Addressing Community Health Needs

At Children's Hospital Colorado, we know that every child's well-being is deeply connected to the health and wellness of the community. We understand that we can't provide complete care for our children if we don't also understand and care for our local neighborhoods. We can't support thriving kids without nurturing thriving communities. We also know that children have many influences in their lives and that every adult who comes into contact with a child has a unique perspective on what that child needs to thrive.

To help us understand how to best serve our community, we've been hard at work this past year collecting public health and demographic data, interviewing public health experts and healthcare providers, conducting focus groups with caregivers and gathering input from hundreds of parents and caregivers through an online survey. This work culminated in a report called a Community Health Needs Assessment, or CHNA.

Community Health Needs Assessments

We're pleased to share our 2021 Community Health Needs Assessments, where we identify child health priorities in our community and a framework in which to guide our work. Thanks to these assessments, we have better insight into the challenges facing children in our immediate communities.

Download our CHNAs

• 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment for Anschutz Medical Campus* (.pdf)
• 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment for Colorado Springs (.pdf)

*A joint assessment of Children’s Hospital Colorado licensed hospital facilities at Anschutz Medical Campus, South Campus and Parker Adventist Campus (Parker Adventist Campus location closed, effective Dec. 20, 2021)

Community Health Implementation Plans

In response to findings from the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessments, Children's Colorado developed Community Health Implementation Plans defining how we will address these child health challenges over the next three years. The strategies and programs outlined in the implementation plans demonstrate our ongoing commitment to children, families and community partnerships.

Download the plans

• Community Health Implementation Plan for Anschutz Medical Campus (.pdf)
• Community Health Implementation Plan for Colorado Springs (.pdf)

The Community Health Implementation Plan fulfills the Affordable Care Act requirement to develop a plan to meet the needs identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment.

Share your perspective

We welcome continued feedback both on the content of this report and our strategies for addressing community health needs. Please send comments, questions and suggestions to CommunityBenefit@childrenscolorado.org.

We also host events and opportunities for community members to share their experiences and provide input about child health needs. Please bookmark this web page and check back frequently to learn about upcoming conversations and community health events.

As a nonprofit pediatric hospital, our bottom line is kids. This means that any positive hospital revenue is reinvested into the health and well-being of children.

Putting that work into numbers isn't easy. However, in 2020, Children's Colorado reported more than $292 million in community benefit activities — that is, activities we conducted as a hospital that went beyond caring for patients and made an impact on our community at large. This includes everything from dental screening and immunization clinics for kids, to financial counseling and car seat education for parents.

How we’re improving community health

Our support for kids begins before they’re even born. By providing services for pregnant mothers, we help ensure moms have the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. After they’re born, we support kids in our community through early childhood and into their school and high-school years.

Our goal is for every kid to have the opportunity for a bright and healthy future. Because every child – regardless of where they live or their social circumstances – deserves it. Here are some of the many of the ways we support kids and families in our communities: