How we license facilities that provide substance abuse recovery resources
In Arizona, there has recently been a large uptick in interest about “sober living homes'' from the media, government officials, members of the community, legislative members, and law enforcement. Based on the questions we’ve received in our Division of Licensing, it is clear that there is a lot of confusion surrounding what sober living homes are, what other types of [...]
Federal COVID-19 public health emergency ends – Vaccines, tests & data will remain available
Today marks the end of the national COVID-19 public health emergency, but most tools - including vaccines, testing, and treatment - will remain available in Arizona. More than two years after the public health emergency was declared, and more than three years after the virus began its rapid spread in 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has [...]
Roadway safety is no accident – May is Trauma Awareness Month
The theme of this year’s National Trauma Awareness Month (observed annually in May) is Roadway Safety is No Accident. The Arizona Department of Health Services’ Bureau of EMS and Trauma System and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) are joining forces to spread the message that Prevention is Key: Safety is a Choice. According to the Arizona Department of [...]
Keep your cool when the heat builds this summer
Summer is right around the corner, and it’s time to get ready for the sweltering heat season from May to September, when Arizona becomes one of the hottest places on earth. No one is risk-free when it comes to deadly summer heat. Arizona hospitals saw an annual average of 2,858 heat related emergency department visits and 582 deaths from 2018 [...]
Nurses are vital to the health of all Arizonans
At the Arizona Department of Health Services, our nurses are involved in the prevention, education, advocacy, activism, assessment, and evaluation of public health across our state. They play an essential role in preventing disease and educating the public to promote communities’ health and safety. We’re proud to have nurses in Newborn Screening who work to follow up with families regarding [...]
Public Health Week: Improving public health across our state
As Arizona's statewide public health agency, we spent much of last week celebrating National Public Health Week by focusing on you and your community, wherever you are in Arizona. Our hope was to draw more attention to the issues that are important to improving the public's health and the power of community across our state. The overall message - Centering [...]