As defined in the 2008 Public Health Improvement Act, “public health” means the prevention of injury, disease, and premature mortality; the promotion of health in the community; and the response to public and environmental health needs and emergencies, and is accomplished through the provision of 10 Essential Public Health Services. The scope of public health is broad.
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Established in 1877 by act of Colorado’s First General Assembly, Colorado's Boards of Health have a number of responsibilities to fulfill in Colorado's public health system. This video gives you a brief overview of the history of Colorado's boards of health and how members are appointed to the board. To read about the duties the State Board of Health performs, click on the resource below.
Primary Duties of State Board of Health
The primary duties of the State Board of Health, established by state law, are to:
The Public Health Act of 2008 added the following components to the authority and duties of the State Board of Health:
Other State Boards and Commissions
In addition to the Board of Health, a variety of other state boards and commissions related to public health have been established by Colorado statute. Examples of these boards and commissions include:
Formally established in the 1940s, Colorado's Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) combines both public health and environmental health in one state agency, which is uncommon throughout the United States. This video gives you an overview of the history of CDPHE and the role it plays in bettering the health of Coloradoans.
Click each tab below to expand and read more about Colorado's local boards of health.
In 1893, Colorado legislators passed a bill...
In 1893, Colorado legislators passed a bill, drafted by physicians and concerned citizens, to create and empower local boards of health. However, there is not much discussion of local boards of health in the written history of Colorado public health.
The Public Health Act of 2008 further formalizes...
The Public Health Act of 2008 further formalizes the structure and duties of local boards of health. The Act requires that each county or district board of health consist of at least five members, appointed by the board of county commissioners, to include county commissioners as well as county residents with expertise or interest in health and public health. In counties with populations of less than 100,000, a three-member board can be appointed and the board of county commissioners may designate itself, if there was not a board of health separate from the board of county commissioners prior to the 2008 Act. The Act states that local board of health members shall be residents of the county and no business or professional group or governmental entity shall constitute a majority of the board.
Local public health agencies serving multiple counties...
Local public health agencies serving multiple counties have district boards of health. District board of health members will be appointed by an appointments committee composed of one member of each of the boards of county commissioners of the counties comprising the district. The district board of health must have at least one member from each of the counties comprising the district.
Local boards of health provide administrative, policy and financial oversight...
Local boards of health provide administrative, policy and financial oversight to the designated public health agency, and the duties defined within the Act (C.R.S. 25-1-508) include:
Administrative
Policy
Financial
This video discusses how Colorado's Local Public Health Departments grew to its current structure with heavy assistance from nursing programs.
In this video, we briefly describe the history of public health laws in Colorado, summarizing the two major events that gave structure to our public health system today: the passage of the Sabin Laws and the Public Health Act of 2008.
The public health organizations in Colorado have had an interesting history of their own. These professional associations provide education, advocacy and professional development to strengthen the public health system and workforce.
Click each tab below to expand and read more about Colorado's public health organizations and partners.
Currently, Colorado hosts several state affiliates of national associations...
Currently, Colorado hosts several state affiliates of national associations including the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials (CALPHO), which is an affiliate of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO); the Colorado Environmental Health Association (CEHA); and the Colorado Public Health Association (CPHA).
In addition, Colorado has member organizations specific to...
In addition, Colorado has member organizations specific to the positions that individuals hold within local public health agencies, such as the Colorado Public Health Administrative Directors, Colorado Directors of Environmental Health, and Colorado Public Health Nursing Leaders.
General membership organizations also exist for public health nurses at any level...
General membership organizations also exist for public health nurses at any level, Public Health Nursing Association of Colorado (PHNAC) and environmental health professionals on the western slope (Western Colorado Association of Environmental Health Officials).
While the Act focuses on governmental public health, it is important to recognize...
While the Act focuses on governmental public health, it is important to recognize that the public health system is much broader than local and state governmental health. For public health to work effectively, it must partner with and recognize the contributions of many other governmental entities, non-profit community based organizations and private business. Some examples include:
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