In 2019, Yampa Valley partners reviewed the recent regional public health assessment data which indicated residents across Routt and Moffat Counties identified mental and behavioral health, substance use disorders, certain cancers, and cardiovascular disease as the most important community health issues. They knew these complex health issues could not be tackled by any one organization or sector and were committed to including consumer voice to identify solutions. Yet they weren’t sure where and how to start. 

The Civic Canopy team was engaged to work in partnership with Yampa Valley leaders to design and launch a collaborative process to create an inclusive Yampa Valley Health Consortium. Through strategy calls and in-person meetings, we provided facilitation tools and processes that supported local leaders to engage over 60 partners to:

• develop a shared strategic vision that outlined the groups guiding principles, desired results, and core strategies.
• create a dashboard of indicators that included the story behind the data from a community perspective.
• identify ways to expand engagement and authentically include the voices and perspectives most impacted by health inequities.

Initially, there were questions as to how two very different rural, underserved counties might come together as a collective Consortium. The group considered what it would take to minimize barriers to participation, acknowledge the unique assets of each community, and fully include all perspectives and voices. Based on discussions at the first Consortium meeting, partners agreed to rotate meeting location between the two counties, always offer remote participation options, and adjust meeting times so all could participate. Through the process, partners discovered while there were unique differences between the counties that were important to guide targeted strategies, there was also a shared commitment to the vision, values, and collaborative process that united consortium partners. 

Additionally, the Canopy supported the three action teams that emerged to use the Spectrum for Public Participation to assess where they were and identify goals for where they want to go in terms of engaging those most impacted in designing strategies and actions. A cross action team workgroup emerged to connect and communicate community engagement efforts. The Canopy team provides coaching support aimed at embedding continuous learning practices within consortium work with an eye to expanding inclusion throughout the process.