A Colorado where everyone can thrive.

Our commitment to health equity means focusing our resources, energy and efforts specifically on working with entities serving historically excluded, systemically underserved or underrepresented groups and populations rather than spreading resources equally across every demographic.

Among the most underserved groups and populations in Colorado are people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+, people experiencing economic hardships, older adults and people living in rural areas. These groups are also more likely to experience racism or other forms of discrimination and be excluded from policy decisions or influence.

Our well-being is shaped by factors including where we live, the wages we earn and our access to education and opportunity. Our well-being is also affected by our sense of belonging, how connected we feel to the people around us and the opportunities we have to make decisions that affect our community. These factors are often referred to as “social determinants of health.”

Social and economic policies and systems are institutions, norms and processes that influence how we live, learn, work and play. When we do not have influence on these systems, we suffer from poorer health and have shorter life spans.

We all benefit when every community member has the opportunity to live a long and healthy life. We all benefit when we listen to people who have been historically excluded from decision-making. In order for Coloradans in every community to thrive, people must have a voice in the decisions that influence their well-being. Working together, we can make programs and policies fair for everyone, so that all Coloradans can lead healthy, productive lives.