2017 Community Benefit Report CHAI_160088756_2018-11_2017 Community Benefit Repo | Page 14

2017 COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO
Our Own Backyard
Partnering to improve access and coverage for Aurora’s kids
Aurora is a diverse, growing city of over 366,000 people, with kids ages 0 to 19 making up
almost 30 percent of its population. To keep these 100,000+ kids healthy and give them the
best chance for a long and successful life, it’s critical they have access to regular, preventive
healthcare services.
Aurora Health Alliance* (AHA) has served this community for nine years, with a mission to
create a healthier Aurora, focusing on the most vulnerable and underserved residents.
As a founding member of AHA, Children’s Hospital Colorado has been a longtime dedicated
partner, working with AHA to improve access, expand coverage and build collaboration in the
community, particularly for Aurora’s kids.
“Children’s Colorado is a key stakeholder in Aurora’s health infrastructure,” says Denise
Denton, AHA Executive Director. “Not only does it provide excellent care for all our children,
but it’s a partner in understanding and addressing social determinants of health in our
families, schools and community.”
Care for every kid
A key element of the partnership involves co-hosting the Aurora Kids Convening every other
year, which started in 2013 to bring together community stakeholders around the health of
Aurora’s kids. The Convening examines recent data to see how the city is doing compared to
the state and other communities, provides opportunities to learn more about key challenges
the city faces and the many resources our community offers, and explores ways to work
together to improve the health of Aurora’s kids.
The 2017 Aurora Kids Convening attracted over 100 attendees and had a special focus on
Aurora’s refugee kids, discipline in schools and fostering healthy babies and strong families.
Denise says, “We are grateful — Aurora is grateful — that every child here can get the care
they need, regardless of their background or ability to pay.”
“We are grateful — Aurora is grateful — that every
child here can get the care they need, regardless of
their background or ability to pay.”
D E N I S E D E N T O N , AU R O R A H E A LT H A L L I A N C E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R
*Aurora Health Alliance recently changed its name from Aurora Health Access
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*Note: Aurora Health Alliance recently changed its name from Aurora Health Access.
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