Healthier United

06/05/2026

New Healthier Colorado polling surveyed more than 1,300 likely primary voters across both parties in Colorado between May 16 and 22, 2026.

The number one shared concern was water supply and drought, with 71% of Democratic and 50% of Republican primary voters saying they are "extremely concerned". Issues including affordability, wildfires, health care costs, and infrastructure are all close behind.

06/05/2026

“As the mother of a high school senior, I can tell that the biggest negative impact has been on mental health. I see that kids who are constantly on their phones lose that focus on being able to socialize, to communicate, and little by little they kind of isolate themselves.”

This is an experience shared by many parents and guardians of students navigating schools alongside today’s pressure of social media and online interactions.

Bell-to-bell, away all day is the only phone-free policy that actually works for kids. The phone is off and physically locked up — pouch, locker, or caddy — from first bell to last. Anything less is an open door for distraction to creep back in.

What is your school district’s cell phone policy? Send them an email to check in. A note from one parent shifts the room. A note from twenty changes the vote. The board reads everything that crosses its desk.

Take 30 seconds to do that at unplugplugin.org.

Unplug. Plug in. Healthier Colorado

06/04/2026

What happens when Medicaid pays for housing, food, and transportation, and other aspects that contribute to a healthier life?

North Carolina tried it with NC Hop (Healthy Opportunities Pilots)! Here's what they found 👇

💰 $164 saved per beneficiary, per month
🏥 Fewer ER visits, more cost-effective care
🏠 Reduced food insecurity, housing instability & transportation barriers
😊 89% of participants said it improved their health

The science is clear. The program works. But despite federal authority running through 2029, it's been suspended, as the state legislature isn’t willing to fund their share.

Healthy lives involve policy choices.

06/04/2026

In North Carolina, you need a license to sell a turtle. You do not need one to sell a v**e.
North Carolina is one of only 6 states where the purchase age for ni****ne products is still 18, and one of only 7 states that doesn't require retailers to have a permit to sell them. Law enforcement has no list of v**e shops, no way to track them, and limited ability to enforce the laws that do exist.

The result is predictable. According to the 2024 National Youth To***co Survey, 21.4% of NC high school students use v**es, double the national average.

HB 430, known as Solly's Law after 15-year-old Solomon Wynn who died in 2023 from complications related to va**ng, would raise the purchase age to 21 and create a licensing system for retailers. Tell your NC lawmaker to support it.

06/03/2026

We asked what our experts, educators, and parents would say to school leaders considering phone free schools, if given the opportunity.

Their advice? Do it!

The gratitude, educational gains, and social outcomes are more than worth any potential challenges associated with changes in school policy.

Advocate for the same in your community. Find more information on education and ways to take action at unplugplugin.org.

Unplug. Plug in. Healthier Colorado

06/03/2026

✨ Say hello to our new intern! 🎉

Isabella is a University of Michigan student majoring in American History (pre-law) with a minor in Business, all the way from New Rochelle, NY. She joins us this summer with a passion for public policy, civic engagement, and advocacy — and a goal to understand how communities drive real, lasting change.

We're so excited to have her on the team. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome! 👏

06/03/2026

🎙️ New episode of Wooden Teeth is live!

Host Jake Williams sits down with Casey Mock of Anxious Generation to break down the real data behind phones in the classroom and what parents, educators, and policymakers can actually do about it.

They cover everything from why bell-to-bell phone-free policies make all the difference, to how tech companies are actively fighting laws designed to protect your kids, and what that tells us about whether these bans are working.

👉 Link in bio to tune in!

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

New polling from Healthier Colorado is out, and it's kind of surprising to see who primary voters in both parties views as their faves and unfaves.

Both Republican and Democratic voters support removing phones from schools, youth mental health is a shared priority across party lines.

More info here: https://healthiercolorado.org/press-release/healthier-colorado-releases-poll-on-policy-and-presidential-preferences-of-democratic-and-republican-primary-voters/

06/01/2026