Empowering communities
Rocky Mountain Health Plans Invests $12 Million in Support of Colorado’s Underserved Populations
Too often we hear stories about the lack of attention, care, and opportunity offered to many of our fellow Coloradans, including LGBTQ+, Native American, rural and youth populations who often face hardships most could never imagine.
In a groundbreaking initiative, Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP), part of the UnitedHealthcare family, has pledged its commitment to uplift these communities through substantial investments in organizations addressing the distinct needs of our communities.
Between November 2022 and October 2023, RMHP infused over $12 million from Regional Accountable Entity funds into initiatives designed to expand access to healthcare and amplify community support throughout Colorado. One hundred and thirty organizations received support during this period.
Through a $75,000 donation from RMHP, Raise the Future, a Denver-based non-profit working to reduce the amount of time youth in foster care live without a permanent family, hosted a Therapeutic Family Camp for children and their caregivers in July 2023. Consider Boulder Valley Schools’ Impact on Education Foundation, which received $56,000 from RMHP to establish and maintain youth mental health Wellness Centers in high schools. Monarch High School’s Wellness Center, during its pilot year, recorded over 6,500 visits, with more than 50% of the student body utilizing this newfound resource.
A notable $320,000 commitment was extended to Loving Beyond Understanding, fueling initiatives that foster LGBTQ+ support groups, provider training and educational resources to help ensure LGBTQ+ receive culturally competent care. Patrick Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain Health Plans, emphasizes the urgency of addressing the alarming statistic that LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience depression than their peers.
With a $200,000 donation, the Western Slope Native American Resource Center (WSNARC) has emerged as a beacon of support for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) families living on the Western Slope. Because of a lack of culturally competent resources, navigating healthcare and government programs can be cumbersome. This one-stop resource center provides access to programs and resources to help AI/AN families access support services.
In addition, RMHP supported other organizations, including Mental Health Colorado, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, Hunger Free Colorado, Resilient Colorado, and Northern Colorado Health Partnership.
The significance of the work carried out by these organizations cannot be overstated. They advocate for Colorado’s underserved communities, transforming adversity into opportunity, and fostering a sense of unity that reverberates through both large and small communities across the state.
Rocky Mountain Health Plans, through its unwavering dedication and substantial investments, is sowing the seeds of change, ensuring that no Coloradan is left behind. As we witness the transformative impact of these investments, it becomes clear that a healthier Colorado is not just a vision but a tangible reality, one community at a time.
Through strategic investments like these, RMHP works to not just support underserved populations, but also empower them to rise, thrive, and build a future filled with promise and possibilities. For more information, visit uhccs.com/healthyco.
Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP), part of the UnitedHealthcare family, has pledged its commitment to uplift these communities through substantial investments in organizations addressing the distinct needs of our communities.