Colorado School of Public Health Team Completes Phase I of Community Engaged Project Focused on Environmental Health in the San Luis Valley and West Denver
Story and photos courtesy of Colorado School of Public Health
The Mountain West Hub has completed Phase I of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded project designed to engage residents in Colorado’s rural San Luis Valley and urban neighborhoods of West Denver in learning about and identifying strategies to address environmental stressors such as wildfires, poor air quality, extreme heat, and drought.
The team, led by Carol Brown, Katie Dickinson, Kathy James, and Craig Kapral spent the past two years working with partners in the San Luis Valley and West Denver to better understand the perceptions, beliefs, and experiences of residents related to increasingly common environmental threats. This work has resulted in several co-created products that will help researchers, scientists, policymakers, and community groups work to make communities healthier and stronger in the face of environmental stressors commonly experienced in the Mountain West.
Key products resulting from the team’s work include:
· Community Voices Volume I. Through 33 interviews with advisory board members representing the San Luis Valley, West Denver, science, and policy sectors, the team identified local knowledge and opportunities for action to address environmental stressors.
· Educational Modules Accessible, evidence-based online tools provide practical information about wildfires, poor air quality, drought, and extreme heat.
· San Luis Valley Conversation Materials Print and digital resources designed by local partners to support discussion and learning among agricultural workers, older adults, youth, and other community members.
· West Denver Conversations Guide Developed with the West Denver Community Advisory Board to help residents talk about environmental concerns and take steps toward creating healthier neighborhoods.
· Mountain West Summary Report A regional report that includes:
o A review of current literature addressing environmental stressors, health, and successful interventions across the Mountain West
o Results from The Attitudes and Behaviors Surveys (TABS) on Health about how Coloradans perceive their health is impacted by environmental stressors
o A directory of publicly available data sources to support planning and decision-making
· Community Voices Volume II: Video Series (Coming Soon!): A digital storytelling series featuring firsthand accounts from San Luis Valley and West Denver residents describing how they are navigating environmental pressures and creating solutions.
Phase I work is funded by NIH Agreement (OT2HL158287) through the Alliance for Community Engagement for Climate and Health. The team was invited by NIH to apply for Phase II funding which will support intervention research designed to test the effectiveness of strategies to mitigate or reduce the impact of environmental stressors on human health. A funding decision is pending.
Learn more about the work of the Mountain West Hub at https://www.mw-climatehealth.com.