Sheila Sjolander

About Sheila Sjolander

Sheila Sjolander is the Deputy Director of Public Health Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services. Sheila oversees the divisions of Prevention, Preparedness and Licensing, a team of more than 700 people working toward the vision of health and wellness for all Arizonans. Prior to her appointment as deputy director, she served as Assistant Director for Prevention Services for more than a decade. In her 22 years at ADHS, Sheila has been a dedicated leader in health improvement, strategic planning, and the state’s work to reduce opioid overdoses. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from Temple University, and received the Outstanding Achievement in Rural Women’s Health from the Arizona Rural Women’s Health Association in 2016, and the CHW Champion Award from the Arizona Community Health Worker Association in 2017.

Back To School: Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools

By |2024-07-17T18:39:41-07:00July 17th, 2024|General|

Another school year is quickly approaching and many Arizonans are preparing to send their kids back to the classroom. It’s important that we all work together to provide a supportive environment to help students thrive physically, mentally, and academically.  Below are some back-to-school reminders and resources to help make this transition a bit easier.  Birth [...]

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Paving the way for increasing the number of vaccine providers 

By |2024-06-12T14:21:51-07:00June 12th, 2024|Preparedness|

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program has provided life-saving vaccines to children in Arizona for the past three decades. The VFC program provides vaccination for children who might not otherwise get vaccinated because of financial barriers. The program is grounded in essential partnerships with private healthcare providers, tribal communities, community health centers, and local public [...]

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Encourage the women in your life to take care of their health

By |2024-05-16T16:39:18-07:00May 16th, 2024|General, Prevention|

Many of us celebrated the moms in our lives this past weekend, whether our own mothers, partners, grandparents, friends, or other loved ones.  This week is Women’s Health Week. This is a great opportunity to encourage the women in your life to  make time to care for themselves -  whether by scheduling a  doctor’s appointment, [...]

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Refreshing the Arizona Health Improvement Plan to reflect progress made, set goals for the next two years

By |2024-02-27T13:17:07-07:00February 27th, 2024|Preparedness, Prevention|

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is excited to announce we have published the 2024-2025 update to the Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP).  The AzHIP provides a structure to collectively improve the health of communities and individuals throughout Arizona. The AzHIP 2021-2025 plan is now in the fourth year of its five-year implementation period. The [...]

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New Year, happier you. New Year’s resolutions can be driven by healthy, positive changes

By |2023-12-29T14:31:01-07:00December 29th, 2023|General|

Approaching the end of the year for many people means reflecting on the past 12 months and choosing what paths our lives will take as we ring in 2024. A new year can be an opportunity for transformation and commitment to renew personal goals. Whether you’re resolving to make significant changes or to enjoy your [...]

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The scorching heat continues as possible monsoons roll in, find resources to keep your family safe

By |2023-07-28T15:35:26-07:00July 28th, 2023|General, Preparedness|

While Arizona’s summer of record-breaking high temperatures and excessive heat warnings continue, we are also expecting to get a break with some rain soon.  Monsoon continues until the end of September, providing some relief with rain, but also posing its own hazards.   While many Arizonans may know the basics of summer safety like avoiding going [...]

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Staying safe in Arizona’s heat

By |2023-07-26T11:30:18-07:00July 25th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

Arizona’s been experiencing record-breaking high temperatures and a slow-to-start monsoon season. We’ve seen Excessive Heat Warnings in every county and Phoenix specifically is experiencing a record- breaking summer, with more than 26 consecutive days of 110+ degree weather so far (and it’s only July!) It’s vital to stay cool and hydrated in this heat and [...]

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The time is right for women to prioritize their own health

By |2023-05-19T15:08:44-07:00May 19th, 2023|General, Prevention|

This week we celebrate National Women's Health Week - the perfect time to take a moment to consider how we might strengthen our health with an extra dose of self-care.  Many women act as the managers of their family’s health-maintaining records, scheduling visits, caring for sick loved ones, and taking their children to appointments at [...]

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ADHS initiatives are working to improve healthcare access in Arizona’s most rural communities

By |2023-04-07T14:11:25-07:00April 7th, 2023|General, Prevention|

Fourteen percent of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, in Arizona that number is much higher at 25%, likely due to the landscape and environment we live in. USDA Economic Research Service found that residents living in the United States’ most rural counties may have more difficulty finding and using health care services in [...]

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