Nominations Needed for 2019 Westchester County Public Health Awards
(White Plains, NY) – The Westchester County Board of Health is now seeking nominations for the 2019 Public Health Service Awards. The Board plans to recognize adults and/or non-profit programs as well as young people who have demonstrated creativity and commitment in their efforts to improve public health in Westchester. The Board encourages community leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, and residents to submit nominations by Feb. 11 on behalf of the unsung volunteer heroes in their communities.
“Help inspire others to join us in tackling the diverse work of public health,” said Robert Baker, MD, president of the Westchester County Board of Health. “Nominate local heroes who have volunteered their time and talents to promote and improve public health in Westchester.”
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 children.
The Board also will highlight the compassion, creativity and commitment demonstrated by a select group of nominees, who will be named Public Health Honorees.
These awards will be announced and presented April 4th to spotlight National Public Health Week, and the honorees and their achievements will be featured on the health department’s web pages. Recent youthful winners have promoted awareness of the opioid crisis on campus or increased sustainability and Earth Day programming, advocated for children affected by cancer or created an app to foster communication between teens with Type 1 diabetes. Adult volunteers were recognized recently for 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.
Nomination forms are available at www.westchestergov.com/health.