Policy & Advocacy Resources

Policy Advocacy Resources

2022 Policy Agenda      Find Advocacy Funding

Educational Resources

Those interested in health policy advocacy can find reliable, balanced information from the following resources:

Reforming Policymaking in Colorado - The Colorado Health Foundation’s policy team listened to over 60 individuals representing perspectives from advocacy organizations, legislators and legislative staff, and executive branch officials about how they have experienced the policymaking process in Colorado. Explore key themes and recommendations on how state government could operate differently to make the processes and procedures more inclusive, equitable and racially just.

Reimagining Housing Solutions Webinar Series – A six-part training series designed to equip Colorado’s local leaders to as they work to address their community’s urgent housing needs. Topics explored in the series include: policy and land use, homelessness prevention, impactful community engagement, and leveraging federal ARPA funds. Speakers will highlight projects and practices, from across Colorado, that can benefit urban and rural settings and across the housing affordability continuum.

2021 Policy Recommendations – To help focus decision-makers at the federal, state and local levels of government, our team identified a list of policy recommendations they can implement to advance health, well-being and equity in 2021. Our recommendations reflect what we heard directly from the people of Colorado through our 2020 Pulse poll and from community, nonprofit and business leaders from all corners of our state.

Annual Local Ballot Measure Tracker – Our annual Local Ballot Measure Tracker is a one-stop-shop compilation of municipal and county ballot initiatives from across the state of Colorado during each election cycle. The Colorado Health Foundation, in partnership with CRL Associates, has created this tracker to create greater visibility into critical policy decisions being made by voters at the local level this fall.

Understanding Colorado's Local Governments: The Fiscal Outlook for Cities, Towns and Counties During COVID-19, and Its Impact on Communities – This webinar discusses how cities, towns and counties across the state are experiencing the impacts of COVID-19, the many changes to local government budget and fiscal constraints, and how communities are recovering from economic decline. Additionally, access our 2020 Local Ballot Initiative Tracker to help you follow local policy measures that may impact your organization and community. Download the presentation slides.

State of the State's Budget: The Fiscal Outlook for Colorado's State Government and Its Impact on Communities Webinar – This webinar discusses how the economic downturn that has accompanied the pandemic, also required deep cuts to programs and services funded by Colorado's state government during the recently completed 2020 legislative session. We the drastic changes in Colorado’s budget and what lies ahead in the coming years’ economic forecast. Download the presentation slides.

Colorado’s Health Equity Advocacy Ecosystem – This report reviews the results of a 2019 survey of advocacy organizations throughout Colorado about the health equity advocacy ecosystem, including: who advocates seek to serve and/or represent, who is represented and informs decisions within organizations, how advocates do their work, and what partnerships look like within the network.

Youth Behavioral Health Services in Colorado School Districts – This report examines how school districts in Colorado are funded and how those sources of revenues can be utilized to provide youth behavioral health services for students.

Developing a Strong Philanthropic Policy Advocacy Function – This brief explores how the Colorado Health Foundation has developed a policy advocacy function to influence public policy while supporting nonprofits in Colorado that advocate for and advance health equity.

Advocating for Impact Grantee Convenings and Workshops — This workshop series offers a variety of in person and webinar based trainings that provide insight into advocacy tools nonprofit organizations may use to advance their missions.

The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger — The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger is a multi-year plan to end hunger for all Coloradans. It was developed, with funding from the Colorado Health Foundation, by individuals and organizations from across the state who are working on or experiencing hunger in their own homes and communities.

Ballot Measures: Reflections and Lessons Learned — Colorado is one of 14 states that allow citizen-led initiatives to go directly on the ballot. In 2016, the Colorado ballot included numerous local and statewide ballot measures, which required substantial coalition-building and advocacy efforts. This report is a qualitative postmortem evaluation of the ballot measure life cycle, focusing on six case studies.

State Plans to End Hunger: An Opportunity for Colorado — This white paper summarizes efforts to mitigate hunger in other states. It summarizes the processes for developing the plans and the outcomes in Oregon, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Additionally, interviews with key advocates in two states are included for commentary on the process.  

Food Insecurity: How can we reduce hunger in Colorado? — This executive summary details the findings and recommendations of a scan of food insecurity in Colorado. It maps out the Colorado food security system and develop recommendations around gaps, potential opportunities and next steps.  

Physical Education and Colorado: A report on the state of PE across Colorado’s public school system — This report is a comprehensive attempt to determine the “State of PE in Colorado" by exploring current PE programs in school districts across Colorado, highlighting the barriers to improving quality PE and addressing inequities when they exist.

Harnessing the Power of Advocacy in Your Nonprofit Webinar Archive There are many opportunities for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to advance their missions by engaging in advocacy to influence public policy. In fact, advocacy can be an effective catalyst for policy changes that leverage nonprofits' program work and carve a path towards mission advancement and sustainability. This webinar,“Harnessing the Power of Advocacy in Your Nonprofit,” presented by Cara Lawrence, partner at Tierney Lawrence, LLC, guides participants through the opportunities and limitations of integrating advocacy activities into the nonprofit setting.
Download Presentation slides (Recorded Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016) 

Colorado Health Report Card — The Colorado Health Foundation publishes annual updates on the current status of health, health care and health coverage in Colorado using data provided by various sources. Produced in conjunction with the Colorado Health Institute, the Report Card provides data on 38 key health indicators in five life stages, such as prenatal care, access to health care and obesity.  

Assessing the Economic and Budgetary Impact of Medicaid Expansion in Colorado: FY 2015-16 through FY 2034-35 — This independent analysis measures the impact of Medicaid expansion on Colorado’s economy – jobs, household earnings, economic activity – and state budget. Findings reveal that in the two years since implementation, Medicaid expansion in Colorado has added 31,074 jobs, increased economic activity by $3.8 billion and raised average annual household earnings by $643. Projections out to fiscal year 2034-35 show the significant and positive effect of expansion on Colorado’s economy will continue.

ColoradoCare Legal Analysis — This objective legal analysis includes explanation of the legal mechanics of Amendment 69, a proposed November 2016 ballot initiative that would establish ColoradoCare, a new, government-operated, universal health care financing system in Colorado. The Foundation commissioned attorneys from Polsinelli to conduct an objective, third-party analysis to examine legal issues surrounding the proposed measure. The report does not consider the merits or challenges of ColoradoCare or of a single payer healthcare system more broadly. The goal of this analysis is to provide objective description of the legal mechanics of ColoradoCare to ongoing conversations around Amendment 69.

Health Care Coverage and Access for Children in Low-Income Families: Stakeholder Perspectives from California, Colorado, and Texas — This cross-state brief by Mathematica Policy Research examines health coverage and access for children in low-income families in Colorado, California and Texas. It takes an in-depth look at recent policy developments, unmet needs, along with emerging issues and opportunities.

Health Care Coverage and Access for Children in Low-Income Families: Stakeholder Perspectives from Colorado — This issue brief by Mathematica Policy Research examines the health coverage and access landscape in Colorado for children in low-income families.

 

Regulatory Comment Letters Submitted

April 10, 2023 – The Colorado Health Foundation supports the sections of the Department of Housing & Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed rule that would advance the purposes and policies of the Fair Housing Act

April 14, 2023 – The Colorado Health Foundation urges the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to adopt the primary proposals of the Federal Interagency Technical Working Group on Race and Ethnicity Standards to ensure federal data collection efforts fully, fairly and accurately reflect the country's diverse populations, particularly historically-underrepresented communities

Regulatory Comment Letters Archive

2020 Comment Letters

September 18, 2020 – The Colorado Health Foundation opposes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s proposed rule changes to "Making Admission or Placement Determinations Based on Sex in Facilities Under Community Planning and Development Housing Programs" and urges HUD to withdraw the changes

September 18, 2020 – The Colorado Health Foundation signs letter from a coalition of organizations encouraging the Polis Administration further support a fair and accurate 2020 Census

August 5, 2020 – The Colorado Health Foundation signs joint letter with around 450 philanthropic leaders alarmed by the announcement that the U.S. Department of Commerce intends to drastically cut short 2020 Census operations amid a surging coronavirus pandemic

April 21, 2020 – The Colorado Health Foundation encourages the Unites States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain the current evidence-based school nutrition standards to ensure that all children have access to foods that support their health, well-being, and learning

March 12, 2020 – The Colorado Health Foundation opposes proposed rule changes regarding Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) and urge the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) withdraw the changes

Feb. 12, 2020 – The Colorado Health Foundation opposes proposed rule to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding faith-based service providers and grantees that would obstruct Coloradans’ access to vital health and social services

Feb. 7, 2020 – The Colorado Health Foundation supports the Colorado State Board of Human Services' rules that will remove an unnecessary barrier for Coloradans who need food assistance

2018 Comment Letters

Jan. 26, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation opposes proposed rule that would weaken existing nutrition standards for the National School Lunch (NSLP) and School Breakfast Programs (SBP)

Jan. 31, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation applauds the Colorado State Board of Human Services for its recent effort to make out-of-school care programs for Colorado's children healthier and safer

March 29, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation urges withdrawal of proposed rule to expand the ability to deny care or coverage based on religious and moral conscience objections

April 5, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation and its Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger partners support the Colorado State Board of Human Services’ decision to change the eligibility thresholds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

June 28, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation encourages the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to include philanthropic organizations in a workgroup for increasing innovation and investment in the healthcare industry

July 13, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation, alongside more than 200 philanthropic organizations across the country, signs a joint statement in support of immigrant rights

July 27, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation objects to proposed regulatory changes to the Title X family planning program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Aug. 6, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation urges the U.S. Department of Commerce to remove a proposed citizenship question from its U.S. Census 2020 form

Aug. 13, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation requests that the Colorado Department of Public Safety add revised language to rules relating to the state’s School Security Disbursement Program

Sept. 10, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation commends proposed pilot project by Federal Communications Commission to expand broadband-enabled telehealth services to populations experiencing low income

Nov. 29, 2018 – Colorado Health Foundation and The Colorado Trust oppose changes to the Department of Homeland Security’s “public charge” policies as detrimental to the health and well-being of Coloradans

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