Public Health in the Rockies 2026

Background: In December of 2024, Denver Metro non-profit hospitals met with local public health partners to form a unique collaborative addressing the following needs: Lack of awareness about Community Health Needs Assessment processes, gaps in communication between Public Health and Health Systems, and duplicative programming and assessment efforts.

Methods: Meeting monthly, this group became an innovative space for public health and hospital partners across the Denver Metro.

The group created 3 goals:

* Develop a shared awareness of the initiatives and programming being done

* Share timelines for Community Health Needs Assessment processes

* Use shared data and community input to identify areas where collaboration will strengthen existing efforts, and reduce duplication

Group members:

* Hospital Partners: AdventHealth, Children’s Hospital, CommonSpirit, Craig Rehabilitation Hospital, Denver Health, Intermountain Health, UCHealth, Kaiser Permanente

* Local Public Health Partners: Adams County Health Department, Arapahoe Public Health, Boulder Public Health, Broomfield Public Health and Environment, Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, Jefferson County Public Health

Results: Beyond meeting initial goals, the group produced a deliverable in the first year: a shared statement on gun violence with emphasis on injury prevention and safe storage. This statement received 100% sign-on and was disseminated on National Injury Prevention Day (11.18.2025) along with a social media campaign.

The group invited guest presenters from CHAS, CDPHE, and other agencies to speak to the group about shared health priorities over the year.

In 2026, the group will focus on social connection, using recommendations from the US Surgeon General’s advisory.

Implications: The siloed nature of public health and health systems can be overcome with a willingness to be creative, show up, and acknowledge our shared goal: improving health in Colorado.

This partnership has resulted in group members connecting offline, sharing information, and building better strategies due to the shared understanding of each other’s work.