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Southwest Life


Tara Kiene
Position: Staff reporter

La Plata County Public Health: New name, same programs, services

On Jan. 1, La Plata County began providing the public health services that San Juan Basin Public Health had previously offered the community for 75 years of serving both Archuleta and La Pla...

Like the civil rights movement, disability rights movement persists

On Monday, we will celebrate the life and work of one of the most well-known and influential leaders of the civil rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of a group of leaders o...

Embracing change for a healthier future

As San Juan Basin Public Health prepares to permanently close its doors on Dec. 31, our community is presented with an opportunity to reflect with gratitude on past efforts and with optimism...

Colorado pay gaps extend to non-state employees

I follow the state budget very closely. Perhaps it doesn’t sound as fun as many things I could be doing – skiing, hiking, rafting, getting a root canal – but when you run a nonprofit, charit...

Big change ahead for Community Connections

We all evolve and grow. This is true both for people and organizations. The evolution of an organization is complicated. By their very nature, organizations tend toward inertia. Major change...

Don’t miss out on health coverage in 2024

The upcoming changes to Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid), Connect for Health Colorado and Colorado Connect make this year possibly the most significant Open Enrollment since the beg...

Celebrate Case Management Appreciation Week

Each year, our nation celebrates the second week of October as Case Manager Appreciation Week. If you are like most people, you might be a little vague about what exactly a case manager does...

Thriving Communities programs use social connection to promote healthy lifestyle

Did you know relationships may be as important to health as exercise and nutrition? Social connection can lower anxiety and depression, improve sleep, boost immune function, lower risk of s...

National disability provider crisis impacts local services

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a statewide gathering of disability service providers where we explored the Colorado and national trends impacting the support of people with intel...

How can we intervene when we see discrimination?

As a professional in the disabilities field and an advocate for inclusion and belonging, I tend to scroll for news related to disabilities. Sometimes, I discover happy news about businesses,...

San Juan Basin Public Health supports families

Jessica is a single, working mom who was put on bed rest in the first trimester of her pregnancy and unable to work. Newly without income, she found WIC benefits and stayed nourished through...

Public health response? SJBPH has a plan for that

Through the community health assessment, San Juan Basin Public Health examines the health of the community and provides programs and resources to keep the community healthy. Just like a pe...