State health department teaming up with faith groups

Friday, December 3rd 2004, 10:33 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The state Health Department is teaming up with faith-based groups to help needy Oklahomans find free health clinics and free or low-cost prescription drugs.

The Health Department is seeking private grants of more than $50,000 to equip state churches with surplus computers and software to aid their efforts.

The details of the program were announced Friday at the 7th-annual state Turning Point meeting at the Reed Center in Midwest City.

Officials say a movement is growing across the US to develop working relationships among faith communities and public health organizations.

Surplus computers from the Health Department have already been placed in Oklahoma City churches as part of a pilot program.

The computers are used to train people on health issues and provide a database of resources for such things as free health screenings.