Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. While a doctor treats people who are sick, those of us working in public health try to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. We also promote wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors. From conducting scientific research to educating about health, people in the field of public health work to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy. That can mean vaccinating children and adults to prevent the spread of disease. Or educating people about the risks of alcohol and tobacco. Public health sets safety standards to protect workers and develops school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food. Public health works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. The many facets of public health include speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seatbelts, spreading the word about ways to stay healthy and giving science-based solutions to problems. Public health: saves money, improves our quality of life, helps children thrive and reduces human suffering.
Communicable diseases are contagious illnesses that can be spread from person-to-person, through contact with animals or insects, or through contaminated food or water. This includes serious diseases such as E. coli, Salmonella, hepatitis A, meningitis, and whooping cough (pertussis). When certain diseases are reported to public health, we work hard to determine where a person gets sick and try to prevent further spread of illness. We also work to prevent the occurrence of diseases in our community through education of our residents.
Colorado public health departments are mandated through Colorado Senate Bill 194-Health Reauthorization Act to complete a comprehensive community health assessment every five years. Community Health Assessments look at various health data points to determine where health problems exist and what contributes to those problems. Bent County Public Health (BCPH) partners with various organizations and individuals in the community to complete community health assessments. In 2012, BCPH completed the first assessment to meet this requirement. Bent County Public Health recently completed the 2025 assessment; this is the first assessment done in partnership with Otero and Baca County making it a Tri-County Health Assessment. This process involves gathering data and asking for input and feedback from community members and leaders. Once priorities are identified through the assessment, a five-year Community Health Improvement Plan is created outlining what will be done to address the priorities.
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Bent County Public Health’s EPR program participates in efforts to prevent, respond, and recover from emergencies that impact public health. These emergencies can be natural (wildfires, blizzards, flooding), disease outbreaks (pandemic influenza, West Nile virus, or meningococcal disease) or man-made (acts of terrorism or hazardous materials spill). In order to do this, Public Health trains with first-responder agencies and other partners (FEMA, Homeland Security, and Others) to be better prepared to protect the public.
Be Prepared
Preparedness information is available at the following websites: www.readycolorado.com www.cdc.gov www.fema.gov www.redcross.org
Bent County Public Health contracts with Prowers County Public Health for all services listed below.
Prowers County Contact Number: 1(719) 336-8721
Active Public Health Inspection Programs (these inspections are public record)
Retail Food
Restaurants/Grocery Stores/Convenience Stores/Others
Licensing/Renewals/Plan Reviews/Real-a-state Reviews
Childcare Facilities
Schools
General sanitation/lab and vocational safety
Public/Semi-Public Swimming Pools
Complaint-based Public Health Investigations/Inspections
Public Accommodations
Hotels, motels, boarding houses
Temporary Food Events
Body Art
Artificial Tanning
Unsanitary conditions that affect the community and pose a risk of “DISEASE TRANSMISSION” in the community. This is a high threshold.
Please first contact your local government for enforcement of local code violations.
We DON’T enforce or have the authority to enforce local code violations or force compliance in single residences with landlords, unless it affects the community.
Call4All Legal Clinic; 3rd Wednesday of every month from 5-7:30pm; 844-404-7400
Other/Miscellaneous Environmental Investigations/Duties
Foodborne Illness investigations with Health Department
Complaints on any of the previously mentioned areas above
Enforcement of on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) regulations and non-permitted systems after 1976 installed systems
Tobacco Free Bent County supports the 2020 Goals of the Tobacco Education Prevention and Cessation Grant Program to increase tobacco cessation, reduce initiation of tobacco use, decrease tobacco prevalence among youth and decrease exposure to secondhand smoke.
Bent County Public Health focuses on several different targeted populations, such as:
With many different GOAL areas such as:
Partnering with surrounding agencies to increase the amount of QUITLINE referrals