Arizona citizens with a serious mental illness have a life expectancy that’s 30 years less than the general population. These folks don’t die early because of their mental illness; rather, they die from preventable physical health conditions like obesity, smoking, lung disease, stroke and heart disease. That’s why the Department is partnering with the Milbank [...]
Two ADES offices in Maricopa County were awarded Bronze Medals for the prestigious 2010 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Hunger Champion Award. The East Southern Office in Phoenix, and the Gilbert Office on W. Guadalupe both received the Bronze Award, and were chosen from DES offices all over the U.S. The USDA only gave out 23 [...]
Ever since our Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center (on the grounds of the Arizona State Hospital) opened in 1998, we’ve been providing treatment to sexually violent persons who have a mental disorder and who have been convicted (or found guilty except insane) of a sexually violent offense or were charged with a sexually violent offense and [...]
By now you probably know that Proposition 203, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act appears to have passed after all (although the final determination will actually be made when the election is certified). The Act identifies the ADHS as the organization that’s responsible for carrying out the provisions of the law. There will be several teams of [...]
Our collaborative team of professionals from WIC, Maternal & Child Health, the Office of Children with Special Healthcare Needs and our Office of Childcare Licensure just finished and posted 4 dynamite videos to help our AZ Childcare Centers and Homes to adopt our Empower Pack wellness program. The videos range from about 7 to 9 [...]
If you or one of your family members receives behavioral health services in Arizona, it’s time to raise your voice and be heard. Over the next few weeks our ADHS Behavioral Health System Transformation Team will be sponsoring a series of forums so that folks can express their opinions about how we should shape the [...]
In 1999 a bill was passed that charged the ADHS with licensing and inspecting abortion clinics. Before the law could take effect, a lawsuit was filed that “stayed” the regulation of abortion clinics until a settlement agreement could be finalized with the Department and the plaintiffs. Last year the settlement agreement was finalized, we developed [...]
Last year at this time the new H1N1 flu virus was going gangbusters. Loads of Arizonans were getting sick (especially kids), the vaccine was still in short supply. The county health departments were prioritizing which doctors could get the vaccine. What a difference a year makes. Flu activity across the country is light (so far), [...]
Valley Fever has been in the media a lot lately. Part of the reason is because last Saturday we kicked off the 8th annual Valley Fever Awareness Week in recognition of the outstanding treatment and research conducted by the Valley Fever Center for Excellence as well as the advances in Valley Fever education and public [...]
We’ve just confirmed 11 cases of E. coli in AZ. Our cases appear to be part of a multi-state outbreak that’s associated with Gouda cheese sold at Costco. Maricopa (5 stores), Pima (1 store) and Yavapai counties (1 store) are involved with the investigation and the suspect cheese has been held in back stock until [...]
