Health Promotion Program at Denver Public Health

About Us

The Health Promotion Program (HPP) partners with Denver's diverse communities to promote, improve, and protect the population's health through healthy eating and active living, maternal-child health, worksite wellness, tobacco prevention and education, and injury and violence prevention programs. The HPP serves as a resource for all Denver residents and visitors, providing information, education, and empowerment to enhance healthy living and decrease disease and premature death from chronic diseases and injuries.

Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL)

The LiveWell West Denver/Westside Healthy Exercise and Nutrition (WHEN) coalition and the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities program collaborate with many community groups and organizations to promote and improve healthy eating and safe environments for active living in the Denver neighborhoods of Barnum, Barnum West, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax and Westwood.

Current HEAL projects include:

• Coordinating Safe Routes to Schools so children can walk and bike to school safely
• Working with community and school gardens to grow and offer fresh fruits and vegetables
• Supporting the promotion of breastfeeding for healthy babies
• Encouraging hospitals to offer healthy food choices
• Expanding healthy food access by promoting incentives that attract grocery stores
• Encouraging zoning for urban agriculture, community gardens and healthy corner stores
• Working with Denver Public Works to create pedestrian and bike-friendly streets
• Developing trail networks that connect parks and neighborhoods in Southwest Denver

Maternal-Child Health and Wellness

Working with multiple community-based partners, our Maternal-Child Health programs focus on improving Preconception Health(planning for a healthy pregnancy), preventing injuries and violence in Denver, providing safe routes to schools for Denver youth, and preventing teen pregnancies and teen dating violence. We utilize a positive youth-development approach to develop inherent strengths and assets in youth to promote healthy decision-making.

Worksite Wellness

The Worksite Wellness Committee is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of employees at Denver Health by implementing programs, policies and environmental changes that support healthier choices and behaviors. The Committee also facilitates the statewide Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Hospital Forum – a coalition of Colorado hospitals working to implement healthy eating and active living policies and environmental changes for patients, families, and all employees.

Tobacco Prevention and Education

The Tobacco Prevention and Education Program informs the community about tobacco use; prevents youth from smoking; promotes programs that help people quit smoking; protects people from secondhand smoke at organizations, school campuses, and multi-unit housing units; and identifies and eliminates tobacco use among various ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and low-income populations.

For help to stop smoking or stop tobacco use, contact the Colorado QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit http://www.coquitline.org/

The Health Promotion Program is not currently accepting interns.