Strengthening Colorado’s Public Health Workforce

Since 2020, Trailhead Institute has worked alongside partners across Colorado to strengthen the public health workforce by developing and leading programs, advising on workforce strategies, providing technical assistance, and building connections across sectors.

The Workforce Initiatives We’ve Supported.

Explore programs we continue to lead and past initiatives that have contributed resources, strategies, and tools to support Colorado’s public health workforce.

Public Health AmeriCorps member Emily Evans sits with fellow program members at a meeting at the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment

Active Initiatives

Colorado Public Health Works builds pathways to public health careers through AmeriCorps and Registered Apprenticeships.

As a PHIG partner, Trailhead leads a collaborative Hub model with the Colorado Health Institute, Montana Public Health Institute, and Public Health Institute at Denver Health. As one of 10 Regional Innovation Hubs under the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), Trailhead helps public health departments in HRSA Region 8 —including Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming— by providing technical assistance on workforce recruitment and development, data use and modernization, and core public health competencies.

Past Initiatives 

Trailhead Institute administered the HRSA Community Health Worker Training Program in partnership with the Patient Navigation and Community Health Worker Training Program (PNCT) and The Alliance of Colorado Community Health Workers, Patient Navigators and Promotores de Salud. The program supported pathways into the community health worker (CHW) workforce through training, apprenticeships, internships, and skill-building opportunities that helped participants prepare for careers in public health.

Led by Trailhead Institute from 2020-2026, the Colorado Public Health Workforce Collaborative brought together partners across Colorado to strengthen the state’s public health workforce. Partners from public health, government, academic, and nonprofit sectors collaborated to better connect workforce initiatives and support a diverse, inclusive, experienced, and innovative public health workforce.

Developed with The Colorado Public Health Workforce Collaborative, RESTORE: The Colorado Blueprint for Innovative Public Health Workforce Development supports a diverse, skilled, and resilient public health workforce that reflects Colorado communities. The report offers practical strategies and an action plan for employers focused on recruitment, career and educational pathways, retention, and data-informed workforce decisions.

The Colorado Public Health Workforce Collaborative developed tools and resources to help public health organizations put strategies from the Blueprint for Innovative Public Health Workforce Development into action. The resources support workforce development across four focus areas: recruitment, career and educational pathways, retention, and using workforce data to inform decisions.

Trailhead Institute and partners explored opportunities to better engage military Veterans in the public health workforce and recognize the skills and experiences they bring to the field. The project produced a national literature review, environmental scan, and action planning resource to help public health employers turn promising strategies into action.

Colorado Blueprint for Innovative Public Health Workforce Development

Featured by Deloitte:

The Collaborative and 2023 Colorado Blueprint for Innovative Public Health Workforce Development were featured in a 2024 report by Deloitte highlighting bright spots in the public health workforce and strategies for continued advancement and resilience.

A digital graphic of public health and health care professionals overlays color blocks with COVID-19 pandemic statistics

Have a Question?

Interested in learning more about CCC? Sign up for our newsletter or email us at [email protected].