IHCRC celebrating 50th anniversary, sells out annual fundraising event
(TULSA, Okla.) The Indian Health Care Resource Center, which has played a vital role in providing physical and mental health care services to Native communities across northeast Oklahoma, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
IHCRC CEO Carmelita Skeeter says the non-profit currently works with about 14,000 patients from 130 different tribes. It has a workforce of roughly 160.
Services include optometry, dental, a pharmacy with five drive thru lanes, OBGYN, family medicine, physical therapy, and mental health.
“We have two adult psychiatrists, and four psychologists, and I believe about seven or eight counselors,” said Skeeter. “So, this is one of the larger mental health services in the Tulsa community.”
Last summer, the IHCRC celebrated an expansion that added 62,000 square feet to its facilities.
“The biggest impact, I believe, has been the wellness department,” said Skeeter. “We're able now to offer wellness for physical fitness, for physical therapy, and we’re able to have different classes each week for our patients to attend as far as exercise. We have a very large equipment department, and we have new therapists in that department for the first time.”
The expansion also allowed for the opening of a same day clinic, which has given patients the chance to access urgent care services.
On May 30th, the IHCRC will celebrate its impact and its 50th anniversary at Dance of the Two Moons, an annual fundraising event that will be held at River Spirit Casino and Resort in Tulsa. The event has already sold out.
“This 50-year celebration is very exciting,” said Skeeter. “It has grown from being a very small fundraiser to being sold out this year. It'll be the largest that we've ever had.”
While it is a fundraising event, Skeeter says raising money is not the only goal of the event.
“One of the objectives of the Dance of the Two Moons is to get to know the community and interact with the individuals and companies that support us,” said Skeeter. “That's very important to thank them for the services that they give us and what we are able to provide to our patients through their support. It helps us keep our Native people healthy and well and continue to work, and children continue to go to school.”
Skeeter says the funds also help IHCRC assist people with the financial side of getting medical help.
“It is a fund that creates funds that we are able to utilize in various ways for our patients that need help,” said Skeeter. “If they need to go to a specialist and they have no means to pay, then we are able to help pay for that service. So this is a critical fundraiser. It helps with our youth, the programs that we have, our running groups, and, but mainly, it helps us provide services outside our facility that we can't provide in house.”
Crosswinds News is proud to be a table sponsor at this year’s Dance of the Two Moons.
