New Reports, New Employees, New Work

Did you know that lesbian, gay or bisexual Coloradans are nearly twice as likely as heterosexual Coloradans to report that they’ve experienced eight or more days of poor mental health in the past month?

That was one of the findings in “Colorado’s Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community: A Spotlight on Health Disparities,” a report by Research Analyst Tamara Keeney based on first-ever Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS) data. It was released on Thursday, and we’re seeing lots of interest. Make sure you check it out.

Last week marked a first in Colorado Health Institute history, when three new employees started on the same day. We are proud to welcome three smart, committed and accomplished women, Jessica Fern, Allie Morgan and Nina Roumell, to the team. Here’s a bit about each of them.

• Jessica, a policy analyst, just earned her master’s degree in public policy, with a focus on health policy, from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She was a Presidential Administrative Fellow, working in the university’s Office of Government and Community Relations. Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology, with a minor in political science, from GWU, graduating summa cum laude. She’s originally from Chicago. Fun Fact: Jessica is a country music fan, especially Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.
• Allie, a policy analyst, recently earned her master’s degree in public administration with a certificate in economic development from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and environmental studies from Carleton College in Minnesota. She has worked as a teacher and tutor at Boston’s Match Charter High School and in development at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute science museum, where she researched and wrote grant proposals, reports, newsletters, and executive speeches during the closing phase of a $64.7 million capital campaign. Allie also has worked with a public sector-focused consulting company, a civic engagement organization for young professionals and a STEM enrichment program for urban students. She is a proud Fort Collins native. Fun fact: Her favorite Colorado place is Steamboat Springs covered in snow.
• Nina, a research analyst, graduated from Colorado College a year ago and was a public interest fellow at the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative before joining us. She has a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and has spent time in India studying the effectiveness of a government initiative in combating malnutrition among children. She is from Washington, D.C. Fun fact: Her favorite movie is “Wet Hot American Summer” because it reminds her of happy times at summer camp.

Meanwhile, on the work front, we’re in the process of finalizing a number of publications, including several based on CHAS data. We will be reporting on why Coloradans don’t have health insurance, a particularly important topic as the state readies for the next open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act later this year. We also will delve into newly available Medicaid data, look at statewide efforts to integrate primary and behavioral health care and examine the state of telehealth in Colorado.