Kids@Heart Wins Deschutes County Public Health Heros Award
On Wednesday, April 25, the Deschutes County Public Health Advisory Board will present its annual Public Health Heroes Awards. The awards are given to an individual and a group that has demonstrated excellence in promoting and protecting public health.
The awards will be presented on April 25, at Noon at the Deschutes County Health Services Building in the Stan Owen conference room (first floor lobby). The Public Health Heroes award event is open to the public.
PHAB Chair Kim Curley Reynolds said, “Public health is a complex procedure that truly takes collaboration to manage. The Public Health Heroes awards help us recognize and highlight the amazing work going on in our County to keep our community healthy. The Heroes Awards are a great big thank you to those making a difference where we work, live, learn and play.”
This year’s individual category winner is Connie Hoffstetter, who has been a school nurse with the Bend-La Pine Schools for the past 12 years. Connie has ensured that students have an outlet for health and wellness and has made an impact in addressing the needs of students with asthma and establishing a school based health center in La Pine. Nurse Connie has become a role model for the students that are looking to further their careers in the health care industry.
The group award goes to Kids@Heart (www.kidsatheart.org), the childhood obesity prevention initiative of St. Charles Health System. This tri-county collaboration began four years ago and has many different programs. Areas of focus for Kids@Heart include access to healthy food and recreation opportunities for many under-served families. With the introduction of Rx: 2Thrive, Kids@Heart now helps connect families with opportunities to be active and eat healthy at home, in school and in the community.
For more information about the Public Health Heroes Awards, please call the Deschutes County Health Services Department at (541) 322-7410.
