Weld County Public Health and Environment on Aug. 13 accepted a 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for Heart of Weld, the county's CDC-recognized diabetes-prevention program aimed at Medicaid recipients and at-risk populations.

Kelly Martinez, representing Heart of Weld, said the program achieved CDC recognition-plus, the highest CDC recognition level for a diabetes prevention program, and that it took the program about two years to reach full recognition. Martinez said the program focuses on culturally relevant lifestyle-change classes led by community health workers and has improved enrollment and screening numbers.

County statistics read during the presentation showed that as of Dec. 30, 2024 Heart of Weld increased the number of priority participants (Medicaid recipients) enrolled in the lifestyle-change program by 42.9 percent and increased employer-offered participation by two organizations. The program also reported conducting free health screenings that measured cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure for 147 priority participants and attending 43 community outreach events, making more than 100 resource referrals, including 30 referrals to the program. Martinez told commissioners the program has reached about 200 residents and conducted screenings for more than 2,000 community participants in more recent internal counts.

Olga Gonzalez, a public health-education specialist, credited community health workers for enabling bilingual classes, weekly screenings and outreach events; she said the program offers both English- and Spanish-language services and emphasized trust and sustained relationships with participants.

Commissioners congratulated the team and highlighted the program's potential long-term cost savings: Martinez said prevention "works for every $1 that we spend on prevention" and that prevention can save an estimated $3 to $4 in future health-care costs for each dollar spent. The board accepted the NACo award at the Aug. 13 meeting and commissioners encouraged continued support for the program.

Martinez asked for continued county support to expand reach and reduce health disparities and said community health workers are well positioned to deliver prevention in local neighborhoods.