Committees

The Colorado Health Care Association & Center for Assisted Living is a great resource for our members because of the professionals we represent. Each month, several committees meet on topics ranging from Nursing and QIL, to Human Resources and Public Relations. These committees serve the greater good by sharing information, ideas, and finding new answers to tough questions in Colorado long term care.

To learn about joining any of our committees, please contact Cheryl Strong: cstrong@cohca.org

Activities Professionals Council

The role of the activities professional has evolved over the past few years into one of the most instrumental roles in health care communities today. Culture Change and care and practice reform for individuals living with dementia has had a dramatic effect on the way activities professionals support their residents today. This committee strives to keep members abreast of changing professional standards as well as provide support for quality programs and innovations in long term care communities.
Chair: Amy Goeglein
@ CHCA – Third Tuesday – Every Other Month – 2:30pm-4pm – January, March, May, July, September, November

Colorado Center for Assisted Living

Works to monitor proposed legislation and regulations for assisted living facilities. Assists Education Committee in developing educational sessions geared toward assisted living providers.
Chair: Susan Reimer
@ CHCA – Second Wednesday – Every Other Month – February, April, June, August, October, December

Education Committee

The CHCA/CCAL Education Committee is reflective of our dedication to providing high quality education for our members and their employees. This committee, led by Chair Sarah Schumann and CHCA VP of Operations Bonita Jones, focuses its efforts on creating and attracting new and innovative education programs for our slate of offerings during the year in Denver, for our high-tech Digital Classroom for our rural members around the state, and our Spring Conference and Fall Convention.
Chair: Sarah Schumann
@CHCA – Second Tuesday – Every Month – 11am-12:30pm 

Governmental Policy Council

Works to monitor all proposed legislation (State & Federal) affecting Long Term Care; organizes lobbying efforts as needed. Monitors any proposed changes in Medicaid Reimbursement.
Chair: Jay Moskowitz
@ CHCA – Dependent on CHCA Board of Directors schedule 

Human Resources Professional Council

New to CHCA this year is a monthly Human Resources Professional Council. Their goals include collaboration on human resources best practices as well as the professional development of its members. Topics vary and may include: recruiting, workforce development, employment policies, employee relations, total rewards, employment law, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
Chair: Erin Lawless
First Thursday – 2:30-4pm – Monthly – Various Locations

Medicaid Provider Collaborative Committee

The goal of the Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living Medicaid Provider Collaborative Committee is to create a forum for provider’s to voice their concerns and struggles with Medicaid determination and reimbursement.  The committee aggregates the struggles and resulting questions from across the state to bring to the attention of state government to work towards an agreeable solution.  The committee also allows for Medicaid providers from different entities across the membership to share ideas, tips and advice from past experiences in each county.
Chair: Jennifer Manchego-Pena
Third Tuesdsay – 1pm-2:30pm – Monthly – @CHCA

Nurse Executive Council

Long-term care nurse executives network with and educate nurse managers on current clinical management and survey standards, while keeping abreast of pertinent regulatory and legislative issues.
Chair: Janielle Finch
Second Thursday – 8:30-10:00am – Every month (starting January 2017) – @CHCA

Nutritional Professionals Council

This group works to empower dietary and culinary professionals in Colorado through education, information, and networking, and to ensure high quality dietary and culinary programs to long term care residents. Chair: Amy Chiaro
Second Thursday – 10:30am-12pm – Every Other Month – February, April, June, August, October, December – @CHCA

Public Relations

Tackling everything from social media to crisis communications, the Public Relations Committee at CHCA is here to ensure the long term care industry in Colorado is consistently putting its best foot forward.
Chair: Nancy Schwalm
Third Tuesday – 10-11:30am – Quarterly – January, April, August, November (no meeting in November 2017) – @CHCA

Quality Initiatives and Leadership

The Quality Initiatives and Leadership Committee (QIL) has adopted the AHCA Quality Initiative Goals for Colorado. Through education, support and guidance QIL will be focused on improving quality in Colorado nursing homes and assisted living communities. The committee has chosen some focus areas, staff stability, Quality Awards and unintended health care outcomes to name a few, that will drive CHCA committee work over the next couple of years and further our overarching goal of supporting the great work that goes on every day in our Colorado communities.
Chair: Beth Williams
Second Tuesday – 1:30-3pm – Every Other Month – January, March, May, July, September, November – @CHCA

Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee

The Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee works to ensure that all members of CHCA/CCAL are well-informed on updates to policy, new regulations from the state and federal level, both with OSHA and Medicare. This committee welcomes all comers, but meetings are particularly useful for maintenance and facilities staff, management, and security personnel.
Chair: Bruce Schmidt
First Wednesday – Every Other Month (beginning in March) – 11am-12:30pm

Social Services Conference Group

The Social Services Conference Group works to empower Social Services staff in Colorado through education, information, and networking.  Their primary goal is to provide high quality psychosocial support to long-term care residents and their families.  In addition to designing and presenting CHCA’s annual Social Services Certification course, the group tackles relevant topics in their bi-monthly meetings, including MDS & care planning, mental illness, antipsychotic medications, transportation, end of life decisions, effective resident councils, survey readiness, to name a few.
Chair: Tara Acklam
Second Tuesday – 8am-9:30am – Every Other Month – Various Locations