Colorado known for its beautiful Rocky Mountain range has the highest average elevation with more mountains reaching greater than 14,000 feet than any other state. Theodore Roosevelt perceived it as the Switzerland of America. The state was given the Spanish name for red which is the color of the Colorado River. Colorado covers 103,718 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 4,939,456 people – 679,447 living in rural Colorado (USDA-ERS). Denver, the capital, is located in the north-central region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aurora. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 89.9% of the state’s population is white, 4.2% is African American/Black, 2.7% is Asian, 1.2% is American Indian and Alaska Native, and 19.9% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2007).
There are 78 hospitals in Colorados, 41 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 29 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). There are 47 Rural Health Clinics in Colorado (CMS, 2009), and 14 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 137 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2007). Most Coloradans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 16.9% of its residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all Coloradans in 2007 was $41,192 although rural per-capita income lagged at $33,979. 2007 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 12.8% exists in rural Colorado, compared to a 11.4% level in urban areas of the state. 2000 data reports 16.5% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 13.1% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural Colorado is at 4.3%, while in urban Colorado it is at 5.0 (USDA-ERS, 2008).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
Data Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts
USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts
Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Bighorn Center
State/regional organization
Identifies, develops, and advocates public policies to improve Coloradans' quality of life through effective and efficient state and local government.
Caring for Colorado Foundation
Nonprofit/Foundation
Caring for Colorado Foundation's vision is to ensure that the people of Colorado are the healthiest in the nation. Its mission is to promote and serve the health care needs of the citizens of Colorado.
Colorado Child Support Enforcement
Assures that all children receive financial and medical support from each parent. This is accomplished by locating each parent, establishing paternity and support obligations, and enforcing those obligations.
Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved (CCMU)
State/regional organization
Committed to access to affordable, timely, quality health care for everyone in Colorado.
Colorado Community Action Association
State/regional organization
A statewide network of CSBG grant funded programs which served over 32,000 low-income Coloradans in 2004; and associate agencies working with low-income families and issues. Organized to advocate for CSBG programs, and low-income programs, services and issues at the state and local levels. CCAA provides education, training and networking opportunities for its members and associates.
Colorado Department of Education: Exceptional Student Services Unit
State government
A resource to teachers, administrators, and parents of students with exceptional educational needs due to disability, giftedness, unique talents, or English language learners who also have special needs.
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (CHCPF)
State government
The state agency responsible for the administration of the Medicaid program, Child Health Plan Plus, and the Colorado Indigent Care program
Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)
State government
The mission of the Colorado Department of Human Services is to design and deliver quality human services that improve the safety and independence of the people of Colorado.
Colorado Department of Human Services: Adult Protective Services
State government
Protects adults who cannot protect themselves.
Colorado Department of Human Services: Division for Developmental Disabilities
State government
Provides leadership for the direction, funding and operation of community based services to persons with developmental disabilities within Colorado.
Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)
The state agency where local communities work in partnership with the state to strengthen Colorado communities.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
State government
Committed to protecting and preserving the health and environment of the people of Colorado.
Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment: Office of Health Disparities (CDPHE-OHD)
State government
Dedicated to eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities in Colorado, by fostering systems change and capacity building through multi-sectoral collaboration.
Colorado Division of Mental Health Services
State government
A resource for mental health providers, children, adolescents, adults and their families, policy makers, and all citizens of Colorado.
Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
State government
Assists individuals whose disabilities result in barriers to employment.
Colorado Health and Hospital Association
State/regional organization
Leads, supports, represents and advocates on behalf of hospitals and health systems to achieve improved health status of all Colorado residents.
Colorado Health Foundation
State/regional organization
A non-profit, tax-exempt organization devoted to improving health and health care in Colorado.
Colorado Hospice Organization (CHO)
Nonprofit/Foundation
The Colorado Hospice Organization is a statewide, not-for-profit organization that advocates for palliative and hospice care through professional and lay education, legislative and regulatory advocacy, and technical assistance.
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)
State/regional organization
Provides funds to finance the places where people live and work throughout Colorado; focused on helping people and businesses succeed.
Colorado Neurological Institute Stroke Center (CNI Stroke Center)
Local organization
Emphasis is on prevention, education, risk factor modification, recognition of a stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation and support. CNI physicians provide acute treatment at the Swedish Medical Center utilizing diagnostic imaging techniques that provide diagnostic accuracy, helping physicians make rapid, well-informed treatment decisions.
Colorado Rural Development Council (CRDC)
State/regional organization
A private, nonprofit organization committed to influencing positive economic change in rural Colorado.
Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC)
State/regional organization
An independent, non-profit, membership-based organization that serves as the State Office of Rural Health for Colorado. Offers programs and services to ensure that rural communities have access to adequate healthcare.
Colorado State University (CSU)
Academic/Research
Colorado State University is a land-grant institution and a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University-Extensive.
Colorado Trust
Nonprofit/Foundation
An organization to promote the health and well-being of the people of Colorado. The Trust develops funding opportunities that focus on advancing accessible and affordable health, and that provide resources to strengthen families and serve the aging.
Foothills Regional Emergency Medical & Trauma Advisory Council (FRETAC)
State/regional organization
Regulates the Colorado statewide trauma system.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Colorado
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region (NN/LM-MCR)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health professionals, librarians and members of the public in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association (NWCOVA)
State/regional organization
Created to promote health, prevent disease and provide home health, public health and hospice services to residents the large rural area of the Yampa Valley.
Oral Health Awareness Colorado (OHAC)
State/regional organization
Coalition of professionals representing a wide range of public, private and non-profit organizations interested in advancing oral health care in Colorado. Its mission is to develop and promote strategies that achieve optimal oral health for all Coloradoans.
Proyecto/Project IDEAS
State/regional organization
Strives to improve HIV prevention services for Latino/Hispanic populations living in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. Focuses on adapting and tailoring CDC-approved interventions that are culturally, linguistically and educationally appropriate. This is a capacity building assistance program for community-based organizations and state and local health departments.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Helps rural communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming to improve community infrastructure.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Colorado
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Academic/Research
An academic institution that provides a variety of degrees and certifications in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, graduate studies and physician's assistant programs, and promotes research in the biomedical sciences.
USDA Rural Development Colorado State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Tools
Colorado QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Colorado AgrAbility Project
Web site
Promotes success in agriculture for people in Colorado with disabilities or other physical challenges and their families.
Colorado Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Colorado Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compile 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Colorado KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Colorado State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Colorado
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Colorado
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
State Profiles- Colorado: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Funding
Adolph Coors Foundation Grants
Provides grants to support projects in health, education, youth, community & human services, and civic & cultural programs
Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund
Supports grants in arts and humanities, education, health, human services, and civic and community initiatives.
Boettcher Foundation
Grants to educational institutions, community & social services including health, civic & cultural programs.
Colorado Rural Health Seed Grants
Seed money is available for purposes or projects whose intent matches the mission of the Colorado Rural Health Center.
Copic Medical Foundation
Provides grants to support health and medicine including education and expansion programs.
Daniels Fund Grants
Program areas eligible for grants through the Daniels Fund fall under the categories of: Aging, Alcoholism & Substance Abuse, Amateur Sports, Youth Development, Disabilities, Homeless & Disadvantaged, and Education.
El Pomar Foundation
Grant support to Colorado nonprofit organizations involved in health, human services, education, arts and humanities, and civic and community initiatives.
FRETAC EMS Mini Grant
Supports EMS activities within the five counties of the Colorado RETAC. This includes Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, and Jefferson Counties.
Gates Family Foundation
Colorado only - Considers proposals from nonprofit dental clinics undertaking comprehensive capital campaigns, as well as supporting programs (capital campaigns) that encourage individuals to improve and maintain their good health and physical well being.
Kerr Foundation Grants
Provides grants in the areas of education, health, cultural development, and community service.
Margaret McDonald Boss Living Trust
Grants for projects focused on aging, education, public administration, health care, residential care and/or hospice.
Marva Jean Jackson Rural Community Health Scholarship Grants
Small grants that help pay for the training and/or education of a local healthcare provider are available for rural facilities or community groups.
Schuss Family Foundation
Supports grants for community development, health care, and performing arts.
Wells Fargo: Community Assistance Fund Grants for Colorado
Grants for Arts & Culture, Education, Economic Development, Health Care and Human Services.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
2009 Colorado Rural Physician Workforce Survey
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Health Institute
Documents survey results and literature review findings that address the challenges of recruiting and retaining physicians in rural Colorado.
Date: 11 / 2008
Colorado Rural Oral Workforce Project
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Health Institute
Provides information on oral health topics as they relate to rural Colorado. Addresses workforce issues, health status and care, and the availability of oral health care. Offers policy options that may help address these issues.
Date: 04 / 2008
Demographic and Economic Profile: Colorado
Author(s): Kathleen K. Miller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, income, and more. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 02 / 2009
Education: A Regional Overview
Author(s): By Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Explores education characteristics in the western states and examines how it impacts rural development.
Date: 2008
Employment, Income and Poverty: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines and compares employment and income in western states with both rural and urban data.
Date: 2008
Governor’s Dialogue on Health Care Vision and Values: Final Report
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Trust
Reports on the Governor's effort to engage leaders across Colorado in a discussion about their vision for health and health care in the state and the values upon which that vision is based.
Date: 02 / 2008
Health and Longevity: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines health and longevity for states in the western region.
Date: 2008
Improving Access to Health Care for Colorado's Underserved Populations: Recruitment and Retention of International Medical Graduates
Author(s): Kitty Stevens, Mathew Christensen, Kimberly Wagner
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Includes a program report and evaluation of Colorado's Conrad 30 J-1 Visa Waiver and National Interest Waiver Programs.
Date: 11 / 2006
Land Use and Resources: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines land use and resources in the western states.
Date: 2008
Moving Towards Substantial Reform: Health Care Coverage for All Coloradans
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved
Summarizes the work and findings of Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved (CCMU) as it continues to develop feasible solutions to address the medically underserved in Colorado.
Date: 02 / 2003
Opportunity Lost: When Hard Work Isn't Enough for Colorado's Families
Discusses how Colorado families who work hard still struggle financially, and ways in which the state could benefit economically if it did more to help.
Date: 04 / 2004
Profile of the Uninsured in Colorado, 2004
A report of the research exploring the state of health care in Colorado.
Rural Colorado - Real Colorado! 2008 Annual Report on the Status of Rural Colorado
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Rural Development Council
Demonstrates the impact of the rural economy on the state; identifies economic viability, workforce readiness, social and environmental needs; solutions to economic and workforce issues; and the interdependence of
Colorado’s urban and rural economies.
Date: 2009
Small Business Profile: Colorado
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2008
Snapshot of Rural Health in Colorado
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Rural Health Center
Highlights rural health issues for Colorado that includes demographics, health care workforce, health facilities, health insurance, health disparities, and rural hospitals.
Date: 12 / 2007
State Profiles - Colorado: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2005
Streamlining the Health Care System: Options for Colorado: A Briefing Paper
Author(s): Nellie Hester, Dann Milne
Sponsoring organization: Caring for Colorado Foundation
Addresses opportunities to improve the efficiency of health care in Colorado.
Date: 12 / 2003
The Changing West: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Provides baseline data for identifying population changes in the western states for use in advancing rural development.
Date: 2008
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Journals
Colorado - Special Delivery ONLINE
Quarterly newsletter which focuses on rural healthcare resources, funding opportunities,
center activities, and other news.
Special Delivery Newsletter
Provides the latest in rural healthcare resources, funding opportunities, and Colorado Rural Health Center activities.
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