May 2022

Tribal Relations Community of Practice for Region VIII States 

Rachel Hutson

Children, Youth and Families Branch Director

Colorado is one of six states that is currently participating in a Tribal Relations Community of Practice. The learning opportunity is the result of a Technical Assistance Request submitted by Region VIII MCH programs (Colorado, Utah, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming) and is being funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau within the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The goal of the Community of Practice is to increase knowledge, skills, and strategies, cultural responsiveness, and engagement with Tribal populations through bi-monthly virtual sessions over a one-year period. Sessions consist of both topical didactic training and professional development, along with interactive case presentations from state teams. Participants will both learn from and with MCH colleagues and partners, while providing mutual support. Individual consultation with state teams is also available from the trainers. An overview of the six facilitated sessions can be found here.

Each state team is gathering in between regional sessions to debrief on the regional discussions, complete homework and determine Colorado-specific next steps to strengthen tribal relations with the MCH program and partners. Colorado’s state team includes:

The Community of Practice is being facilitated by the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of South Dakota. To learn more about the Center of Excellence and their expertise, click here.

We will provide updates on the Community of Practice as we continue to meet.

The 2022 Colorado Health Symposium, “Game Changers: The Status Quo Has Got to Go” - July 20-29, 2022. Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO. Registration opens in May.

Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference: Flourishing in Times of Change - September 19-21, 2022, Pueblo, CO. 

Public Health in the Rockies - September 27-29, 2022, Keystone Conference Center, Keystone, CO.

Check out the Farm to Early Care and Education Implementation (FIG) Grantees! 

The grantees were selected by the Farm to Child Collaborative in April. These five grantees are located in Arapahoe, Fort Morgan, La Plata, Montrose and Weld counties and will work over the next six months to pilot innovative local procurement, nutrition education and gardening models that advance the work into family, friend and neighbor care, transitional housing, immigrant/refugee worksite training, as well as licensed child care centers and homes. Please view this video to learn about their community-based efforts to improve access to healthy foods for young children and their families. These grantees are seeking mentors, if you are interested in providing consultation and support for their project, or there is someone you’d recommend (either in the grantee community or someone with relevant content expertise), please contact Britt Martens by 5/31/22. If you are interested in joining the Farm to Child Collaborative to advance Farm to Child work in Colorado, please click here. 

Fact Sheet: Helping Families Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage

2022 Local Ballot Measure Tracker

For the third year in a row, The Colorado Health Foundation is launching the 2022 Local Ballot Measure Tracker, a one-stop-shop compilation of municipal and county ballot initiatives from across the state of Colorado for the Nov. 8 election. 

MCH Bill Tracker

Check the bill tracker for the status of legislation that relates to the MCH population.

Who is community?

When we think of the word "community" we likely all have a slightly different definition of who that includes. In the MCH program, when we talk about "community", specific to community engagement, we are talking about the people who are impacted by our policies, practices and programs.  

This can include engaging folks who we haven't historically built relationships with, including the people who are most impacted by inequities resulting from geography, race and ethnicity, immigration status, age, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, socioeconomic status, and other structurally marginalized identities.

We’re here for you! Submit a workforce development support request for consultation, coaching, and training on a list of topics.

On April 9, 2022, Chaffee County Public Health hosted the Mountain Mama Summit - a day to inspire, connect and celebrate mothers and caregivers. This event began in 2017 and has become more successful each year. The day starts with a keynote speaker -- typically a nationally recognized expert in parenting and is followed by breakout sessions led by local experts, covering topics from finances to mental health to tough topics like gun safety. Throughout the day, Chaffee County celebrates mothers and caregivers by providing a gift bag of local goodies, offering free massages to everyone, and a spectacular catered lunch. This year's event was the biggest yet and sold out faster than ever before at 170 people. From the outside, this event may just look like a fun and special day to celebrate mothers and caregivers, but their goal as event planners is to address the many mental health, economic, and societal challenges that are faced each and every day by families with young children.

Emily Anderson, RN

Chaffee County Public Health

How Colorado’s Changing Climate is Putting Children’s Health at Risk

Read RISE Magazine's First Edition!

RISE Magazine highlights, encourages and connects emerging Colorado leaders as they continue to rise in the field of public health. Students and early careerists came together to feature articles, opinion pieces, and artwork about current public health topics.