Adrienne Elder, Director of Early Intervention at the Public Health Institute of Oklahoma, received the “Rural Health Advocate of the Year” award from the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma on Tuesday. Jana Castleberry, Rural Health Association of Oklahoma Board Chair, presented Elder with the award at the Oklahoma Rural Health Conference in Edmond.
In her acceptance speech, Elder talked about the efforts being made across the state to implement the Handle With Care program.
According to Laura Ross with the Public Health Institute of Oklahoma, who nominated Elder for the award, Handle With Care Oklahoma is a community, law enforcement, education collaborative focused on supporting children exposed to traumatic events.
Elder said of the success of the program’s adoption and implementation, “it takes all of us. No one can do it alone.”
In her nomination, Ross said, “Since Elder introduced the model four years ago it has now grown into being recognized as a Top 5 State for Handle with Care nationally. The work it took to grow the model within Oklahoma can be attributed to Elder’s strategy and coordination across inter-agency efforts within a wide variety of disciplines and self-interest groups. Elder’s humble, yet direct approach to community organizing has allowed for children and families to be at the forefront of all activities. Her deep understanding that systemic change is required to address childhood trauma and victimization has led to her developing steadfast relationships with elected officials and directors of state agencies in support of Handle With Care. While supported by multiple organizations Elder has individually led the charge to grow interest and participation in Handle with Care. Her collaborative leadership approach has supported the expectation of parent/community voice while organizing Handle With Care implementation at a local level. To support this, Adrienne has crafted deep intentional relationships with funders, programs, and health and social care providers to support barrier removal efforts for parents/caregivers/community participation. Adrienne is a truly inclusive advocate for health and social care improvement in rural Oklahoma.”
Elder has a Master of Public Health and is the Director of Special Projects at EB Consulting for the past 20 years. By contracting with public and private partners, Adrienne increases collaboration, aligns resources, and implements effective solutions co-designed with local communities.
She is a Core Team member of the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice’s National Trauma Campaign and on the Speakers and Trainers Bureau of the PACEs Connections Network. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist, National Bridges Out of Poverty Trainer, Certified Getting Ahead Program Facilitator, and co-author of Getting Ahead ACEs and PACEs Supplement: Addressing Trauma Through Building Trust and Resilience. She is the Past Chair of OK Turning Point Council, and Director of Early Intervention with Public Health Institute of Oklahoma to advance Handle With Care statewide.
The “Rural Health Advocate of the Year” award recipient is “a tireless advocate for rural health issues, who has repeatedly demonstrated his/her commitment to rural health through grassroots efforts or policy changes. The Rural Health Advocate of the Year inspires others to understand the significance rural health care plays for Oklahomans across the state by engaging (other) elected officials in discussions and promoting policies that support rural health care.”
Other Rural Health Association of Oklahoma award recipients this year are: “Rural Health Practitioner of the Year,” Susan Trippet, APRN-CNP at the Beaver County Memorial Hospital; “Rural Health Leader of the Year,” Melinda Laird, CEO and CNO at Cordell Memorial Hospital; “Rural Health Educator of the Year,” Maye Durant, Nursing Educator in Southeastern Oklahoma; “Rural Health Lifetime Achievement,” Dr. Ted Rowland, M.D., Hugo Medical Clinic; and “Rural Health HERO of the Year,” Angela Smith, RN, McAlester Regional Health Center.
The Rural Health Association of Oklahoma’s mission is “serving as a united voice for rural health in Oklahoma.” For information about joining the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma, or for conference information, contact Allison Seigars, 580/213-3177, agseigars@nwosu.edu or visit www.rhao.org.
