Did you know over 20% of adults in Colorado reported excessive drinking in the past 30 days? Colorado is near the bottom of the pack, ranking 45 out of the 50 states in rates of excessive drinking.
What is excessive drinking? Also known as binge drinking, excessive drinking means having four or more drinks on one occasion for women, or five or more drinks for men. Excessive drinking can lead to immediate negative health effects, like injuries, violence, and poisoning. Over time, excessive drinking can lead to chronic illnesses like cancer, liver disease, heart disease, and stroke.
Strategies to drink less include setting thoughtful limits, counting your drinks, managing triggers that might lead to unplanned or excessive drinking, and enlisting support from friends and family. The CDC’s Make a Plan to Drink Less tool can help you develop strategies to stay safe and healthy.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
In 2023, there were 4,511 reports of child maltreatment in Douglas County. Parenting is hard for everyone, so it’s okay to look for resources and information. Learn more about the protective factors to prevent child abuse, the signs of abuse, and who to contact with concerns.
Research has shown there are five protective factors that can strengthen families and build brighter childhoods:
Parental resilience: stress and adversity management
Social connections: supportive, positive relationships
Concrete support in times of need: access to support and services
Knowledge of parenting and child development: understanding physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development of children
Social and emotional competence of Children: regulation of emotions and development of relationships in children
Learn the signs. When is a bruise accidental and when is it not? A bruised knee can be a simple sign of childhood fun, yet not all bruising is accidental. Research has shown that bruising is the most common injury to be overlooked by professionals as the preceding injury to abusive head trauma or death. If you have children in your family, or work with children, you should be aware of these early warning signs:
Bruising on babies who cannot walk or crawl (usually under 4 months old) is never normal.
For children older than 4 months, be aware of bruising to the tummy, ears, neck, or soft part of the cheek (below the cheek bone) – places children could not accidently fall on or injure themselves.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call 303-663-6270 or 1-844-CO4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437). You can learn more about Douglas County’s Child Welfare services.
The Community Health Division of Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) focuses on building awareness of physical and behavioral healthcare conditions that most greatly impact the health and well-being of Douglas County residents. Topics include chronic disease prevention, healthy aging and fall prevention, maternal and child health, substance misuse, suicide prevention, STI/HIV/Viral Hepatitis (VH) prevention and education, and tobacco education and cessation.
In addition to education, the Community Health Division is responsible for providing clinical services to community members (immunizations, reproductive health visits, STI testing, etc.), through partnerships with community organizations. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is a critical program for pregnant women and families with children under age 5 that is administered through this Division.
Chronic disease prevention is a public health priority identified in the Community Health Assessment and Public Health Improvement Plan. The Douglas County Health Department is committed to the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Chronic disease leads to a reduction in both quality of life and lifespan. However, many chronic diseases can be prevented through lifestyle modifications including maintaining a healthy diet, staying physically active, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, and effectively managing stress.
The Title V Maternal and Child Health Program (MCH) is a national program that supports local public health agencies to improve the health and well-being of families through prevention and early intervention strategies.
Douglas County Health Department has prioritized promoting social emotional wellbeing in Douglas County by ensuring children, youth, and families have the resources and supports needed to build individual and community resilience.
The health department commissioned a community scan to identify existing resources, gaps, and barriers to accessing resources. This scan informs our strategy to support families with children and youth with special healthcare needs. Read the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs: Landscape Scan to learn about successes and opportunities in Douglas County.
DCHD is collaborating with Douglas County Human Services, Douglas County Mental Health Initiative, and the Douglas County Early Childhood Council to support:
Douglas County’s Child Maltreatment Prevention Plan
Maternal Mental Health
Early Childhood System Initiatives
We are convening focus group and stakeholder meetings in 2023 and would love your voice! If you are a community partner, hospital, family, or individual who is interested in providing feedback into this work, please email [email protected].
Help is just a phone call or text away! Expecting and new parents who feel overwhelmed or are experiencing depression and anxiety, as well as their loved ones, should reach out to the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) by call or text for support and resources. Help is just a phone call or text away.
The Douglas County Health Department Maternal and Child Health program works to improve the social and emotional well-being of families in our community by providing access to free books through two Little Free Libraries.Borrow or donate books by visiting one of the Little Free Library locations:
Douglas County Health Department in Castle Rock at 410 Wilcox Street
Douglas County Health Department in Lone Tree at 9350 Heritage Hills Circle
Nurse Family Partnership
Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) is a voluntary, community health home visitation program for women who are expecting their first baby. The program supports mothers of any age in having a healthy pregnancy and provides education needed for successful parenting.
The Arapahoe County Public Health Department began supporting Douglas County residents who are part of the Nurse Family Partnership in January 2023. You may complete an online form or contact their program directly:
Did you know, 9 out of 10 people who abuse or are addicted to nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs began using before they were 18 years old? Those individuals who began substances before 15 years of age are seven times more likely to develop an addiction.
Substance use is the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including illicit drugs, and misused prescription drugs. It also includes binge drinking.
Binge drinking is having five or more drinks on one occasion (for males) and four or more drinks on one occasion (females) within the past 30 days.
Did you know that in Douglas County, 15.8% of adults report binge drinking in the past 30 days and 13.5% of high school students had 5 or more drinks within a couple of hours on one or more days in the last 30 days?
It’s okay to ask for help!
No matter your age or your struggle, help is available. Find a treatment facility near you at FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357). This national helpline is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
If you are struggling with opioid addiction (heroin or pain relievers), you can:
Naloxone is a medication used to reverse the effects of opioids. It is used to prevent death in individuals experiencing opioid overdose. Request Naloxone and Fentanyl test strips from the Douglas County Health Department.
One in 10 adults (18 years and older) in Douglas County reported that their mental health was not good for 14 or more days during the previous 30 days.
The percentage of high school students who felt so sad or hopeless that they stopped doing usual activities almost every day for two or more consecutive weeks during the last 12 months was 30.9%.
Mental health-related issues were the leading cause of hospitalization (2,389.7 per 100,000).
Deaths by suicide were more common than alcohol-induced deaths in the County.
Colorado Quitline – Free coaching and support for users of any age. Call 1-800-QUITNOW for more information.
My Life My Quit – Free smoking and vaping resources specifically for youth. Text “Start My Quit” to 36072 to chat with a coach.
Tobacco Free CO – Online resource for individuals who are thinking about quitting, ready to quit, or want to support someone who is trying to quit.
To report a public establishment that does not enforce a smoke-free policy, the sale of tobacco products to minors, or secondhand smoke in a public apartment building, complete the online smoking violation report form.
Women Infants and Children (WIC)
Douglas County has established its own WIC program to support residents in Douglas and Elbert Counties. Please see our WIC Page for more information.
Clinical Health Services
If you received clinical services from Tri-County Health Department and are seeking medical records, contact Arapahoe County Public Health at 303-795-4584.
Family Planning and Sexual Health Services
Family planning and sexual health services include:
Annual Exams
Birth Control
Cervical Cancer Screening
Clinical Breast Exams
Long Active Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) Insertion/Removal
Pregnancy Testing
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), HIV, and Hepatitis C Testing
Douglas County residents may call the following providers for family planning and sexual health services:
Doctor’s Care:
609 West Littleton Blvd, Ste 100
Littleton, CO 80120
Call 303-730-1313or visit the visit the Doctors Care website to learn more about their services for under or uninsured residents.
Call 303-295-2288 in advance to schedule an appointment or use this online form to request an appointment. Alternatives Pregnancy Center also offers free pregnancy testing and limited pregnancy ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy, check fetal heartbeat, and determine due date.
Healthy Aging and Fall Prevention
The Douglas County Health Department is committed to providing person-centered, comprehensive care that supports overall health and wellbeing to its aging residents. The care continuum begins with outreach and education to support healthy aging.
The Douglas County Health Department is providing education on chronic disease, fall prevention and mental wellness to individuals, groups, and organizations through its Community Health Educators and in partnerships with Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Community Resource team and South Metro Fire Rescue. If you or your organization are interested in scheduling a presentation, please reach out to [email protected].
Immunization Services
If you are looking for immunization records from Tri-County Health Department (TCHD), contact Arapahoe County Public Health at 303-734-4584.
STRIDE Community Health Center offers immunizations for qualified residents. Call 303-7STRIDE (303-778-7433) or visit the STRIDE website to find locations near Douglas County.
Doctors Care at 609 West Littleton Blvd, Ste 100, Littleton, CO 80120 also offers health care for under or uninsured residents. The cost for services is based on income and some services may have no cost. Immunizations are provided at no charge to individuals who are uninsured or on Medicaid. To learn more, visit the Doctors Care website or call 303-730-1313.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has an interactive map where you can search for local providers in any county that may provide free or low-cost vaccines. Please call ahead to confirm whether there are any costs for vaccinations. Use the map to search for providers for child vaccines, adult vaccines, and annual flu shots.
What vaccines do I need?
The CDC’s Child and Adolescent Vaccine Assessment Toolprovides a list of vaccines your child or teen may need based on your answers to 7 simple questions. You can also refer to the immunization schedules below:
In Douglas County, the rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea infection are increasing. Routine testing for STIs, and testing if you believe you may have an STI, are available at the following locations:
Alternatives Pregnancy Center (23 Inverness Way East, Suite 101b, Englewood, CO 80112) offers services to women. Men may be seen for treatment if their partner was diagnosed at Alternatives Pregnancy Center. Call 303-295-2288 in advance to schedule an appointment or use this online form to request an appointment.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment offers a free at-home test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis C. Visit their website to order a free test, and complete and return within 30 days. Solicite una prueba the VIH en el hogar.
Douglas County Health Department also offers rapid HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI testing in non-clinical settings. If your organization would like to schedule a testing event, please email [email protected].
