Other Reports

Health starts where we live, learn, work, and play. And we know that the condition in which we live and/or work can have an impact on our health. This report, A Look at Health and Its Determinants Across Weld County, a Community Health Assessment Report(DOCX, 14MB), provides an update on our population’s health overall and looks at the relationship between health and some of the determinants of health that influence residents’ health.

Health determinants are factors, upstream from personal health behaviors and genetics, that influence individual health status. Factors like income, housing, education, employment, sense of belonging (i.e. being connected to family, friends, and community), and our early years often are linked with difference in health outcomes and lifespan. Opportunities for better health increase when differences in these social factors are addressed.

Housing is a fundamental need that provides a safe and stable place where individuals and families can thrive. The 2023 Housing Needs Assessment provides a comprehensive overview of the housing market, economic and demographic trends, and the current status of housing options offered in Weld County. The information provided can be used to guide how much and what type of housing is produced through comprehensive plans, development codes, housing policies, incentives, and other programs to ensure housing stock is being produced that aligns with the needs of the community. This assessment helps to answer the following questions:

• Who lives and works in Weld County and what are their demographic and economic characteristics?
• What types of housing are currently available in Weld County?
• Which groups of people have a more difficult time finding housing that is affordable, and meets their life circumstances?
• How much and what type of housing is needed to meet current and future housing needs?

Following an initial analysis of results from the 2022 Weld Community Health Survey, the Health Department, in partnership with Sunrise Community Health and North Range Behavioral Health, contracted with the Colorado Health Institute to conduct a series of focus groups on general healthcare access and behavioral healthcare access. Listening to residents’ experiences of accessing care in Weld County provided additional insight into quantitative findings from the survey, including barriers to accessing care. Residents’ lived experiences are an important aspect of the county’s health assessment process and its overall effort to improve the health of our communities.

 Focus Groups Summary of Findings(PDF, 7MB)   

Between July and September 2020, the Health Department conducted a follow-up survey (in English(PDF, 1MB) and Spanish(PDF, 1MB)) of households that previously participated in the 2019 Weld Community Health Survey. The purpose of this survey was to understand the impacts of COVID-19 and capture important changes in resident’s health and health determinants resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 1,986 households invited to participate in the follow-up survey, 1,063 usable responses were received so direct comparisons could be made. The 2020 sample was weighted to be representative of the adult population in Weld County. After analyzing the responses, we created a key findings presentation(PDF, 918KB) to summarize what we learned.