HCC's "Snapshot" Website -
Information and Data Clearinghouse About the Health and Well-Being of Larimer County's Children and Youth
HCC compiles data, statistics and information about the health and well-being of Larimer County's residents, birth to 18 years of age. The online database features many ways to search for information and direct links to original data sources. It also highlights local agencies or groups that are addressing specific issues. The database will be kept current and expanded to include new categories of information.

Promoting Medical Home for Children and Youth

HCC is partnering with Colorado State University, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and the Larimer County Department of Health & Environment in leading a local medical home team to:

• Increase understanding about the Colorado Medical Home Initiative as it pertains to the health and well being of children and youth
• Develop community partnerships around Medical Home
• Identify systems barriers to meeting the goals of a Medical Home
• Develop a plan to address the barriers and increase the practice of medical home in our community.

Read about it in the Larimer County Medical Society's newsletter (page 5).

Read about it in the Rocky Mountain Family Health Guide (page 12).

Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Coalition

HCC coordinates the Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Coalition, comprised of bicycle advocacy groups, non-profit agencies, state and local governments, school districts, youth, parents and teachers. Through education and encouragement, the BPEC works to reduce the number of motor vehicle/bicycle/pedestrian crashes in our community, and increase knowledge and awareness about how to safely share roads.  It works to increase the number of bicycle riders and pedestrians in the community, nurturing health and wellness.

Preventing Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Action Group (TPPAG)

The Larimer County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Action Group is a teen-adult partnership coordinated by Healthier Communities Coalition (HCC) and the Larimer County Department of Health & Environment. Since April 2009, nearly 30 diverse agencies who serve teens in Fort Collins have been meeting in order to cooperatively address the issue of teen pregnancy in Larimer County. The action group has recently launched a small social media campaign with the tag line, "Doing It? Think Ahead. Plan Now." This tag line was developed with careful consideration of the group's agreed upon goals, which include: 1) to integrate positive youth development strategies into community programming for teens and, 2) to integrate and promote the concept of reproductive life planning to teens. Six teens are currently working with HCC to head up efforts to promote a Facebook page, which serves as a place for teens to access local reproductive health resources and medically accurate, age appropriate, and culturally sensitive information.

Contact: Kori Wilford, kwilford@larimer.org or 970-498-6743 x1 or Kim Sharpe, krs4@pvhs.org or 970-495-7503

Find us on Facebook. Visit our channel on YouTube.

Caring & Sharing
Caring & Sharing was established in 1991 as a way for family and youth service providers to network and share information about their programs, brainstorm solutions for challenging situations and discuss emerging issues. HCC convenes and facilitates the meetings which include an informational presentation or panel or round-table discussion and a time for discussion. One of the goals of C&S is to increase collaboration among participants and reduce the duplication of services. Another goal is to provide participants with more tools and resources to serve their clients. The meetings are held on the second Friday of each month, 8:30-10am, at the Poudre School District Partnership Center, 1630 S. Stover Street, in Fort Collins. Click here to access minutes from Caring & Sharing meetings.

NEWS from HCC
Twice a month, HCC publishes the NEWS from HCC, an electronic compilation of information relevant to child, youth and family service providers, and their clients. The NEWS features local events, classes and workshops, job openings, funding opportunities and interesting health-related information. Each issue is sent to more than 700 readers, but we know it is forwarded on to many more. To subscribe to the NEWS or inquire about advertising in the newsletter, email HCC or call 970-495-7503. Click here for archived issues. Or, read our News Releases and Publications.

Larimer County Mobility Council

HCC serves as a representative on the Larimer County Mobility Council, advocating for the transit and transportation needs of youth. The council is coordinated by the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization. The mission of the mobility council is to help the NFRMPO implement the county’s transit plan which is aimed at ensuring greater access to transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with lower incomes.

Nurse-Family Partnership

HCC serves on NFP's Advisory Board, helping to make policy and program recommendations and support to the local NFP program. The Nurse-Family Partnership program pairs vulnerable first-time parents to caring maternal and child health nurses. allows nurses to deliver the support first-time moms need to have a healthy pregnancy, become knowledgeable and responsible parents, and provide their babies with the best possible start in life. Relationships between parents and nurses last from pregnancy through the time the child turns two years old.

Character in Youth Sports
An innovative initiative that promotes, recognizes and rewards character excellence among sportsparticipants, teams and organizations that consistently encourage and display sportsmanship, teamwork and community is underway in Fort Collins. Character in Athletics - Make it a Priority or "CHAMP" was developed by a task force commissioned by Colorado State University, the City of Fort Collins and Poudre School District after an opinion poll revealed that local parents and coaches think more can be done to ensure sports programs continue to provide positive role models. HCC conducted the poll in 2005 with assistance from the Colorado State University Research and Development Center. (Read the report online or download it here.) HCC and Character Fort Collins partnered in bringing the task force together and facilitating their work. HCC remains active on the CHAMP Board of Directors.