Fernandez-Ely: The safety-net our community needs

As the county judge in Pitkin County for 21 years, I discovered that the Healthy Community Fund is the lifeblood of health and human services in Pitkin County. We are extremely fortunate to have it.  

For the past four years, I have been on the board of Community Health Services (CHS), a 54-year-old non-profit, that provides public health services for the community. I can happily report that every dollar the Healthy Community Fund puts into prevention and early detection averts far costlier emergency and hospital care downstream, and because it is locally governed, the dollars stay in Pitkin County, accountable to the county’s priorities.   

But, most importantly, are the people, such as a 32-year-old woman (below federal poverty level) whose routine exam led to an early breast cancer diagnosis and a good outcome.  There are legions of stories like hers, including some that have curtailed the spread of contagious diseases. 

Since the changes in insurance accessibility, CHS has had a surge in demand for breast and cervical cancer screening, family planning, a school based dental and workplace biometric screening, contraceptives, vaccines, tuberculosis and other diagnostics. We are busy, open and fully staffed due to the Healthy Community Fund, the safety-net our community needs and believes in. 

Please support the renewal of the very successful Healthy Community Fund. Vote “yes” on 1A.

Erin Fernandez-Ely 

Basalt