NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR 2023 WESTCHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AWARDS.
Westchester County Board of Health to Recognize Adult and Youth Volunteers.
(White Plains, NY) – The Westchester County Board of Health is now seeking nominations for the 2023 Public Health Service Awards. The Board wants to recognize adults, young people and not-for-profit programs whose volunteer efforts have demonstrated creativity and compassion, and who helped improve public health in Westchester.
The Board encourages community leaders, healthcare professionals, educators and residents to nominate worthy people or programs by January 9, using the nomination forms on the Health Department Website.
“Busy teenagers, adults and organizations have extended a hand to our community in innovative ways these past few years,” said Robert Baker, MD, President of the Westchester County Board of Health. “The Board would like to acknowledge the extraordinary people and programs who have given so much to Westchester this past year. We hope their example of selfless volunteerism inspires others to help us promote and protect public health in our County.”
The Dr. Harold Keltz Distinguished Public Health Service Award is presented annually to a person or community-based organization, whose efforts have made an extraordinary contribution to the public health of Westchester residents, but who is not professionally engaged in public health work.
The J.R. Tesone Youth Public Health Service Award is an annual award to a student up to age 21 for his or her creative contribution to public health in Westchester. The award was created in 2014 in memory of J.R. Tesone, a Board of Health member with a lifelong commitment to Westchester County children.
The awards will be announced and presented in April to spotlight National Public Health Week, and the honorees and their achievements will be featured on the Health Department’s web pages. Last year’s youth winners coached seniors on technology use, registered homebound seniors for COVID-19 vaccines and supported youth mental health. Recent youth winners have delivered meals and other COVID-19 relief to first responders and families; promoted youth awareness of the dangers of vaping; advocated for restrictions on tobacco sales; promoted awareness of the opioid crisis; increased sustainability and Earth Day programming; advocated for children affected by cancer and created an app to foster communication between teens with Type 1 diabetes.
An organization was recognized last year for its breathing, mindfulness and movement program to reduce stress, and an adult nurse was recognized for providing free skin, nail and foot care to seniors and the unhoused. Previously, adult volunteers were recognized for raising thousands of dollars and distributing PPE and meals to first responders and families with COVID-19, and for providing food, cash and case management to new immigrants affected by the pandemic.
Previous awards were given for promoting awareness of mental health and addiction among young people, promoting the construction and preservation of affordable housing, and advocating for comprehensive mental health care for low-income residents. Non-profit programs also have been selected for their work to reduce health disparities, improve health literacy, and improve access to care.
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