School of Public Health to gain from $1.5 million in grants from four Colorado foundations

Local Colorado foundations signaled ongoing support for improved community health with the announcement of a new, collaboratively funded grant to the Colorado School of Public Health.

The Caring for Colorado Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, Colorado Trust and Rose Community Foundation collaborated to donate $1.5 million to expand the School of Public Health's academic-community partnerships.

"Our ongoing partnership with the local health foundations, and their recent investment, enables us to continue supporting the health of our communities," said David Goff Jr., M.D., Ph.D., dean of the Colorado School of Public Health.

The grant will provide support to accelerate the school's move to online education for rural health professionals, build community health improvement capacity in response to the Affordable Care Act, and provide a forum for discussion on pressing public issues.

"The Colorado School of Public Health is an important partner in training Colorado’s public health work force and it represents a model of academic collaboration among three outstanding Colorado universities. The School of Public Health’s efforts are well worth this investment,” said Chris Wiant, MPH, Ph.D., president and CEO of Caring for Colorado Foundation.

The school plans to report on the grant's activities, including highlights of community activities, through the Center for Public Health Practice, publichealthpractice.org.