The Oklahoma State Board of Health realizes that our state has many challenges ahead as we strive toward Creating a State of Health. There is considerable work on reducing heart disease and eliminating key risk factors that lead to poor health outcomes, such as lack of exercise, poor eating habits, and use of tobacco products. With Oklahoma and the entire nation facing the prospect of bleak economic times, many wonder how we can move forward and impact the future health of our seniors, our working adults, and our children.

But these very difficult times are exactly why we cannot slow our efforts. In fact, it is even more critical for us as a state to tackle our poor health status indicators. The consequences of not acting will be dire — putting us further behind in obesity rates, putting our children at risk for addiction to tobacco, and potentially growing a new generation at even greater risk for deaths due to heart disease tomorrow than their parents are today.

It takes everyone working in tandem in the effort of Creating a State of Health. The State Board of Health and the Oklahoma State Department of Health cannot work in isolation. The delivery of local, community-based public health services through the extensive network of county health departments across the state is critical to overall success. Working together, the state and county public health system must partner with many private and philanthropic entities, including our community Turning Point partnerships, businesses, faith-based organizations, education, transportation, and our political leaders. Efforts are already underway through the Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan (OHIP) initiative, as well as locally-developed Community Health Improvement Plans. These programs are bringing partners together in collaboration to strategically address our health status indicators in new and aggressive ways. The combined work will impact our health status and provide a healthier future for our state and our children.