OK Healthy Communities: COL earns excellence rating

The City of Lawton has earned recognition for the second time as an Oklahoma Excellence Certified Healthy Community – the highest of three levels of certifications – for its commitment to promote wellness, encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors and establish safe and supportive environments.

The annual certification recognizes Oklahoma communities for “outstanding efforts and achievements in actively creating communities that are a healthy place to live, work, learn and play,” according to CertifiedHealthyOk.com. It was established by the “Oklahoma Certified Healthy Communities Act,” signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin in 2010. Organizational administers of the program include: Oklahoma Turning Point Council, Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Center for the Advancement of Wellness.

“It is the policies of the Lawton City Council, Lawton Board of Education and the entire Lawton Fort Sill community that has earned the City of Lawton this recognition,” said City of Lawton Community Services Director Richard Rogalski, whose department oversaw the application process on behalf of the City. “With the collaboration of community partners such as Fit Kids of Southwest Oklahoma, Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Comanche County Health Department and Fort Sill Family and MWR, we have succeeded in our efforts to advance community health and safety.”

The application consisted of four sections – Tobacco and Alcohol, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Community Resources, and Education and Awareness – and was submitted this past fall. News of the excellence rating arrived to City employees on Dec. 20.

“(Lawton’s) commitment to pursuing certification is a great step forward in helping shape our future,” said Stephanie U’Ren, director for the Center for the Advancement of Wellness.

Representatives from the City of Lawton will attend a Certified Healthy Oklahoma event in March 2018 in Oklahoma City to be honored for this achievement. Call the City of Lawton Community Services Department at 580.581.3375 for additional information.