Christi Heath, Choctaw, 2022 Champion for Native Children

 

Cristi Heath is an advocate for Native American Children, having worked for the Department of Human Services for over 17 years.

Cristi Heath, Yukon, Oklahoma, has been selected by the National
Indian Child Welfare Association as a 2022 Champion for Native Children.

A member of the Choctaw Nation, Heath has worked for the Department
of Human Services (DHS) for over 17 years and has spent most of her
career with DHS in Oklahoma county.

She received her associate degree from Rose State College with honors
and was a part of the Sociological Honor Society. She received her
bachelor’s degree from the Univ. of Central Okla. (UCO) in Edmond,
Okla., graduating magna cum laude.

Heath said, "When I started with the Department of Human Services, I
did investigations (Child Protective Services) for four and a half
years. Then I was part of the pilot program that they started in
Oklahoma County called Kinship Foster Care. I worked doing that for a
year and then supervised Kinship Foster Care in Oklahoma County from
2006-2009."

She went on to reading home studies for people who wanted to be foster parents.

"I did what they called Family Centered Services for five years,
supervised that for five years. And then I came to STPU (Specialized
Placement and Partnership Unit) and have been doing that for the last
two years," said Heath.

On a day-to-day basis, Heath oversees the DHS youth in shelters
across the state of Oklahoma. She supervises four liaisons who are each
assigned a region of Oklahoma with 21 shelters that have placement of
DHS youth. The liaisons check the shelters, assess safety, and see how
the kids are doing.

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