Colorado Health Network Celebrates 35th Anniversary

The Colorado Health Network recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, reflecting on the network’s success and its passion to continue succeeding. The event was held at the CHN’s own site, offering tours of the food bank kitchen as well as the opportunity to hear three guest speakers, one being CEO Darrel Vigil.

The organization’s mission statement circulated on a TV screen at the front of the room before the guests spoke, stating that the CHN has “sought to innovatively and equitably meet the evolving needs of individuals in Colorado living with and at risk of acquiring HIV and other health conditions. Colorado Health Network is a statewide organization and currently serves over 5,250 individuals living with HIV by providing a broad spectrum of holistic support services including medical and oral health care, case management, behavioral health services, housing assistance, nutrition services, and emergency financial assistance.”

In recent years, the CHN has served as a “one-stop shop” for a wide spectrum of care services for those in need.

Having been a member of the CHN for 20 years and in the position of CEO for 10, Vigil reflects on his past firsthand experience with loss due to HIV/AIDS and says that being a part of a program that is both preventative and reactive has truly been a life changing experience.

“A lot of the folks that come to us for services are facing some sort of barrier to treatment and care, and when they’re thinking about those challenges in life, they are not as focused on their own personal HIV treatment and care,” he says. “Our services are designed to eliminate those barriers so that they can regain that health in their lives. Anyone who has an HIV diagnosis today should get into treatment and care to live a normal life because that is possible today.”

CHN also works to prevent the spread of HIV through testing, promoting treatment as prevention and providing PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) services. The organization takes pride in their wide scope of education and prevention services that truly focus on meeting clients where they are in order to cater a treatment that is unique and fit to their needs. Additionally, CHN provides other health-related services including a sterile needle access/exchange program, insurance and medical enrollment services.

Photo courtesy of Colorado Health Network