Health Links®, a program of the Centers for Health, Work & Environment dedicated to helping employers foster workplace safety, health, and well-being, hosted its 2026 Annual Event on August 4 at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. This year's theme, Embracing Change, Trust, and Adaptability, celebrated the hard work and dedication of employers building a better tomorrow for today's workforce.
“We were so excited to convene for our 12th annual event that brings together the partners to learn from each other and celebrate their dedication and achievements in worker health,” said Health Links Co-Founder and Director, Lili Tenney, DrPH, MPH. “This event really signifies that organizations are prioritizing the health and safety of their workers. It’s no longer a nice-to-have – it's a business strategy.”
This year's keynote address was presented by Captain Christian B. Rathke, DMSc, PA-C,FAAPA, Director of Total Worker Health for the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Capt. Rathke is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and has spent the last fifteen years working with the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. Capt. Rathke’s presentation “Designing Work People Can Trust: Total Worker Health® for Sustainable Performance in a Time of Rapid Change” showed how traditional work systems have evolved and how we are facing constant changes that impact individual workers in different ways, calling for a new systems approach.
During his keynote, Capt. Rathke said, “The goal is not simply to help people withstand the system. The goal is to design a better system that better supports people and the work they do.”
Table Talk Discussions
The event also featured "In Good Company: Table Talk Conversations”. Topics ranged from nutrition and lactation-friendly practices to evaluation frameworks, leadership buy-in, sprint-based design methods, empathetic communication, and current issues in Total Worker Health®, giving attendees the chance to dig into practical, actionable strategies in a smaller, conversational setting.
Total Worker Health (TWH) is a holistic approach to worker well-being that integrates occupational safety and health protection with health promotion to prevent worker injury and illness and to advance health and well-being.
A Moment of Reflection
During the morning program, attendees took part in a creative arts-based workshop led by Quána Madison, a multidisciplinary artist, healing arts facilitator, and well-being advocate. The 45-minute session invited participants into a guided gratitude meditation before transitioning into expressive artmaking. The workshop provided a meaningful opportunity for connection and calm amid a busy conference day, reflecting Health Links' broader commitment to supporting well-being in the workplace and beyond.
Healthy Workplace Award Winners
The morning festivities concluded with the Healthy Workplace Award Ceremony. Sixteen organizations across Colorado were selected as finalists based on their Health Links Healthy Workplace Assessment scores and reviewed submissions. Congratulations to this year's Healthy Workplace Award nominees — your dedication to supporting TWH is central to the Health Links' mission. Thank you for embracing change, building trust, and adapting alongside your workforce.
Award recipients were selected across four categories: Family-Friendly Workplace, Workplace Mental Health Champion, Champion of Well-Being Emerging Leaders, and Champion of Well-Being Certified Leader Award. Through their dedication to workplace health and well-being, these organizations exemplify the principles of TWH and demonstrate a commitment to supporting employees and fostering thriving workplace cultures.
Family-Friendly Award
Children's Hospital Colorado received this year's Family-Friendly Award for supporting employees in their caregiving roles and promoting a workplace culture that values employees and their families through all stages of life.
"What makes these practices long-lasting is that they are not stand-alone benefits — they are embedded in our culture, workforce strategy, and ongoing decision-making," their team said. "The organization recognizes that many employees are caregivers and that supporting families is essential to attracting, engaging, and retaining talent."
Mental Health Award
This year’s Workplace Mental Health Champion Award was presented to Pitkin County Government for its outstanding commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of employees, their families, and the broader community.
"Leaders are encouraged to model healthy behaviors, support psychological safety, and normalize conversations around wellbeing," their team said, "By embedding mental health into everyday interactions, decision-making, and workplace practices, we strive to create an environment in which supporting employee wellbeing is viewed as a shared responsibility rather than solely a benefit or a program.”
Champion of Well-being Emerging Leader Award
This year’s Champion of Well-being Emerging Leader Award was presented to Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in recognition of its strong commitment to the TWH approach and advancing employee health, safety, and well-being.
"Employee voice is the foundation of our Organizational Wellness strategy. Rather than deciding what employees need, we continuously gather feedback through our Staff Culture and Climate Survey, Wellness Champion network, participation data, and Organizational Wellness surveys. This information directly shapes both our priorities and programming.”
Champion of Well-being Certified Leader Award
This year’s Champion of Well-being Certified Leader Award was presented to Jefferson County, Colorado, honoring its long-standing commitment to the TWH approach and sustained leadership in promoting employee health, safety, and well-being.
"One example is our implementation of a leadership training course after employee feedback indicated that staff did not always feel supported when experiencing mental health challenges, stress, or burnout. [...] To date, more than 130 managers and supervisors have completed the training, and we will continue offering this course to expand leadership capacity and reinforce a culture of support and well-being.”
Growing Together, Across Colorado
More than 100 working professionals, industry leaders, and workplace well-being advocates gathered at the Don E. Elliman Conference Center for this year’s event, centered around the theme of change, trust, and adaptability. Health Links is proud to have served 58 businesses across Colorado within the last year, and none of that work would be possible without the dedication of our partners. We look forward to another year of growth in the face of change.
The Health Links® Annual Event would like to thank the following exhibitors for their contributions:
