Commissioners proclaim National Public Health Week and approve public‑health area‑of‑interest fund

Chaffee County commissioners read and adopted a proclamation recognizing National Public Health Week, April 7–14, 2025, and voted to create an area‑of‑interest fund at the Chaffee County Community Foundation to make it easier for residents to donate to local public‑health prevention programs.

The proclamation — read in full during the April 1 meeting — described local public‑health programs including Nourish (formerly Healthy Start), the National Diabetes Prevention Program, Colorado Heart Healthy Solutions, Aging Well, Health Navigation, farm safety, STI/HIV testing, oral and environmental health, worksite wellness, and tobacco cessation initiatives. The proclamation also cited the county’s 2021 community health assessment and the 2022–2026 community health improvement plan, which prioritize behavioral health, access to care and environmental health stewardship.

County public‑health and Community Foundation representatives presented a proposal to establish an area‑of‑interest fund so donors could contribute tax‑deductible gifts earmarked for local public‑health priorities. Betsy and Chaffee County Public Health staff said the fund would allow quicker, easier donations and that the county public‑health director would serve as the fund advisor to align distributions with county strategy.

Speakers noted federal funding uncertainties and recent announced cuts at the federal level for public‑health programs as part of the rationale for diversifying funding sources. Commissioners voted unanimously to create the fund and to approve moving forward with the fund paperwork and partnership with the Community Foundation.