The Gilpin County Public Health Department is working on a new five-year health plan for the County. Gilpin County Public Health Coordinator Alissa Witt said they are in the information gathering stage, sending out a survey for public health needs in the County.

Witt said she has been in her position since February 2022, for about one and half years. She said the Department partners with Jefferson County and has done so for a number of years. Gilpin County does not have a nurse, but is promoting Clinica, the new health clinic in Gilpin County. She has one employee, Kalvin Decker, who investigates restaurants and septic systems.

The state requires a public health improvement plan every five years, and Gilpin County is in its fifth year of the current plan, so they are working on a new one. They are in the gathering data phase and have distributed a survey to community residents to help determine priorities for the plan.

This community health assessment is aimed at learning about the most important issues impacting the health of community members. Witt stated “Your input is very important to this process and will help the Gilpin County Public Health team to identify key health priorities to address in the next five years.” The survey is due on August 31. Surveys are available at the Gilpin County Recreation Center and the Gilpin Library, and online at Gilpin County Public Health Community Survey on surveymonkey.com.

After the information gathering stage, they will construct the five-year plan and present it to the Gilpin County Board of Health on October 12.

Witt said her department focuses on environmental health, investigations, and communicable diseases. They work with Jefferson County on mental health issues. For mental health services, patients can make appointments to come to the Human Services Building on Highway 119 across from the transfer station.

Clinica has a doctor available on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Professional Building on Highway 46. Dr. Hoyl works with patients of all ages.

Public Health is also working on Radon education. Witt noted that Gilpin County has one of the highest Radon levels in the Country. Free tests are available and grants are available to mitigate radon in homes.

If there is a wildfire or other emergency that requires residents to evacuate, Public Health will be the ones who will let people know when it is safe to return to their homes.

Gilpin County Public Health will also be giving vaccines at the Gilpin County Schools Open House School night on August 17. All students are required to have vaccines before entering school. The Department is offering required vaccines to make sure kids are ready to go back to school. You can pre-register for the vaccines by emailing gilpinpublichealth@gmail.com; they will email you a form. A parent or guardian must be present.