VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Katie Beyer, a Prevention Specialist with City-County Health District in Valley City, received the 2021 Community Star award from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, representing the state of North Dakota.

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day.

National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded spirit that prevails in rural America. The awards recognize the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face today and into the future.

The virtual awards celebration was held on November 18, and honorees from each of our 50 states can be found here. The 2021 program highlighted the real power of rural, sharing stories of Resiliency, Relationships, Readiness, and Resolve, lessons learned, and resources that make a big difference in the health of small communities.

When asked about Resolve and Relationships in rural healthcare, Beyer said: “My resolve is to serve. I feel a strong sense of urgency to see improvements and make changes. In terms of relationships, Public Health cannot accomplish anything if we don’t have strong partnerships. We strive to ask what it’s going to take to open the door, so that we can better serve.”

Beyer joined City-County Health District in 2016 and has been committed to preventing underage drinking by educating her community on the effects of alcohol on children and teens. She also helped develop the “Not in My House” campaign, a community prevention effort with the primary goal of reducing youth social access to alcohol by raising awareness about social host liability and related misperceptions surrounding underage drinking.

The campaign has been adopted by several states.