Bethany Children’s Health Center promoting healthy lifestyles by investing in school-based health

Posted on: 7/25/25

Bethany Children’s Health Center is the lead agency for Healthy Schools Oklahoma (HSOK), a program dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyle choices in schools across the state. HSOK delivers preventive, community-based health education to students, families, and educators, focusing on five key areas: physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use prevention, injury prevention, and oral health. 

Originally launched in 1997 through the Oklahoma County Medical Society Foundation, HSOK became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 200, and in July 2021, it joined Bethany Children’s under the hospital’s community development department. 

Bethany Children’s plays a vital role in making the work of HSOK possible. “Bethany Children's mission is to maximize the potential of every child. Investing in school-based health expands our reach across the state, allowing us to serve children who may lack access to life-saving health education,” said Kim Grey, chief of community development at Bethany Children’s. 

HSOK Program Director Lindsi Lemons explains how schools progress through the HSOK curriculum over time:  

“The first year is physical activity and nutrition, the second year is injury prevention and tobacco use prevention, and the third year is oral health education. After their third year, they become a senior-level school. They’ve received all the materials and resources they need to have a comprehensive program.” 

In addition to curriculum and resources, HSOK provides grant funding, training, and networking opportunities. Schools begin by tailoring a health curriculum that aligns with state standards. They can also opt into specialty programs such as “Adopt-a-Doc” or “Adopt-a-Dentist,” which connect students with medical professionals for health presentations and screenings. 

In some schools, classrooms are equipped with Action-Based Learning Labs – kinesthetic tools that allow students to move and stay active while learning. 

For many participating schools, HSOK fills a critical funding gap. “Physical education and health in Oklahoma are not necessarily a priority,” says Lemons. “A lot of schools that apply to our program tell us, ‘My budget for P.E. is fifty or a hundred dollars.’ We try to come in and help with the resources they need.” 

Recent grant support from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) has allowed HSOK to make even bigger improvements. “With our TSET project, we’ve been able to put in basketball courts outside, we’ve been able to put in walking trails, we’ve been able to put in sunshades so the kids have a shaded place to play,” Lemons shares. “The schools are so appreciative. All of those small changes add up to something really big.” 

Together, Bethany Children’s and HSOK are laying the foundation for a healthier future by empowering students, supporting educators, and strengthening communities across Oklahoma. (Submitted by Kim Grey)

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