Although historians disagree about the meaning and derivation of the place name Arizona, it is believed to have derived from the words "Al Shon" of the Tohono O'odham/Pima Indian Nation meaning "Place of the Little Spring." The Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World is located in the northern part of the state. Arizona covers 113,635 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 6,500,180 people – 667,880 living in rural Arizona (USDA-ERS). Phoenix, the capital, is located in the south-central region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 87.0% of the state’s population is white, 4.0% is American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.8% is African American/Black, 2.5% is Asian and 29.6% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2007).
There are 80 hospitals in Arizona, 20 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 14 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). There are 14 Rural Health Clinics in Arizona (CMS, 2009), and 14 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 129 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2008). Most Arizonans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 19.6% of the state’s residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007.)
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all Arizonans in 2007 was $32,833 although rural per-capita income lagged at $24,391. 2008 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 20.0% exists in rural Arizona, compared to a 14.1% level in urban areas of the state. Data from 2000 finds that 25.7% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 18.2% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural Arizona is at 7.2%, while in urban Arizona it is at 5.3% (USDA-ERS, 2008).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
Data Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts
USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts
Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
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Organizations
Arizona - Mexico Commission (AMC)
International organization
Works to strengthen the economic and cultural relations within the Arizona-Mexico region and to develop Arizona's ties with Latin America.
Arizona Community Action Association
State/regional organization
Promotes economic self-sufficiency for low-income people through collaborations which: strengthen, represent and promote Arizona's Community Action agencies; encourage and enhance interagency cooperation; represent low-income concerns; assure maximum feasible participation of low-income people; develop partnerships with the public and private sectors; engage in research and education related to developing solutions to poverty.
Arizona Department of Behavioral Health Services
State government
Provides resources and information on behavioral health.
Arizona Department of Commerce
State government
The state agency that works to create vibrant communities and a globally competitive Arizona economy through leadership and collaborative partnerships.
Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES)
State government
Provides an integration of direct services to people in such a way as to reduce duplication of administrative efforts, services and expenditures.
Arizona Department of Economic Security: Adult Protective Services
State government
Provides assistance and a point of contact where people can report abuse, neglect, and exploitation of Arizona's vulnerable or incapacitated adults.
Arizona Department of Economic Security: Division of Child Support Enforcement
State government
Committed to helping children receive the support they are due. Works to develop a partnership with non-custodial parents to assist them in supporting their children.
Arizona Department of Economic Security: Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
State government
Supports the choices of individuals with disabilities and their families by promoting and providing, within communities, flexible, quality, consumer-driven services and supports.
Arizona Department of Education: Exceptional Student Services
State government
Promotes the development and implementation of quality education for students with disabilities.
Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
State government
Provides a variety of health services including education & health promotion, community health, safety, prevention & health preparedness, licensing & certification, mental/behavioral health, vital records, and health data & evaluation. Includes a public health section in Spanish.
Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH)
State government
The state agency that works to provide housing and community revitalization to benefit the people of Arizona.
Arizona Emergency Medical Systems, Inc. (AEMS)
State/regional organization
Arizona Emergency Medical Systems, Inc. (AEMS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is a community-based, volunteer & membership organization dedicated to improving emergency medical services (EMS) for the Central Region of Arizona.
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
State government
Reaching across Arizona to provide comprehensive, quality health care to those in need.
Arizona Health Disparities Center
State government
Promotes and protects the health and
well being of the minority and vulnerable
populations of Arizona by enhancing the
capacity of the public health system to
effectively serve minority populations and
reduce health disparities.
Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AZHHA)
State/regional organization
An organization of hospitals and health systems dedicated to providing leadership on issues affecting the delivery, quality, accessibility and cost effectiveness of healthcare. The Association accepts and shares in the responsibility for improving the health status of the people of Arizona.
Arizona Public Health Association (AZPHA)
State/regional organization
The Arizona Public Health Association defines and advocates for public health issues, fosters professional development, supports incubator opportunities for emerging public health issues, and promotes public health awareness and education.
Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
State government
Works with individuals with disabilities to achieve increased independence and/or gainful employment through the provision of comprehensive rehabilitative and employment support services in a partnership with all stakeholders.
Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc.
State/regional organization
Advocates on behalf of the health needs of rural Arizonans at national, state and local levels.
Arizona Rural Health Office
State government
Promotes the health of rural and medically underserved individuals, families, and communities through service, education, and research.
Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion
A chronic disease prevention and intervention research center that focuses on diabetes and associated obesity and depression.
Center for Health Equality (CHE)
Academic/Research
Works towards the reduction and elimination of minority health disparities.
Healthy Arizona 2010
State government
A comprehensive statewide prevention agenda designed to improve the health of all Arizonans over the next decade.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Arizona
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
Inter Tribal Council of Arizona American Indian Research Center for Health (AIRCH)
Academic/Research
Encourages practical research to improve American Indian peoples' health status. A Native American Research Center on Health site.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Southwest Region (NN/LM-PSR)
State/regional organization
Supports collaboration among libraries and information centers that serve health information needs in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the U.S.-Associated Pacific Basin.
Nuestra Communidad, Nuestra Salud (Our Community, Our Health) (NCNS)
Academic/Research
Goal is to increase the training, recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals who have the relevant knowledge and skills for practice in rural communities.
Office of Long-Term Care Licensing
State government
Licenses and inspects Arizona nursing homes facilities. Also perform Medicaid certification inspections for Arizona's Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded.
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
International organization
Works to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. Serves as the specialized organization for health of the Inter-American System and as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. It is an international public health agency, and part of the United Nations.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Helps rural communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming to improve community infrastructure.
Southern Arizona Trauma Network (SATNET)
State/regional organization
Provides trauma related educational opportunities to trauma professionals throughout southern Arizona, the state and the region.
Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
Academic/Research
An interdisciplinary research center that is actively investigating the health effects of environmental agents and serving as a resource for the community.
Special Education Program for Teachers and Administrators (SEPTA)
State/regional organization
Works to develop and implement a comprehensive Special Education training program that enhances the professional development of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and BIA grant school personnel.
U.S. - Mexico Binational Center for Environmental Studies and Toxicology
Academic/Research
Conducts research, training, and helps develop policy on environmental and toxicology issues affecting the U.S. - Mexico border region.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Arizona
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Academic/Research
A nationally accredited college of public health. An integral part of their mission is to promote health equality and respond to health disparities.
USDA Rural Development Arizona State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Tools
Arizona QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Arizona 2-1-1
Web site
A fully-implemented 2-1-1 system for Arizona that combines information from a wide variety of health and human service providers through a single information network that can easily be accessed by caseworkers and the public at large.
Arizona Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Arizona Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compile 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Arizona KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Arizona State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
Arizona-Sonora Health Inventory and Resource Guide
Web site
Guide created to inform border residents and health providers of the services that are available in their local area and binationally throughout the region. Information available in Spanish.
Association of Arizona Food Banks Search Tool
Database
Provides a zip code search tool to identify the closest food bank agency for the client.
Border Health Information and Education Network
Web site
A health education network designed to provide health information free of charge for the people of the border region, both healthcare consumers and healthcare providers.
California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
Web site
Provides training courses that are designed to meet the needs of medical, health, and community professionals serving persons and communities impacted by STD and HIV. Service area includes the federal Health and Human Services Region IX: California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the following Pacific Islands: American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Community Health Worker Evaluation Tool Kit
Web site
A practical and useful guide to program evaluation for community health workers and community health worker programs.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Arizona
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Food Assistance Programs in Arizona
Print publication
A matrix listing Arizona food assistance programs including their program descriptions, eligibility requirements and contact information. Available in Spanish.
MedlinePlus Go Local
Web site
Offers information about health services in local geographic areas, including hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, support groups, health screening providers and many others.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Arizona
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
State Profiles- Arizona: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Documents, Reports and Other Publications
Arizona Rural Health Clinic Designation Manual
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Rural Health Office
Intended to help rural clinics in Arizona determine whether rural health clinic status would be fiscally advantageous. Includes step-by-step guidance for the application process.
Date: 05 / 2006
Arizona Rural Health Plan 2005-2007
Author(s): Howard J. Eng, Julie Jacobs, Jennifer Peashock
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Rural Health Office
Reports on how to strengthen the rural
health infrastructure in the state as well as how to enhance access to health services by rural
residents.
Date: 12 / 2004
Arizona Rural Health Resource Manual
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Rural Health Office
Documents rural health resources in Arizona available to rural health and social service providers and advocates. Includes hospital resources, financing, CAHs, telemedicine, FQHCs, tribal, EMS, funding, and workforce.
Date: 06 / 2006
Border County Health Workforce Profiles: Arizona
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
Provides information on the health workforce, relevant population characteristics, and basic health indicators for the U.S.-Mexico Border region in the State of Arizona.
Date: 05 / 2007
Demographic and Economic Profile: Arizona
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Presents demographics, economics, and research on Arizona. Includes statistics, data, maps, charts, and graphs.
Date: 02 / 2009
Education: A Regional Overview
Author(s): By Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Explores education characteristics in the western states and examines how it impacts rural development.
Date: 2008
Employment, Income and Poverty: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines and compares employment and income in western states with both rural and urban data.
Date: 2008
Health and Longevity: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines health and longevity for states in the western region.
Date: 2008
Land Use and Resources: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines land use and resources in the western states.
Date: 2008
Promoting Rural Health Care Quality Through Health Disparities Collaboratives: Hopi Regional Health Care
Author(s): Thomas D. Rowley
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Describes the Hopi Regional Health Care Network, which works to improve continuity of care for members of the Hopi and Navajo nations in northeast Arizona.
Date: 12 / 2005
Small Business Profile: Arizona
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2008
State of Arizona: Population Brief
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Baseline information for the advancement of rural development that examines population changes and characteristics within Arizona.
Date: 2008
State Profiles - Arizona: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2005
The Changing West: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Provides baseline data for identifying population changes in the western states for use in advancing rural development.
Date: 2008
Using Community Indicators to Assess Nutrition in Arizona-Mexico Border Communities
Author(s): Jacob Abarca, Sulabha Ramachandran
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Community indicators are used to measure and monitor factors that affect the well-being of a community or region. They can be used to assess nutrition. Evaluating nutrition in communities along the Arizona-Mexico border is important because nutrition is related to an individual's risk of overweight or obesity; obesity is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.
Journal citation: Preventing Chronic Disease Volume 2 Issue 1
Date: 01 / 2005
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Success Stories
Hardrock Youth Wellness and Prevention Program
The Hardrock Youth Wellness and Prevention Program is a collaborative effort of the Hardrock Council on Substance Abuse, Inc. (a local non-profit corporation), the Hardrock Chapter House (a local governmental subdivision on the Navajo Nation), and the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health's Project EXPORT. The purpose of the collaboration is to strengthen their collective efforts in building a strong infrastructure for substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment at the community level.
Angel Flight West: A Higher Level of Kindness
Angel Flight West provides free, private air transportation for people with medical and other needs.
Neighborhood Meth Watch Community Policing Project
Adelante Juntos Coalition (AJC) designed and implemented the Neighborhood Meth Watch Program in many of the rural communities of Pinal County, Arizona.
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