St. Louis County Seeks Nominations for Public Health Achievement Awards

St. Louis County Public Health is calling on residents to nominate individuals, groups or organizations that have made significant contributions to improving health in the county. Winners will be honored at a St. Louis County Board meeting in early April; the county lists the presentation on April 7, with an alternate posting listing April 8. The county lists the nomination deadline as Friday, March 6, while a reposting lists March 7, so residents should confirm the final deadline before submitting.

Nominations will be evaluated on leadership, public health contributions, community health improvement outcomes, collaboration and advocacy. The county encourages nominations from the public to spotlight efforts ranging from neighborhood-level prevention work to broader programs that advance mental health, food security or access to care. Past honorees include Divine Konnections, Teri Morrison, the Youth Mental Health Days Committee and Mallory Cummings, names cited for the 2024 awards; earlier recipients included Ruby's Pantry and Eversmiles Pediatric Dentistry in 2016.

To submit a nomination or request the form and instructions, callers can reach the county at (218) 725-5214. Media and verification questions may be directed to Dana Kazel, Communications Manager, at 218-725-5049 (office) or 218-591-2219 (cell). The county’s Public Health awards page carries nomination details and submission instructions; callers should check that page or contact the numbers above to confirm whether submissions must be made online, by phone, email or mail and to verify the exact deadline and the date of the Board presentation.

Local recognition programs like this help put a spotlight on grassroots public health work that otherwise goes unrecognized. Similar county and state awards programs often honor volunteer efforts, youth leaders and community organizations that reduce food insecurity, expand services for seniors or improve mental and environmental health. As Westchester County Board of Health president Dr. Robert Baker put it in a recent example from another jurisdiction, “Each year, we look forward to learning about the innovative contributions to public health by busy teenagers, adults and organizations in Westchester. Presenting these awards is a highlight for us. Our hope is that these extraordinary people and programs inspire others to promote and protect public health in our County.”

For St. Louis County residents, the awards offer a practical way to thank neighbors, volunteers and nonprofit partners whose work keeps communities healthier. Confirm nomination details soon, gather examples of measurable impact and submit before the early-March cutoff so local public health leaders can consider your candidate when they select honorees for the April County Board meeting.