As we celebrate Pride Month and honor the LGBTQIA+ community, we recognize that for many Coloradans, it can be difficult to access health care providers who meet their cultural and specific health needs. This can be especially difficult for those living in communities with fewer providers, including Teller and Park counties, as well as areas of El Paso County. At Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA), we are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusivity in health care access and reducing health disparities to improve the health outcomes of our members and create an environment where all members feel welcomed and supported.

CCHA is the regional organization that administers physical and behavioral health benefits and coordinates care for more than 265,000 Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) members in Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park and Teller counties. CCHA is dedicated to ensuring that members have access to health care providers who can best meet their cultural and specific health needs. We are updating our provider directory to include detailed information that allows members to select a provider aligned with their cultural preferences and health concerns. The directory will allow members to specify their desired race or identity representation within their health care providers, as well as filter for providers who specialize in addressing specific issues.

CCHA team members are deeply ingrained in the communities we serve because we live and work there, too. This allows us to work closely with not only health care providers but trusted local community partners and government agencies to create a sustainable, accessible and diverse network of care for our members. Recent studies show that up to 80% of a person’s health is related to social factors. This is why we are committed to cultivating new relationships and supporting diverse community organizations to better connect with the community and understand and support our members’ needs.

For example, CCHA has partnered with Inside Out Youth Services (IOYS) to increase health equity for LGBTQIA2+ youth. In 2023, IOYS received a $42,362 grant from CCHA to design a Whole Health Hub aimed at breaking down barriers to health care access. This funding brings compassionate providers to the IOYS facility, both in person and via telehealth, focusing on expanding access to sexual health, vision, and dental care with an on-site mental health clinician. In 2024, IOYS received an additional $150,000 to further support LGBTQIA2+ youth through leadership, advocacy, community-building, education, and peer support, aiming to increase clinical mental health support during drop-in and programming hours.

In 2023, IOYS facilitated nine training sessions on topics such as transforming gender and security and celebrating diversity, with an average of 95 youths participating in each session. Approximately 80% of participants reported making better life choices and building resilience, while more than 90% reported healthier relationships. In the first quarter of 2024, 87 unique young people accessed services at the community center, resulting in 937 visits. Additionally, 39 unique clients received mental health services for a total of 187 sessions. Efforts to implement group therapy sessions continue, with one clinician currently running a six-week gender identity development series, which has seen participation from 20 young people in the first two sessions.

CCHA also provided support for The Prism Community Collective, a community resiliency center that promotes gender-affirming care for LGBTQIA+ individuals and provides access to mental and physical health care providers and numerous other resources. Prism was created as a response to the Club Q shootings in November of 2022 and named each room in honor of an individual killed in the shooting.

Additionally, as a participant in the Teller County Mental Health Alliance, CCHA supported the first annual Pride Above the Clouds in Woodland Park earlier this month as an opportunity to foster healthier and more inclusive communities. This is especially crucial in rural communities where Pride celebrations have the potential to provide vital morale boosts for LGBTQIA+ rural residents.

Through provider support and strategic collaborations, we are making significant strides in addressing health equity and decreasing health disparities for members from underserved and marginalized communities. CCHA’s commitment to collaboration, innovation and expanding access paves the way for a brighter future in which every member of our community has the opportunity to access the care and resources they deserve despite the challenges they face. To learn more about CCHA and our commitment to expand health care access in Colorado Springs and beyond please visit CCHAcares.com.

Kathryn Morrison, LPC, CPHQ lives in Colorado Springs and serves as the Director of Quality Management for Colorado Community Health Alliance.