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Connecting Students to Careers, Professionals to Communities, and Communities to Better Health

Welcome to the Central Colorado AHEC monthly newsletter for March 2019.

Read below for information on upcoming community events, service opportunities, updates on our programs, and more.

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Partner Spotlight: Donor Alliance

Here at CCAHEC, we are proud of and value the partnerships we have made over time. Donor Alliance, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. As the federally designated organ procurement organization and accredited tissue bank for Colorado and most of Wyoming, Donor Alliance serves more than 100 hospitals and 5.8 million residents in facilitating the gift of life. In November, Donor Alliance was awarded the Malcolm Aldridge National Quality Award by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. This is a Presidential-level honor which recognizes U.S. organizations and businesses that demonstrate an “unceasing drive for radical innovation, thoughtful leadership and administrative improvement.”

The relationship between our two organizations was born out of similar missions and interests over three years ago. Anne Gaspers, Donor Alliance Public Education Coordinator said, “Both organizations are all about education and work with similar populations.” They have provided the Transplantation Science curriculum to students enrolled in the Health Careers Pre-Apprenticeship and AHEC Career Exploration programs. Additionally, they make available free educational materials and resources about organ, eye, and tissue donation, such as posters, brochures, etc. CCAHEC’s Education and Workforce Manager Mitch Fittro said, “Donor Alliance has been a phenomenal partner to CCAHEC over the years. Their mission and vision line up very well with CCAHEC’s and CCAHEC is proud to partner with and promote Donor Alliance and their organ donation events/information. I absolutely love working with Anne Gaspers and everyone else over at D.A.”

My experience with AmeriCorps has been truly enriching and fulfilling. The insight into public health and the opioid crisis, as well as in-depth training in Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), will surely benefit my career moving forward.

Since November, I’ve been able to deliver Rise Above Colorado’s Not Prescribed lesson to nearly 400 students at four middle schools in Boulder and Broomfield Counties. I also presented the lesson at the Denver Metro Regional Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Colorado Denver campus and a Wellness Week schoolwide assembly at the Challenge School in Aurora. I’ve given naloxone trainings at Creative Treatment Options behavioral healthcare center in Arvada, Foothills Integrated Health in Littleton, and Evergreen Fire and Rescue Admin office. At Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH), I’ve been on the planning team for an upcoming provider education event which will focus on integrating addictions care between primary and behavior health providers.

Regarding other community engagement, I’ve been able to join 11 ongoing community groups addressing substance use in various capacities. These include Broomfield Communities That Care (CTC), Healthy Futures Coalition and the Opioid Advisory Group in Boulder, and Points West Advisory Council, JCPH Overdose Prevention Committee, Power of Partnership, Mountain Area Health and Human Services Coalition, Preventative Care and Behavioral Health Coalition, JCPH Provider Education Workgroup, and CTC in Jefferson County. Within these, I am part of various workgroups on topics such as youth engagement, evidence based practices, early intervention, and community outreach. I have spoken at Denver high schools about what AmeriCorps is and my experience thus far. Finally, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Action Center in Lakewood and YHC Clinics alongside other Community Opioid Response Program AmeriCorps Members.

In January 2019 Central CO AHEC began the AHEC Scholars Program which provides health professions students with a unique learning experience. AHEC Scholars will be nationally known as possessing a desirable set of competencies. The program provides didactic, clinical, and community-based education in 6 core topic areas:

·          Interprofessional Education

·          Behavioral Health Integration

·          Social Determinants of Health

·          Cultural Competency

·          Practice Transformation

·          Current/Emerging Issues such as Colorado’s response to the Opioid Epidemic; Marijuana; Oral Health: Access to care and primary care integration; Mental Health: Access to care; Suicide Prevention; Health Effects of Oil and Gas Extraction

Trina Fernandes is one of the AHEC Scholars in Central CO AHEC’s first cohort and the first AHEC Scholar that will be completing the program this Spring 2019 as she graduates from University of CO College of Nursing. Trina currently works as a float certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Denver Health & Hospital.



Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a nursing student and will complete my program in May 2019. My family is from Pakistan and then they moved to Canada. I was born in Canada and the came to the United States when I was 12 years old and lived with my aunt, who practices Family Medicine, up until my family settled in Denver.

Permanent Prescription Disposal Drop Boxes in Park County

Four billion prescriptions are filled in the United States every year. Up to one-third of those prescriptions go unused. The average American household possesses four pounds of unused prescription medications. Disposing of medications like opioids, sedatives and stimulants helps prevent these drugs from being misused or abused. Through the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, the Take Meds Seriously Campaign offers each county without a current drop box site in Colorado the opportunity to install a drop box for free to encourage the safe disposal of unused and expired prescription medications. Additionally, residents are encouraged and educated on proper disposal to avoid flushing prescription drugs down the toilet and impacting wildlife and the environment.

Communities all over the state of Colorado are installing prescription drop boxes in pharmacies and law enforcement agencies to take back these medications safely. This is specifically challenging in rural, mountain communities that do not have a local pharmacy. Park County is one such example. With approximately 17,000 year-round residents, Park County has no primary care office, no pharmacy, and only one grocery store. Lack of resources, isolation, proximity to many mountain passes and transportation issues make safe disposal of prescription drugs specifically challenging.

Employment & Service Opportunities

Community News & Events

FREE YHC Castle Rock Medical Clinic



March 9, 8:30 am - 10:30 am

St. Francis of Assisi Church

2746 5th Street, Castle Rock, Colorado

Check out the Colorado Consortium's Newsletter!

There are a lot of great people working hard and doing great things as Colorado works to combat the opioid crisis. To help everyone stay connected and informed, the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention has created a new email to share important news, announce events and new programs, and more!

Open the door to endless career opportunities from the comfort of your couch with the 2019 ANA Virtual Career Fair.

You’re exclusively invited to this groundbreaking virtual event on March 19. Mix and mingle with representatives from health care employers near you and around the country.

Here’s how it works:

·     Explore new career opportunities from the comfort of your home or office

·     See who is hiring and the jobs available

·     Choose the employers you want to interact with

·     Engage directly with those employers in one-on-one interviews

·     Talk to as many employers as you want during the three-hour event

 Finding your dream job has never been easier! Plus, when you register, you’re automatically entered into a raffle to win a $500 Visa gift card!

Get Back into Nursing!

Our refresher courses help LPNs and RNs renew their Colorado license if they have been expired for more than two years. These online "anytime, anywhere" programs are self-paced and approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing.

Click on one of the logos above for more information.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback,

please email us at: [email protected]