Local Public Health in Colorado

Local public health agencies are the frontline of Colorado's public health system.

Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs)

​Colorado has a decentralized public health system wherein each of its 64 counties are required to either operate a local public health agency or participate in a district public health agency. Currently, 56 local public health agencies, some representing multiple counties, provide a set of Core Public Health Services, and additional services customized to their community needs and resources. LPHAs are lead by a public health director, who is appointed by a local board of health. ​Local boards of health (LBOHs) provide administrative, policy, and financial oversight to their local public health agencies. 

• Learn more about LBOHs.
• Find your LPHA here. 

History of Local Public Health in Colorado

To understand how Colorado’s governmental public health system is changing, it is important to know our history and how our system has developed over time. This brief history, adapted from the 1969 publication “Health in Colorado: The First One Hundred Years” and most recently revised in 2021, provides key insight into our current and evolving system of public health​. Read it here. Some historic system turning points: 

• 1877 - Colorado State Board of Health established. Learn more about the CO State Board of Health.
• 1947 - Dr. Florence Sabin lobbies CO legislature to form a state public health system, establishing the state health department (now CO Department of Public Health & Environment)
• 2006 - 2007 - CALPHO founded and forms the Public Health Alliance to build a better public health system.
• 2008 - CALPHO and allies lobby successfully for the Public Health Act, establishing combined local public & environmental health agencies and requiring regular Community Health Assessments and Public Health Improvement Plans.
• 2020 - 2023: COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the public health systems and its workforce, yet also highlights their dedication, creativity, and patriotism. Staggering U.S. mortality revives advocacy to address chronic under-funding of public health. 
• 2018 - present: CALPHO and allies building public health transformation movement concerned with improving funding, workforce, and data capacities. 

Dr. Florence Sabin sculpture in U.S. Capitol