The Colorado Access Community Giving Program Advances Health Equity and Strengthens Communities
AURORA, Colo. – Through its Community Giving Program, Colorado Access invested more than $3.3 million in 2024 to help address health-related social needs and advance health equity for Medicaid members across the Denver metro area. Over the past five years, the Colorado Access Community Giving Program has supported innovative programs developed by community partners. The program extends the organization’s mission beyond traditional health care by partnering with local organizations that tackle the root causes of health disparities — from food insecurity and housing instability to behavioral health and maternal support.
“Health starts in our communities, in the places where people live, learn, work, and play,” said Jaime Moreno, chief communications and member experience officer at Colorado Access. “Through the Community Giving Program, we’re able to support organizations that are integrated in the communities and are experts in serving our members. These partnerships strengthen meaningful, measurable investments that improve health outcomes and help create a more equitable Colorado.”
In 2024, the Community Giving Program funded a wide range of initiatives designed to meet Coloradans where they are. Through the program, the organization supported 71 community-based organizations, reaching more than 314,000 individuals and 24,000 households, including efforts specifically targeted toward individuals experiencing homelessness or food insecurity, birthing individuals, children aging out of the foster care system, and individuals in the disability community.
Efforts to provide assistance to women, gender-diverse people, and children included investments in The Gathering Place and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Douglas County. The Gathering Place, focused on removing barriers to care and meeting basic needs for women, gender-diverse people, and their children, was able to serve more than 2,700 individuals at their day center, transition 34 individuals into permanent housing, and help 227 individuals with resource navigation and case management, thanks in part to support from the Community Giving for their programs and trauma-informed community environment. Funding towards CASA’s Foundations Program helped provide advocacy, navigation, and skill development for young adults aging out of foster care.
An investment in Elephant Circle supported the training of more than 100 doulas, in order for them to work within the Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) provider role, expanding access to maternal health services. The trainees included immigrant and refugee doulas who served families in the Medicaid regions managed by Colorado Access.
“The support of the Colorado Access Community Giving Program allowed us to expand access to doula care for birthing people across Colorado, especially for those who have been historically underserved,” said Indra Lusero, founder and director of Elephant Circle. “By investing in the training and sustainability of community-based doulas, we’re not only supporting better birth experiences, but also strengthening the systems that allow families to thrive.”
Support was also given to the community-focused, nonprofit organization Guided by Humanity (GBH). The organization is focused on offering inclusive, accessible, and equitable holistic and wellness services for individuals, regardless of their ability. Funding went to GBH’s Health Advocacy Program, which offers services to children and families, including health-related resource referrals; and to GBH’s Partnerships in the Community Program, which brings wellness programs to schools for students with disabilities.
In addition, investments with The Fax Partnership and Second Chance Center were able to increase food security for those along the East Colfax corridor and for formerly incarcerated individuals, respectively.
Collectively, these partnerships address the complex factors that influence total health and advance the goal of Colorado Access to reduce barriers to care, and reflect the ongoing commitment to support community-led solutions that create meaningful, measurable change.
To read the full 2024 Community Giving Program Annual Report, go to: www.coaccess.com/document/community-giving-program-2024-annual-report.
About Colorado Access
As the largest and most experienced public sector health plan in the state, Colorado Access is a nonprofit organization that works beyond just navigating health services. The company focuses on meeting members’ unique needs by partnering with providers and community organizations to provide better personalized care through measurable results. Their broad and deep view of regional and local systems allows them to stay focused on members’ care while collaborating on measurable and economically sustainable systems that serve them better. Learn more at coaccess.com.