State Assessment and Planning

Colorado's Current Public Health Improvement Plan

Every five years, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment works with partners from across the state to assess how Colorado is doing related to health and environment. The resulting community health assessment (CHA) and public health improvement plan (PHIP) are required by both the 2008 Public Health Act and the national Public Health Accreditation Board. 

CDPHE is beginning to convene an advisory committee for the next planning cycle. To learn more about the process for statewide assessment and planning, see the timeline below. As of December 2022, OPHP has identified individuals to participate in the upcoming Public Health Improvement Committee (PHIC). The PHIC will kick off meetings in January of 2023 and will continue to meet regularly through 2024. As this work progresses, updates will be included on this webpage. Check back for more information in 2023.

This image is a visual timeline of the work of the 2023-2024 Public Health Improvement Committee

Colorado's Public and Environmental Health Improvement Plan (PHIP) 2020-2024:

Colorado's 2018 Community Health Assessment (CHA):

Citation guidance:
To cite any of the data used in this summary, please cite the primary source. Access the Assessment Data Dashboard (above) to dig deeper into the data and sources.
For general citation: Braga, A., Bui, A., Dillon, A., and Dyett, A. (2019). Colorado's Story: 2018 Public Health and Environmental Assessment Summary. Denver, CO: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Collaborative Community Process

Community-driven assessment and planning is a best practice and is critical to effectively improving the health and well-being of Coloradans. The 2008 Public Health Act requires that the State plan be developed in consultation with the state board and representatives from the state department, county or district public health agencies, and their partners within the public health system.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s assessment and planning process includes multiple layers of input and guidance from local public health agencies and other community partners. Each planning cycle is guided by an advisory council made up of diverse professionals from across the state. Colorado’s Office of Public Health Practice, Planning, & Local Partnerships also stays connected with local agencies throughout local planning cycles as well to ensure that goals and priorities of public health plans developed by county or district public health agencies are incorporated into the state plan to the extent possible.