Colorado’s WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program helps moms, babies, and young children access healthy foods and helpful resources on nutrition, breastfeeding, and health. The program is open to income-eligible families which can include pregnant women and women with children under 5 years old. Members of the program receive a WIC card which can be […]
Tag: health
April is Stress Awareness Month
Perhaps appropriately, given the times we find ourselves in, the month of April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month. It’s actually not new — Stress Awareness Month has been commemorated each April since 1992. Work and school, finances, relationships, parenting, caregiving, concerns for safety, life changes, finding one’s purpose, and even the weather can be […]
New Resources on Federal and State Laws Pertaining to COVID-19
Several new memos and Issue Briefs have recently been released by Colorado Legislative Council Staff that provide some guidance on how Colorado and federal laws address some of the issues brought about by COVID-19. Colorado Criminal Justice System Response to COVID-19 discusses the operations of the courts and correctional institutions during the outbreak. Expansion of […]
Pedestrianism – A 19th Century Quirk for 21st Century Life?
Today – the first Wednesday in April – just so happens to be National Walking Day. It’s a timely marker of an activity that many are turning to in these days of social distancing. Walking, that most basic of transports, is not only good for you physically – lowering the risk of heart attack and […]
Pandemic Preparedness for Colorado Libraries – Updated 3/31
UPDATED 3/31/2020 – scroll to end for additional resources As we watch the global outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread in the United States, libraries are taking many steps to be prepared in the event that it reaches their community. Library policies, emergency procedures, and providing information resources for panicked patrons are some of the ways […]
Face Masks and Virus Protection
Can a face mask protect you from coronavirus? Lately there have been many arguments over the efficacy of face masks – if you can find them, that is! Most public health officials are saying that a healthy person going about their day wearing a mask is unnecessary. Masks are most helpful for people who already […]
Creating Healthy Places
The places where we live, work and play can have a direct effect on our health. With that in mind, researchers from the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Architecture and Planning set out to study the ways that architects, city planners, community organizations, and health officials can work together to plan and design places […]
At the Legislature: Family and Medical Leave for Employees
Among the issues at the Capitol receiving a significant amount of attention this year is a proposed state-run family and medical leave program. The program would grant paid leave to most Colorado employees for purposes of childbirth/adoption, major illness, or caring for a sick loved one. Federal law currently provides benefits under the Family and […]
Home Modifications for People with Disabilities and the Elderly
A recent addition to our library collection is the Colorado Division of Housing’s Home Modification Look Book. This publication provides helpful guidance on making accessibility modifications to the homes of people with disabilities and/or the elderly. Wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, and bathroom modifications such as grab bars and walk-in/roll-in tubs and showers are among the […]
Protect Your Child from Lead Poisoning
Statewide, an average of about 1.9% of children under six have elevated blood lead levels, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). This is a slight rise from previous years. The statewide average dipped to a low of 1.6% in 2015, possibly with the increased awareness from media attention […]
Health Insurance Enrollment Information
Open enrollment for 2020 private health insurance coverage is going on right now. If you have questions about buying or renewing private health insurance, the State of Colorado has set up several helpful websites. Connect for Health Colorado is “Colorado’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace.” Included on their website are such helpful features as “Health Insurance […]
Opioid Addiction Resources
The State of Colorado offers many resources to assist people who are struggling with opioid addiction and abuse. OpiRescue. This app, funded by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), provides a quick and easy way to connect with emergency services, recognize an overdose, find treatment, and more. Lift the Label. Also a project of […]
Community Health Equity Map
Where people live in our state in can have an effect on their life expectancy, access to healthcare, and likelihood for developing certain health conditions. Age, education, income, race/ethnicity, and other factors can also determine Coloradans’ health outcomes. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has been studying these health disparities, and they […]
Updates to the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act
This year the Colorado General Assembly passed legislation updating the Clean Indoor Air Act. HB19-1076 includes several major updates to the 2006 law, which bans smoking indoors in public places: Vaping and e-cigarettes are now included in the ban, which means that they cannot be used indoors in public places. This is intended to curb […]
The Future of Health Information Technology in Colorado
Information technology is rapidly changing life in Colorado, including how we access, coordinate, and pay for health care. In the fall of 2015, Governor Hickenlooper established the Colorado Office of eHealth Innovation and an associated eHealth Commission to study these issues. They spent the next two years developing Colorado’s Health IT Roadmap, a significant document […]
Colorado Downtown Streets
Safety, walkability, transportation, and aesthetic design are all important components of planning a downtown commercial area, whether in a large city or a small town. Downtowns and “Main Streets” can, if well planned, boost tourism and enhance quality of life for residents. Therefore the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the Colorado Department of Public Health […]
Colorado Vital Statistics and Health Data
What is the leading cause of death in your county? The life expectancy? The number of live births? The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) has several interactive tools on their website that can help you find this information and much more. Their Vital Statistics website includes a state map which you can […]
New Report on Youth Suicide Prevention
The Colorado Attorney General’s Office just released a new report, Community Conversations to Inform Youth Suicide Prevention: A Study of Youth Suicide in Four Colorado Counties, which is now available to view online from our library. The report examines the growing rates of youth suicide in El Paso, La Plata, Mesa, and Pueblo counties, which […]
Coloradans and Tobacco
If quitting smoking is your new year’s resolution, the State of Colorado has new resources to help you. Colorado QuitLine is a tool that Coloradans can use to get free products and coaching. According to a news release from the Colorado Department of Health & Environment, QuitLine has recently been updated. New online resources are […]
1918 Influenza
Cañon City High School students wear masks during the 1918-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy History Colorado. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the great Spanish influenza pandemic that claimed the lives of an estimated 50 million people worldwide — more people than died in combat in both World Wars combined. I have several relatives who […]