Join the Conversation: A Colorado HealthStory Community Forum

Nothing is more important than your health and the health of your family. But the decisions you make as a community shape the health and health care experiences of individuals living here. We invite you to join us at a community forum to hear the health stories of fellow Aurora residents and join the conversation about health in your community.

Light refreshments will be provided. Please contact joe.campe@ccmu.org or 720-987-9570 for more details.

Thursday, July 14, 6-8pm
The Aurora Room
Aurora Municipal Center
15151 East Alameda Parkway

Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Project

This project, administered by John Snow, Inc. (JSI) as part of a contract it has with the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), will fund non-profit, community-based organizations with budgets less than $750,000 to implement projects that address Healthy People 2020 overarching goals, topic areas and objectives and integrate at least one of the following Healthy People 2020 Community Innovation Project priorities: environmental justice, health equity, and healthy behaviors across all life stages. As many as 170 projects will be given between $5,000 to $10,000 to conduct projects between December 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012.

The deadline for submitting an application in response to this Request for Proposal (RFP) is Friday, August 5, 2011. Click here for more details including the Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Project RFP.

A Bidders Conference will be held on Monday, June 27, 2011 as follows:

Eligible applicants in Mountain and Pacific time zones:
12:00 p.m. MDT/11:00 a.m. PDT
Please follow this link to register:  https://jsi.webex.com/jsi/j.php?ED=150472232&RG=1&UID=0&RT=MiM2
Dial: 1.877.223.6135; Conference I.D.: 705.32.378

During this one hour conference call and webinar, JSI and ODPHP will describe the Healthy People 2020 initiative, review the Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Project Request for Proposal (RFP), and address any questions that bidders may have.

2011 C3 Forum

Presented by Colorado Association of Funders, Colorado Nonprofit Association, and Community Resource Center

Tuesday, July 12, 8:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m.)
Embassy Suites Hotel Conference Center, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland, CO 80538 

Networking and dialogue with Colorado funders - hear about the grantmaking process from funders' perspectives. Choose from skill-building sessions like Finding the Right Funder or Corporate Philanthropy, and join discussions with grantmakers on focus areas such as Arts & Culture, Education, Health, Environmental Sustainability, and more. 

Registration is $55 for members of the Colorado Association of Funders and Colorado Nonprofit Association; $75 for nonmembers.

Visit http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=n4k9wccab&et=1106047762818&s=14578&e=001tsGT3IZB5Z7VUzhUZTxzcZZH5R5fHL6g7D5cBzKrtJlAQShSY9hT1xdBBmPX3hOD7zQsdmFuL9BETuT0BLgGDmUE4ExwPn8E0061p5DDP01BXZ5zhLSJsur6sxoPnIOImBosmdjCuUM= to learn more or register now.

Premier Cares Award

The Premier Cares Award was established to recognize exemplary programs nationwide that have made health services more accessible to the medically underserved, particularly as demonstrated in superior health outcomes. The award spotlights innovative programs that support people excluded from or underserved by the mainstream health delivery system, including farm workers, homeless children, pregnant teens, low-income mothers and infants, and individuals who don't have the strength or means to reach a clinic or hospital. The winning program must be able to show measurable benefits/outcomes covering a full two-year span and must be capable of being replicated. The award winner receives $100,000, with an additional $120,000 divided among five runners-up. The nomination deadline is July 29, 2011. Visit the Premier website for nomination guidelines.

2nd Annual Safety Net Clinic Week, August 22 - August 26!

In an effort to raise awareness of Colorado's healthcare safety net providers, ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center are sponsoring the second annual Safety Net Clinic Week, August 22-26, 2011. The week will be devoted to educating the public and policy makers about often overlooked, but vitally important health care clinics - Community-Funded Safety Net Clinics (CSNCs) and federally certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs.)

There are currently 33 identified CSNCs in Colorado; they are free clinics, community clinics and family medicine residency clinics. They provide primary care and chronic care services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured Colorado residents. Colorado has 52 federally certified RHCs that provide health care in some of the most rural and remote areas of Colorado.

We will be posting more information on Safety Net Clinic Week soon, including ideas and resources to assist clinics that would like to participate. If you are interested in hosting a site visit with policy makers, we are here to help and will have more information coming soon.

Low-Cost Computers Available

Community Based Organizations interested in setting up computer stations in their lobbies or reception areas can apply for reduced price, refurbished computers through the Community Computer Connection (CCC). The computers can be used by CHCs to provide patients with waiting room access to tools such as the PEAK, the online application for individuals to check their eligibility and apply for benefits, or to complete voter registration. CCC, which is funded in part by the Polis Foundation and started by Rep. Polis, is just one of several computer refurbishers statewide. Here is more information about how CCC operates:

·       CCC accepts donations from businesses and other organizations for computers they no longer need/want.

·       CCC then refurbishes the machines and offers them to local organizations – schools, nonprofits, etc. Because of licensing issues, such as loading computers with Microsoft operating programs, CCC charges a small fee per computer. Depending on the quality of the computer and number of programs loaded onto the computer, the fee can vary. Fees start around $20 and go up to about $200.

·       Computers are supposed to be used for the purpose designated in the application form. However, CCC has no set rules on what the computers can be used for – so if a CBO wants to use the computer only for voter registration that is okay. Or if the computer is designated as a community resource that patients can use for whatever purpose they need, that is fine too.

·       Organizations interested in receiving these computers must fill out an application form and also sign a donation agreement. A breakdown of how this all works can be found here.

·       The organization applying for computers is responsible for picking them up. CCC will not ship them to organizations.

Ensuring Access to Care in Medicaid Under Health Reform

Kaiser Family Foundation Offers Strategies To Ensure Medicaid Access to Care Under Health Reform. Click here to read more.