Tessa Cushman

Tessa is the Food Access and Systems Coordinator with Adams County Health Department (ACHD), where she manages food access programming such as the Adams County Healthy Farmers Markets, and the Colorado Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), also known as the WIC Produce Box Program. Tessa applies systems thinking and community-initiated solutions to facilitate collaborative community partnerships, inform policies and programs, and provide technical assistance and subject matter expertise across departments and divisions in order to advance the sustainability and equitability of Adams County food systems. Tessa also plays integral roles on several statewide workgroups with aligned organizations, such as the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger.

Adams County Health Department (ACHD) is the governmental public health department for Adams County, Colorado. In October 2021, the Adams County Board of Commissioners made the decision to create ACHD, increasing the amount of evidence-based public health services in the county and committing to a focus on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity within ACHD. The Adams County Vision is to be the most innovative and inclusive county in America for all families and businesses. Adams County Health Department’s vision is to create a healthier and more equitable Adams County by addressing disproportionate health outcomes, actively engaging communities, creating trusted relationships within the community, and focusing on innovation and inclusivity to address ongoing and new health challenges facing Adams County communities.