Healthy Montezuma coalition outlines health fair, film, podcast and prevention campaigns to address substance use

Laurel Schafer, assistant director for the Montezuma County Public Health Department, told the Board of Health on July 1 that Healthy Montezuma is a county-level coalition “seeking to impact the community in relevant and relatable ways.”

The coalition described five principal strategies: reducing stigma, raising awareness, providing resources, promoting empathy and understanding, and challenging misconceptions. Schafer said those approaches are guided by the county’s recent community health assessment, which named mental health and substance use among the community’s top concerns.

“We want to create positive connections among community members that promote healthy lifestyles and increase positive mental and physical well-being for all of Montezuma County,” Schafer said. The coalition is coordinated out of the Public Health Department and lists partners that include the City of Cortez, Pinon Project, CSU Extension and 4-H, Southwest Health Systems, SCYC (School Community Youth Collaborative), Team Up, SAFE Coalition, Sand Canyon Therapy, Young People in Recovery and Indigenous Wellbriety.

Planned initiatives described at the meeting include a health and wellness fair providing biometric screening, nutritional information and mental-health resources; a short documentary-style film highlighting community resilience; a podcast series featuring local providers and resources; and prevention campaigns that use outreach and storytelling to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking.

Heather Hamilton of the Health Department emphasized prevention campaigns as “powerful tools in public health,” and said campaigns are meant to “educate, empower, and encourage individuals and communities to adapt behaviors and practices that safeguard their health and safety.”

Cameron Shaffer, representing Sand Canyon Therapy, said the local clinic wants to expand access: “We wanted to be another outlet for the community, another resource opportunity.” Shaffer described working in skills-based case management and participating in Healthy Montezuma because of a background in counseling and substance-use work.

Several community partners described youth- and culture‑based programming. Tess, program coordinator for Indigenous Wellbriety’s youth programming, said a school‑based survey showed many students had used cannabis, alcohol or other substances and that teaching alternative coping tools was a key goal. Aymo Socko, director of Indigenous Wellbriety, described the organization as a Native-led, peer‑recovery program serving adults and youth with talking circles and culturally grounded supports.

Organizers said the podcast episodes will be structured, professional and HIPAA‑compliant; interviewees will sign liability waivers and each episode will include local resources and coping strategies. Schafer said the short film idea aligns with similar work done in neighboring counties and that the coalition will share examples as it develops the project.

Board members and community attendees raised questions about social media’s effects on youth and the coalition’s plans to counter negative online influences with positive messaging and local programming. Several speakers suggested starting prevention conversations with children and offering alternatives to device‑centered coping strategies.

The coalition asked for Board input and community partnerships as it plans a health fair and other activities and said it will continue outreach to potential partners, labs and sponsors to help cover biometric testing and clinical follow-up.