Douglas County, just south of Denver, is one of the most affluent places in the country. But that distinction means little to the 4 percent of the county’s close-to-350,000 residents who live in poverty. Laura Don, the Regional Health Connector for Douglas County, works to ensure that 4 percent isn’t forgotten. “There’s a sense that […]
Regional Health Connectors know that nothing can replace an in-person meeting and connection. But when people are looking for answers, the internet can be a great way to find what they need. That’s why RHCs throughout Colorado have become key partners in building, designing, and sharing websites with information about community services and supports. In […]
Veterans represent close to one in every five suicides in the United States. Research suggests that rural veterans are particularly at risk. That’s why the RHC program is planning to help build supports for veterans in Colorado’s Eastern Plains. The Veteran Health Connector is part of a new partnership with Together With Veterans, a project […]
Mary Dengler-Frey knows something about building things. As a Regional Health Connector (RHC) at the Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center, she’s assembled programs and recruited providers to tackle three challenging problems: opioid addiction and substance abuse, diabetes, and suicide. In her public health work, she has drawn upon a previous career as an architect. […]
Regional Health Connector Jeff Appleman’s favorite thing about Fort Morgan, population 11,000, is its small-town feel. “It’s a strong community. They’re always looking out for each other,” he said of his northeast Colorado home. “In Denver, you’ll go to a meeting that’s catered by Panera or whatever. Here, I’m getting home- cooked meals.” Jeff is […]
Life in the towns and resort communities along and near Interstate 70 in Colorado can appear to be idyllic. But below the surface, some residents, and their health needs, are often overlooked. That concerns Namrata Shrestha, the Regional Health Connector (RHC) in Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, and Summit counties. Based at the West Mountain Regional Health […]
By Rebecca Rapport, RHC Program Manager In May, all 21 Regional Health Connectors gathered in Keystone, Colorado for a biannual retreat. We shared success stories, developed ideas for the future of the RHC role and program, and explored ways to strengthen partnerships with organizations around the state. I’m a primary contact for 11 RHCs, which […]
This winter, three Regional Health Connectors (RHCs) helped bring vital screenings to some of Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties’ most vulnerable residents. Thanks to Meghan Prentiss, Kaitlin Wolff, and Laura Don, blood pressure screenings were among the many services that Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) was able to provide to homeless individuals during the Metro Denver […]
Ashley Hill is the Regional Health Connector for Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Park Counties (Region 17). Before Ashley became a Regional Health Connector, Park County had been without a primary care practice for years. Thanks to Ashley’s efforts, a Special Health District is now being developed to develop a primary care practice for the residents […]
Stephanie Salazar-Rodriguez is the Regional Health Connector for Denver County. We are excited to showcase her recent success in convening the 2017 Health & Wellness Expo in collaboration with Porter Adventist Hospital and College View Community Center/Life Line. Stephanie coordinated 129 volunteers to provide blood pressure and BMI checks, fresh food, dental screenings, A1C/Diabetes screenings, […]
Custer County High School in Westcliffe had been running a suicide prevention program called Sources of Strength for three years when it ran out of money to pay for it. That’s when Regional Health Connector Mike Orrill, who works for Chaffee County Public Health, met the school’s football coach. The coach, who oversaw the program, […]
On a sunny September afternoon, more than 300 people gathered at the College View Community Center in southwest Denver for a health and wellness expo that included everything from cardiovascular screening to a free farmers market to a performance by Huitzilopochtli Aztec dancers. Over the course of the afternoon, more than a ton of fresh […]
Before Ashley Hill moved to 80 acres of undeveloped land in Hartsel, she had practiced law in Golden. But a shared dream of a simpler life brought her and her partner to the mountains in 2016. They found a simpler life, but with an asterisk: Park County, her new home, had no permanent health clinics. […]
