The Archuleta County Public Health Department (ACPHD) will host an Grand Opening open house next Wednesday, April 3 from 4:30-6:30pm, at their offices located at 502 S. 8Th St, in downtown Pagosa Springs.
Highlights of the event will include a ribbon cutting with the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce, tours of the facility, and one-on-one time with staff who will be educating the public on the various programs currently being offered. Programs include Women, Infant & Children (WIC), Food Safety Inspections, Emergency Preparedness, Smoking Cessation, and information about the upcoming Air Quality Awareness Week, happening May 6-10 . Air Quality is an applicable topic due to Pagosa’s variable wildfire seasons.
“We’d like to raise awareness of the high pollution days in our county and protective behaviors to reduce health risks,” commented Amy Nitchman, Health Educator and Air Quality Project Manager. “ACPHD will be participating in the EPA’s Flag Program where partnering schools and businesses will display the color flag that corresponds to the air quality index each day during that week,” she further explained. Nitchman will also be educating the public on SafeCare Colorado, a program for families with children 5 years of age or younger, which teaches parenting skills and best practices for promoting positive childhood behaviors.
ACPHD’s Health Coverage Assistor certified by Colorado’s Connect for Health, Karen Evans, will be available to educate on enrolling in health insurance while filing your taxes, which can only be done by completing a special section on Colorado returns. Evans also supports the community via Medicaid and Child Health Plan+ (CHP+) applications and, how to navigate the Connect for Health insurance exchange.
“Tax time opens a special enrollment period (SEP) for health insurance by simply checking the box on your state tax form DR 0104,” said Evans. “I can help with this and other health insurance questions.” The deadline to make this change is April 15 .
A reminder this event is free, open to the public and there is no need to RSVP. Families are encouraged to stop in and see all that ACPHD has to offer.
Along with Public Health Awareness Week held April 1-7, the ACPHD encourages the public to stop by the open house for an inside look at their new offices, clinic, and a showcase of the programs currently being offered by the department. More details will be provided as the event nears.
Clinic hours have recently been extended to include Thursday evening March 18 until 7pm, and one Saturday a month from 9am-1pm. March’s Saturday clinic will be held on March 16 and April’s Saturday clinic is slated for April 13.
“Public Health, it impacts everyone in the community,” said Executive Director Ashley Wilson. “From restaurants and sanitation to air quality and smoking cessation, the clinic may be the most visible offering, but there’s lots of things happening behind the scenes as well.” Wilson added, clinic hours currently offer sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, pregnancy tests, and childhood and adult vaccines.
Wilson’s team of nine includes staff members furthering the development of offerings such as health insurance assistance, youth tobacco prevention programs, emergency readiness, family, and community services, and clinic offerings.
For questions, please contact the ACPHD, 970-264-2409, or email Administrative Assistant Berklee Ruthardt, bruthardt@archuletacounty.org.
Ashley Springer began working as Archuleta County Communications Specialist and Public Information Officer in 2023.