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OPHA AWARDS CRITERIA

GENERAL OPHA AWARDS


EXCEPTIONAL MERIT AWARD 

Criteria:
               Exceptional understanding of community health
               Contribution of demonstrable impact on public health
               A credit to public health profession
               A member of OPHA (Please confirm membership with OPHA office in advance
)


PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM AWARD

Criteria:

  • Provides additional service
  • Improves existing services
  • Innovative
  • Has a demonstrable impact on public health
  • Does not have to be a member of OPHA


VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD

Criteria:

  • Understanding of public health service
  • Contributed to implementation or expansion of new or existing services
  • Does not receive income from any field of health care
  • Does not have to be a member of OPHA


SPECIAL BUSINESS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH

Criteria:

  • Made a significant achievement in public health activities and issues
  • Demonstrated quality and initiative in public health
  • Demonstrated leadership and skill in advancing public health
  • Does not have to be a member of OPHA


CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Criteria:

  • Career in public health
  • Major impact on public health
  • Long-term significant contribution to the field
  • Does not have to be a member of OPHA


OPHA SECTION AND CAUCUS AWARDS


OPHA EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY SECTION AWARD 

Criteria:

  • Must be an active member of this section.
  • Must investigate public health problems and analyze data to develop public health interventions utilizing epidemiological or laboratory techniques, or
  • Show evidence of using epidemiological or laboratory techniques being applied to a public health problem resulting in a successful outcome for the citizens of Oklahoma, or
  • Use epidemiological or laboratory techniques to research issues which impact the health of Oklahoma citizens


OPHA ORAL HEALTH SECTION PREVENTATIVE DENTISTRY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AWARD 

Criteria:

  • A significant achievement in the field of oral health demonstrating quality and initiative in leadership.
  • Application of a unique skill or creative imagination to the approach or solution to an oral health issue.
  • Special contributions toward attainment of local/state/national oral health program objectives.
  • Sustained above average work performance in scientific, administrative, or other professional field.
  • A credit to the public health profession.
  • Membership in OPHA – Oral Health Section not required.


OPHA ORAL HEALTH SECTION SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN DENTISTRY AWARD 

Criteria:

    • Special contributions relative to the advancement of dentistry toward the welfare of the people of Oklahoma in at least one of the following:
    • Service
    • Education
    • Research
    • Nominees must meet at least one of the following:
  • Significant achievement in the field of oral health demonstrating quality and initiative.
  • Special contributions toward attainment of local/state/national oral health program objectives.
  • Superior work performance in scientific, administrative, or other professional field pertinent to the area of        dental public health.
  • Has brought distinction to dental public health concepts and principles.
  • Demonstrated leadership ability and skill in the advancement of oral health in the community.
  • Membership in OPHA – Oral Health Section not required.


PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SECTION EDITH WIRICK AWARD 

Only members of the Public Health Nursing Section are eligible to make nominations.  A letter, including criteria and instructions, will be sent to all section members requesting nominations.  Each nomination must be accompanied by letters of endorsement from two professional colleagues (OPHA membership optional) in positions to know the quality and impact of the nominee’s work.  The supporting letters may be mailed separately.  The nomination is not complete, and cannot be considered until the two letters are received.  Use the “Nomination” form provided. 

Criteria:

  • Displays a broad understanding of community health needs.
  • Efforts toward meeting community health needs can be documented.
  • Supports the aims of the nursing profession.


PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 

Only members of the Public Health Nursing Section are eligible to make nominations.  A letter, including criteria and instructions, will be sent to all section members requesting nominations.  Each nomination must be accompanied by letters of endorsement from two professional colleagues (OPHA membership optional) in positions to know the quality and impact of the nominee’s work.  The supporting letters may be mailed separately.  The nomination is not complete, and cannot be considered until the two letters are received.  Use the “Nomination” form provided. 

Criteria:

  • Identifies a need/problem in the community and develops and initiates programs or strategies in alleviating the problem.
  • Ability to document that through the nursing interventions has had an impact on families and/or selected populations.
  • Uses innovative methods in the practice of community nursing.
  • Must be a current member of OPHA.
  • These criteria must be met within the preceding three years of the current annual conference.


PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SECTION OUTSTANDING NURSING STUDENT AWARD 

The purpose is to recognize an outstanding Public Health Nursing Section member who is improving upon their own level of education in a public health related field and to recognize achievements of public health nurses and community health nurses.  

Criteria:

  • Current member of OPHA Public Health Nursing Section and a member the past one year.
  • Improving upon their own current level of education in a public health related field.
  • Able to show evidence of accomplishments in their educational pursuits (research projects or  proposals, other projects, GPA, etc.).
  • The nominee may apply or may be nominated by any OPHA member.


HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION SECTION OUTSTANDING PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION/PROMOTION PROGRAM
 

Agency, community and individual nominees are accepted. 

Criteria:

  • Significant achievement in the field of health education/promotion and initiative in leadership. 
  • Application of a unique skill or creative imagination to the approach or solution to a health issue.
  • Special contributions toward attainment of local/state/national health program objectives.
  • Special contributions toward attainment of local/state/national health program objectives.
  • Sustained above average work performance in scientific, administrative, or other professional field.
  • A credit to the public health profession.
  • Membership in OPHA – Public Health Education Section not required.


HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION SECTION OUTSTANDING HEALTH EDUCATION/PROMOTION GRADUATE STUDENT 

Criteria:

  • Made special contributions toward the field of Health Education/Health Promotion.
  • Exhibited superior work performance in meeting degree requirements.
  • Demonstrated leadership ability and skill in the advancement of health education/health promotion in the community.


ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SECTION AWARD 

    Criteria:

    • The award is to be given to an Environmental Health Section member.
    • Major contributions in the field of environmental health.
    • Contributions to the community.
    • Written endorsement of the candidate by three members of OPHA.


    OPHA ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION BONNIE LARECY AWARD 

    The Administrative Section established the Bonnie Larecy Award in 1986.  Each year the section recognizes a member who exemplifies the high standard of excellence demonstrated by Ms. Larecy throughout her career. Nominees not selected will be awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Professionalism Certificate.


    MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SECTION ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD  

    In recognition of professionalism, caring, and diligence serving the citizens of Oklahoma


    MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SECTION SADIE AWARD 

    For outstanding contributions in the area of reproductive health in serving the citizens of Oklahoma


    MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SECTION PROTHRO AWARD

    For outstanding contributions to the health and safety of the children of Oklahoma


    Oklahoma Public Health Association
    121 NE 52nd Street, Ste. 260
    Oklahoma City, OK 73105
    405-605-2099
    opha@opha.net