Last week we celebrated National Public Health Week with public messaging and social media, as well as internal workshops, brown bag opportunities, and an agency-wide virtual town hall. The American Public Health Association has recognized National Public Health Week for more than 25 years to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of public health professionals. The [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Like physical health, mental health is important throughout the lifespan. It continuously affects how we think, feel, and act. It also plays an important role in our physical and social well-being. Many factors can impact our mental health, including early adverse life experiences, experiences related to chronic medical conditions, biological factors, feelings of loneliness or [...]
Programming for reproductive and sexual health improves the health of women of childbearing age before, during, and after pregnancy. An estimated 2 million unplanned pregnancies are prevented each year due to family planning services obtained through Title X, Medicaid, and other publicly funded programs. The ADHS Family Planning Program offers a statewide, clinic-based approach. Cost-effective [...]
Public health draws on a science base that is multi-disciplinary. This allows us to gather knowledge from a broad range of disciplines including medicine, epidemiology, sociology, psychology, criminology, education, and economics. Coupled with a cross-sector approach, public health is poised to tackle violence prevention that strives to provide the maximum benefit for the largest number [...]
