Who We Are and Who We Serve

The Silver Thread Public Health District serves the communities of Mineral and Hinsdale counties, including Creede and Lake City. We help residents and visitors to the counties we serve with the health information, programs, services, and resources, they need to enjoy full, healthy lives.

What We Stand For

Our Mission Statement

We are committed to eliminating barriers to health and wellness for all, building resilience, and empowering our community to live a healthy life through education, support, and access.

Our Values

• Integrity/Accountability
• Community-Centered
• Empowerment
• Holistic Health
• Education/Self-Reflection
• Health Equity

Our Commitment to Health Equity

Whoever you are, wherever you come from, whoever you pray to or vote for, whoever you love, however you look on the outside, whatever abilities and disabilities you hold in your body, we are committed to the Silver Thread Public Health District being a place where you can thrive.

Health equity is when everyone has the opportunity to thrive and live a healthy life. Achieving health equity requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including: powerlessness, lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care.

Working towards health equity involves eliminating health inequities and inequitable access to healthcare and wellness. This is especially true for those who have historically faced health inequities based on race/ethnicity, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, poverty, geography/transportation, citizenship status, or religion/beliefs.

Silver Thread Public Health is committed to creating a culture of belonging for everyone.

We’ve been busy!
Click to see what the STPHD staff has been up to lately.

Staff Spotlight

Our Staff Spotlights are a fun way to introduce the awesome people who help make everything we do possible. We share a bit about their roles, what they love about their work, and some fun facts you might not know. It’s our way of saying thanks and helping you get to know the great folks behind the scenes!

Meet the people who make it all happen

Janet Leslie (Reynolds)

How long have you lived in your community?
I started living here part-time in 2015 and became a full-time resident in 2018.

What other roles have you served in your community?
Mostly, I’ve been involved in the music scene, playing with Rivertown Folk. I also worked at the K-Belle, where I had the chance to meet a lot of people through all three of these roles.

Short description of what you do at STPHD:
I primarily manage our Food Pantry, working to provide healthier, tastier, and more desirable food options. I’m also on-call to support whatever our community or office needs—especially during flu and vaccine season, which can be year-round.

What are you most grateful for in your role at STPHD?
I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve people in our community who may be in need of food, medical care, or emotional support—and for the incredible coworkers who make that work possible.

Fun fact that may surprise people:
I used to teach windsurfing, monohull, and catamaran sailing in Miami on Key Biscayne—skills I originally learned in Texas!

Meet Our Dedicated Team