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How FPHS Investment Transformed Community Health in Garfield County

Having a Community Health Assessment (CHA) allowed the department to evaluate health equity, identify critical service gaps, and understand the nuanced barriers that impact rural well-being—from healthcare access and behavioral health to food security, transportation, and childcare. These insights have served as the foundation for every subsequent decision, program, and partnership GCPH has launched.

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Supported by Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) funding, conducting a Community Health Assessment (CHA) was not only a data collection effort—it was a transformational process that engaged the community, elevated underrepresented voices, and set the stage for meaningful systems change. Prior to this investment, GCPH lacked the capacity to conduct a comprehensive health assessment at this scale. The CHA allowed the department to evaluate health equity, identify critical service gaps, and understand the nuanced barriers that impact rural well-being—from healthcare access and behavioral health to food security, transportation, and childcare. These insights have served as the foundation for every subsequent decision, program, and partnership GCPH has launched.

Having a Community Health Assessment (CHA) allowed the department to evaluate health equity, identify critical service gaps, and understand the nuanced barriers that impact rural well-being—from healthcare access and behavioral health to food security, transportation, and childcare.

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