Behavioral Health Services in Maricopa County
We recently extended our contract with the Regional Behavioral Health Authority in Maricopa County through September 30, 2013. We authorized the contract extension (which will be the 6th year of the contract) so that we can better serve our members and families while we hammer out the details of several new initiatives designed to improve the quality of the services [...]
Vital Records Self-sufficiency
One of the budget bills that passed and was signed last legislative session (Laws 2011, Chapter 31, § 7) allows our Office of Vital Records to set new fees for copies of registered certificates, certified copies, amendments, etc. Our Office of Vital Records will use the new fees to “self-fund” the program, meaning we’ll no longer receive State General Funds to run the program. [...]
Hospital & ACPTC Passes
Over the weekend a resident of our Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center (ACPTC) escaped while he was on an approved pass to go to church. The resident was accompanied by one of our staff during the outing. The resident was authorized to go on the pass to church because he had “LRA” or “Least Restrictive Alternative” status as determined [...]
ADHS Gets Partnership Award
Today the Arizona Academy of Pediatrics recognized our Nutrition and Physical Activity Team as a co-recipient of the 2011 Partnership Award at its annual luncheon and chapter meeting. Our team was recognized for increasing outreach efforts to pediatricians and actively fostering collaboration among staff and the Academy membership. Karen Sell and the team helped the Academy indentify funding for their Obesity Prevention Toolbox [...]
Maricopa Integrated Health System Goes Smoke Free
The Maricopa Integrated Health System has been recognized as a QUITZone for going smoke-free. Our Bureau of Tobacco & Chronic Disease and the UA Healthcare Partnership honored them this week for their efforts to “walk-the-talk” in promoting healthy lifestyles and combating the health and cost burdens of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. To help achieve a tobacco-free workplace they created positive [...]
Wildfire Update
I’m sure you know that a few wildfires are still burning in AZ, including the massive Wallow fire. The Governor signed a Declaration of Emergency on Monday this week, releasing some state funds to help with the response efforts and opening the State Emergency Operations Center, which is coordinating and directing the state emergency response activities. You can visit their website (www.azein.gov) for [...]