CO-CARES

Bridging the gap between healthcare workers and supportive resources...
Healthcare workers in a line
Young man receiving vaccine from public health worker
Two EMS workers at back of ambulance

...Because sustainable work requires sustainable people.

CO-CARES 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment proudly launched the CO-CARES initiative to support the health care workers who helped Colorado through the pandemic and continue helping every day. 

CO-CARES is for health care workers of all kinds including: Clinical and non-clinical staff at hospitals, long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, emergency medical service providers, public health, coroners, funeral home employees, emergency managers, behavioral health community providers, home health care, and more.

Everyone handles stress differently. Many of us in the health care sector are still recovering, and some are just beginning their recovery. Everyone — from the bedside to support services to executive leadership — deserves to prioritize their wellbeing.

Want to learn more? Call our Resource Support Line at 303-692-2642, or read about what CO-CARES can do for you and your workplace.


Connect with CO-CARES

Contact us so we can help make getting support as easy as possible. Our team is focused on supporting you and your colleagues through the process of connecting to resources. In addition to personal resources, we consult with managers and leaders about the best tools, programs, and services for your team or organization.

To get started, call our Resource Support Line: 303-692-2642. You can also schedule a virtual meeting via Google Meet with the CO-CARES team. We have time slots spanning from 10 to 45 minutes. If you are unable to meet any of the times listed in the calendar, we are happy to set a time that would work best for you. We can accommodate conversations in multiple languages. To request accommodations for specific offerings or trainings, or for questions about accessibility, email cdphe_healthcareworkersupport@state.co.us.


What CO-CARES offers

Below are examples of meetings and trainings available to health care workers, including managers and leaders in the health care sector.

Greater Resilience Information Toolkit training

GRIT was developed by the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and trains participants to promote wellness and resilience in the wake of stress or disasters. Strengthening coping and spreading support can have a positive impact on healing and resilience for everyone.

The healthcare industry is often disproportionately impacted by stress. Social support and coping skills are important in combating stress and burnout. The GRIT-4Health course provides helpful information on connecting with peers in the healthcare industry, supporting strengths, coping, and resilience. Learn more and sign up for GRIT-4Health training.

Joy in Work webinars 

This seven-part webinar series guides supervisors, managers, and leaders at all levels through the Joy in Work toolkit from National Association of County and City Health Officials. In addition to making valuable peer connections, participants will learn workable strategies to increase joy in the workplace, reduce burnout, and promote more resilient work environments. Sessions will be held virtually and recorded. Learn more and sign up for the Joy in Work webinars.

Psychological First Aid training

Psychological First Aid is built on the concept of human resilience. This two-hour training, open to all health care workers, uses an evidence-informed approach to help you better recognize, understand, and mitigate symptoms of psychological distress among people of any age or background. PFA trainings will be held virtually and participants will receive PFA training certification. Learn more and sign up for PFA training.

Resilience roundtable discussions 

These roundtable discussions bring health care leaders at all levels together to discuss pressing issues, build relationships, and share ideas and best practices. Meeting in small groups, participants will have space to acknowledge the challenges of the healthcare field, gain insights into new processes, foster collaboration, and troubleshoot problems with others who have shared experiences. Roundtables are currently virtual. Learn more and sign up for resilience roundtable discussions.

TRAILS Ambassador program

Join the Team of Resilient Ambassadors Innovating and Leading Support and Sustainability to make a difference! As a TRAILS member, you will have the opportunity to attend monthly team meetings, educational opportunities, and leadership training to help you foster resilience in your workplace. TRAILS will launch in May with a variety of virtual and in-person opportunities, in addition to monthly meetings and a newsletter. Learn more and sign up to join TRAILS.

Resources

 

Scroll through the table below to find resources that may be useful to you, or use the filters to narrow down your search. While some resources may be popular with certain audiences, feel free to explore any resource that you think would be helpful to you. 

**If you have a resource that is not on this list, and you think it should be shared, suggest it here.**
 

If you're in crisis or need to talk to someone immediately, call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional.