Craig Daily Press

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Heather Burchall was the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association community health educator and Moffat County Youth Wellness Initiative coordinator. She stepped down from both positions last month.

Craig — Depending on whether the state decides to issue a grant renewal this month, the North­west Colorado Visiting Nurse Association may be seeking a new community health educator.

Heather Burchall, the former health educator, submitted her resignation Feb. 29. Burchall, a registered dietician, said she relinquished the position in favor of a job that more closely fit her specialty.

The move was “a normal transition,” said Ilanit Kateb, VNA community-based program manager.

As the VNA’s health educator, Burchall coordinated a tobacco prevention program in Moffat, Routt and Jackson counties.

Burchall’s next place of employment will be the Eagle County Health and Human Services Department, where she will serve as the Women, Infant and Children program supervisor, she said.

The Nurse Association won’t be the sole organization looking for a replacement. Burchall also acted as the Moffat County Youth Wellness Initiative coordinator — a position she stepped down from after deciding to leave the VNA.

Burchall believes she’s leaving the group in good hands with its current leadership and members.

“I think (the Initiative) is doing great,” she said. “I think Diane (Miller) and Misty (Schulze) both are doing such a great job in trying to guide the group in Moffat County.”

The group falls under the Northwest Colorado Com­munity Health Project’s jurisdiction, which Miller coordinates. Schulze is one of the group’s members.

Whether the Initiative will find another Moffat County coordinator depends on whether the grant funding the health educator position is renewed this month.

The State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership provides the grant, which the VNA has received for seven years, Kateb said.

If the grant is renewed, the VNA’s next health educator also may take leadership for the Initiative.

“It was definitely open that that person would be able to help with that initiative as well,” Kateb said.

She believes the health educator position has proven its worth locally.

“In terms of the tobacco program itself, initiatives in the community were increased tremendously” in Moffat County, she said.

“The position is very much well and alive,” Kateb added.

Bridget Manley can be reached at 875-1795 or bmanley@craigdailypress.com