Public Health in the Rockies 2026

The Toxicology and Risk Assessment Program (TARA) at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) continues to grow the PFAS Testing and Assistance Program (PFAS TAP) following its successful statewide expansion in 2025. PFAS TAP provides Colorado residents using private wells with free PFAS testing and supplies eligible participants with free filters that meet NSF standards for contaminant reduction. In addition, the program conducts targeted outreach in priority areas to focus resources where they are most needed. We’re partnering with Boulder County and the San Luis Valley Public Health Partnership this year.

This presentation compares outreach strategies and lessons learned from engaging with regions across Colorado. We will also share high-level results of our program efforts and the impact of providing free water filters to eligible households.

Key takeaways from this session include:

* How evaluation findings were applied to improve communication and build trust with underrepresented populations.

* Insights into regional differences in outreach effectiveness and how to better serve diverse communities across the state.

* The impact of PFAS TAP across Colorado to date and plans for moving forward.

We will highlight how PFAS TAP has evolved into a sustainable, statewide framework, and we offer a scalable model for other agencies or organizations seeking to improve outreach and engage private well users.