National Public Health Week celebrated in early April offers a time to recognize the contributions of public health organizations.

Our mission at Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) is to work together to anticipate and respond to conditions that affect the health of residents and visitors in Mesa County. We go beyond a traditional public health approach, however. We know health doesn’t start in the doctor’s office. It starts where we live, work, learn and play. We see the interconnectedness of businesses, nonprofit groups and government.

“Our collaborative approach is unique. Our teams are all connected to a bigger picture. We’re not just working to make the community healthier and safer today. We’re improving systems that lead to sustained change over time,” said Jeff Kuhr, executive director of MCPH.

Part of our approach includes looking at conditions in communities that affect health and well-being.

“Our environment impacts our health in a significant way,” Kuhr said. “How close do you live to a grocery store that has fresh fruit and vegetables? Do you have a park in your neighborhood or a safe, walkable trail? We like to step back and look at these conditions.”

We improve the health of residents by addressing certain factors:

Strengthen economic resilience through an economy that supports the local workforce.

Increase access to preventive health care and mental health services.

Improve the environment and conditions for people to choose healthy lifestyles.

Foster social connectedness across neighborhoods.

We work with partners to address these factors and find solutions unique to Mesa County. More than 50 partners work with us on different initiatives — among them the Clifton Community Transformation Group promoting connection and a sense of community in Clifton.

We work to support families and help them become more economically stable. Our Grand Valley Connects team provides resources and enrollment support for services. Our WIC team serves 2,800 families each month with each family receiving about $100 worth of healthy foods. This enables families to pay for other needs.

We understand child care is essential economic infrastructure and work to improve the quality and quantity of child care in Mesa County.

Our team helps create environments that promote health and safety. In 2022, MCPH performed more than 500 inspections at restaurants, body art parlors, swimming pools and schools. We work with businesses every day to make sure they’re operating safely.

Meanwhile, the trails crew built nearly 10 miles of trail at 18 Road to provide easier access to outdoor recreation.

By offering these services and resources, MCPH gives residents the opportunity to thrive at home and work.

We’re grateful to serve the community and our local businesses and look forward to expanding our programs. For example, our regional lab is expanding to provide more services. We’re also launching in-person food safety courses.

“Improving the quality of life for people in Mesa County is at the heart of what we do. Our focus in 2023 is continued innovation. We’re excited to continue our work to improve and expand the systems that support the health and well-being of our community,”  Kuhr said.

Public health is community health. The effects of one person receiving our services or using our programs stretches far beyond that individual and helps create healthier workplaces and a healthier community.