Growth Counseling & Consulting

Growth Counseling & Consulting is located in Wilburton, OK in Southeast Oklahoma in Latimer County. Due to the smaller population, this rural area had a delayed response to COVID compared to the rest of the state. Growth Counseling & Consulting used their funds to connect with residents, increase Covid anti-body testing and increase access to resources this rural area of Oklahoma. 

For COVID anti-body testing, Growth Counseling & Consulting reached out to statewide and local partners. One of the events partnered with University of Oklahoma Health Science Center and focused on the education aspect of COVID anti-body testing. It highlighted the research side and due to the grant, Growth Counseling & Consulting was able to provide compensation for those who tested. Due to the smaller population, this rural area had a delayed response to COVID compared to the rest of the state. For the second event, Growth Counseling & Consulting partnered with a local event, Relics and Rods, a local annual car show. They again provided compensation to anyone who tested.  With new partnerships, compensation was provided to the individuals who tested to address social determinants of health and utilizing limited resources effectively. 

Access to new resources was another accomplishment for Growth Counseling & Consulting during the grant period. The Co-Founder of Growth Counseling & Consulting, Stormy Bullard and her two clinical health interns were able to attend Getting Ahead facilitator training. Getting Ahead is a national program that results in positive psychosocial changes for participants from experiencing instability. With new problem-solving skills, positive social connections, and reduced sources of stress, participants are empowered to overcome obstacles not only for themselves, but with their community. 

In addition, Growth Counseling & Consulting worked with community partners to address social determinants of health via peer support groups. Peer support groups can  address workforce challenges, use limited resources effectively, increase collaboration and access to populations experiencing health disparities. Through this grant, Growth Counseling & Consulting supplied a bridge in funding to remove barriers of participation and increase access to resources, especially with populations experiencing health disparities.