportunities.

If you live outside the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, you may participate by videoconference at one of the following county health departments:  

• Bryan County Health Department, 1524 W. Chuckwa, Durant. Contact Edith McMichael at (580) 924-4285.
• Carter County Health Department, 405 S. Washington St., Ardmore. Contact Sharon Ford at (580) 223-9705.
• Choctaw County Health Dept, 103 South 4^th St, Hugo. Contact Deanna Nesbit at (580) 326-8821.
• Cleveland County Health Department - Moore, 424 S. Eastern. Contact Rachelle Samara at (405) 794-1591.
• Cleveland County Health Department - Norman, 250 12^th Avenue NE. Contact Sherrie Autry at (405) 321-4048.
• Comanche County Health Department- 1010 S. Sheridan Rd., Lawton. Contact Gail Bybee (580) 585-6616.
• Garvin County Health Department, 1809 S. Chickasaw, Pauls Valley.  Contact Lori Fisher at (405) 238-7346.
• Grady County Health Department, 2116 Iowa, Chickasha. Contact Sharon Page at (405) 224-2022.
• Kay County Health Department, 433 Fairview Ave., Ponca City. Contact Pam Payne at (580) 762-1641, ext. 227.
• Marshall County Health Department, 310 W. Lillie, Madill. Contact Shannon Williams at (580) 795-3705.
• Murray County Health Dept, 705 Cambridge, Sulphur. Contact Cindy Kesler at (580) 622-3716.
• Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 NE 10^th Street, Oklahoma City. Contact Marisa New at (405) 271-9444, ext. 56410.
• Pontotoc County Health Department, 2330 Arlington, Ada.  Contact Ellen Griffin at (580) 332-2011, ext. 112  
• Pottawatomie County Health Department, 1904 Gordon Cooper Drive, Shawnee.  Contact Glenna or Kathy at (405) 273-2157.
• Rogers County Health Department, 2664 North Highway 88, Claremore. Contact Tina M. Shatto at (918) 341-3037, ext. 261.
• Stephens County Health Department, 1401 Bois D’Arc, Duncan.  Contact Retha Frank at (580) 252-0270.
• Tulsa Health Department, 5051 South 129th East Ave., Tulsa. Contact Deidre Stanley at (918) 595-4471.

To RSVP for the meeting, send email to marisan@health.ok.gov .  To learn more about upcoming Health Equity and Resource Opportunity events, contact Marisa New at (405) 271-9444, ext. 56410 or e-mail marisan@health.ok.gov.       

###