April 2025 Newsletter
Keep up to date with the latest news from Healthy Jeffco Alliance partners and community!
Hello Healthy Jeffco Alliance,
​
The work of the Alliance’s Access to Care team is taking off! This group, formerly known as the Center in Community Action Team, has been working together since 2021 and is known for focusing their strategies and initiatives around the perspectives and experiences of people who live in our communities. Their work includes an initiative that increased Hispanic community member participation at a local vaccination clinic by 110% and a project that explored solutions for creating inclusive and culturally aware medical care in Jefferson County. Now, this team is taking the next step in improving access to health care in Jefferson County by implementing creative solutions to improve peoples’ ability to get and pay for health care in Jeffco.
Alliance in Action
Upcoming Meetings
Access to Health Care Team
-
Meeting:
-
Tuesday, April 22 at 11:00 a.m.
Jeffco Assessment and Planning Network
-
Meeting:
-
Wednesday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Interested in engaging with the Alliance or taking part in team meetings?
The Collaborative Funding and Culture of Connection teams have completed their work together and will no longer be holding meetings. The work of the Technology Team – focused on improving people’s experience getting and connecting to services and care in Jefferson County – will be furthered by Triad Bright Futures. Read more about their work to create a robust screening, assessment, and referral system that works to address physical, social-emotional, behavioral, and social determinants of health. Please connect with Lisa Duran for more information or to get involved.
Community Efforts Advancing Health Priorities in Jefferson County
Free Health and Mental Wellness Fair
Join Jefferson Center for Mental Health on Saturday May 17th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for free health screenings, resources on insurance, vaccines, educational workshops and more. The fair will be located at Mountain Christian Church in Lakewood (1390 Benton St, Lakewood, CO 80214). Check out their flyer to learn more.
Understanding health care systems and insurance coverage is essential for accessing necessary care. Doctors Care in Littleton offers regularly scheduled courses for community members looking to learn more about these topics. Visit the Doctors Care website to find available courses.
Health System Literacy Courses with Doctors Care
Check out the March edition of the Connecting Dots Newsletter where you’ll find important updates about health, wellbeing and community resources.
Jeffco Regional Health Connector Newsletter – March 2025
Updated Scheduling Options at STRIDE Community Health Center
Access to medical care improves economic security and our mental health. STRIDE Community Health Center is now offering appointments to new and existing clients within three days. Additionally, appointments will be available within 2 weeks for routine visits, procedures and follow up appointments. Rather have your visit at home? STRIDE is now offering telehealth appointments via phone or video. Learn more by visiting the STRIDE website.
Breaking Barriers to Health Care: Jeffco Community Partners Champion Access for All
Accessing health care, specifically mental and behavioral health care, is an important part of maintaining overall health and addressing existing health conditions. According to the Colorado Health Access Survey, access to mental health care is a growing challenge in Jefferson County. In fact, in 2023, 1 in 5 Jefferson County residents did not get needed mental health care. This issue has intensified as more than a half-million people in Colorado have been disenrolled from Medicaid since the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency in May 2023. Uncompensated care in hospitals and safety net clinics in Jefferson County has also increased in recent years. In response to these rising challenges, the Healthy Jeffco Alliance is supporting collaboration across health care, government and community organizations to increase knowledge and understanding on how to access and pay for health care in Jefferson County.
The Alliance’s Access to Care team, made up of representatives from Jefferson Center, Signal Behavioral Health Network, Lutheran Hospital, Latinas Community Connection Services, Jefferson County Public Health, Doctors Care and STRIDE Community Health Center, is committed to working together towards improving the health of our communities. The team’s collective goal is to reduce the percentage of people with unmet mental health service needs in Jefferson County from 20.5% in 2023 to under 14% by the end of 2031. Their efforts include enhancing community outreach and education through the development and distribution of educational materials, helping residents navigate the complexities of health care coverage and understand their eligibility for various programs. Additionally, the Alliance is advocating for policy changes that could provide more sustainable funding models for safety net clinics and hospitals. The dedicated members of this team are passionate about working together on this shared effort and finding creative ways to collaborative in their individual work as well. The Alliance is providing project management and funding support to partners furthering these efforts.
The rise in unmet health care needs and strain on local resources highlight the need for collaborative solutions in increasing people’s ability to access and pay for health care in our communities. By bringing together leaders from the community, health care, government and community organizations, Alliance partners are able to implement community driven solutions for building a healthier, more resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Interested in being a part of this work? Learn more about the project on the Alliance’s Access to Care page and connect with Kelly to learn about how you can get involved.
Share your community spotlights and events!
Is there a community spotlight or event you would like us to share on our website and in our upcoming newsletter? We're always looking to share information about events, programs, initiatives and other exciting work supporting connection and collaboration in Jeffco communities.