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 2011 estimated population of 6,482,505 people – 682,431 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, 84.6% of the state’s population is white, 5.2% is American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.5% is African American/Black, 3.0% is Asian and 30.1% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2011).
There are 73 hospitals in Arizona (Kaiser, 2010), 20 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 14 hospitals identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (March 2013). There are 17 Rural Health Clinics in Arizona (Kaiser, 2012), and 16 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 118 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2010). Most Arizonans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 18.0% of the state’s residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2011).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for Arizonans in 2009 was $33,207, although rural per-capita income lagged at $27,504. Estimates from 2010 indicate a poverty rate of 22.6% exists in rural Arizona, compared to a 17.0% level in urban areas of the state. 2010 ACS data reports that 18.9% of the rural population has not completed high school, compared to 14.6% of urban populations. The unemployment rate in rural Arizona is at 12.2%, while in urban Arizona it is at 9.2% (USDA-ERS, 2011).
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
Organizations
A.T. Still University (ATSU)
Academic/Research
Provides multidisciplinary healthcare programs including osteopathic medicine, health management, health sciences, and dentistry and oral health.
Administration for Children and Families: Region 9 (ACF)
Federal government
Dedicated to promoting and enhancing the economic independence and social well-being of children, families, individuals, and communities. ACF Region 9 serves Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
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 Area Health Education Center Program (AZAHEC)
State/regional organization
Coordinates and supports activities that target workforce development to meet the needs of Arizona´s medically underserved rural and urban populations.
Arizona Association of Community Health Centers (AACHC)
State/regional organization
Serves as Arizona's Primary Care Association (PCA) and works to advance the expansion of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and advocate for the health care interests of the medically underserved and uninsured. The are a resource for organizations providing primary health care to the underserved, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and Tribal organizations.
Arizona Center for Rural Health
State government
Promotes the health of rural and medically underserved individuals, families, and communities through service, education, and research.
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 Health-e Connection (AzHeC)
State/regional organization
Arizona State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
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 Office of Border Health (ADHS-OBH)
State government
Coordinates and integrates public health program efforts to identify, monitor, control and prevent adverse health events in border communities. The Office also strengthens cross-border public health collaboration with Sonora, Mexico.
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 Development Council
State/regional organization
Composed of the agencies and organizations that play a part in developing the rural areas of Arizona. Coordinates program development and implementation, supports models for community success, and identifies resources to support rural development.
Arizona Rural Health Association, Inc.
State/regional organization
Advocates on behalf of the health needs of rural Arizonans at national, state and local levels.
Border Counties Coalition
State/regional organization
A nonpartisan, consensus-based policy and technical forum founded to address challenges facing county governments located on the United States/Mexico Border.
Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion
Academic/Research
A chronic disease prevention and intervention research center that focuses on diabetes and associated obesity and depression.
Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to improve oral health and hygiene by emphasizing preventative care and provides employees and individuals with quality, cost-effective dental benefits and customer service.
Four Corners Telehealth Consortium
State/regional organization
Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) for New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
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. Territories in the Pacific Basin.
Native American Research & Training Center (NARTC)
Academic/Research
Serves as a resource in health related research and training for Native American communities nation-wide.
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.
Raising Special Kids
State/regional organization
Provides Arizona families of children with disabilities and special health care needs from birth to age 22 with parent support, training, information and assistance. Services are provided in English and Spanish.
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. Offers numerous services including loans for housing and environment.
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.
Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (SWTRC)
State/regional organization
One of the telehealth resource centers funded by the federal Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. Assists health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations. Includes Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.
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.
United States - Mexico Border Health Commission (USMBHC)
International organization
Provides international leadership to optimize health and quality of life along the U.S.-Mexico border. Comprised of the federal secretaries of health, the chief health officers of the ten border states and prominent community health professionals from both nations. The USMBHC brings together the two countries and its border states to solve border health problems.
University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Academic/Research
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.
Western Rural Development Center (WRDC)
State/regional organization
One of four regional development centers in the nation. Participates in rural development research and extension (outreach) projects cooperatively with universities in the West. Serves a 13 state area in the Western region and 4 U.S. Pacific Territories, which includes WA, UT, WY, NV, ID, HI, CA, AZ, AK, OR, NM, MT, and CO.
Tools
12 Things You Should Know About Healthcare Rights
Website
Guide to healthcare reform for rural individuals to ease the confusion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Arizona Health Centers Research & Data
Website
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 KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Website
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Arizona QuickFacts
Website
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
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
Website
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.
Border Health Topic Guide
Website
Information and resources about US-Mexico border health issues.
California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
Website
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
Website
Guide to program evaluation for community health workers and community health worker programs.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Arizona
Website
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.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Arizona
Website
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM Pacific Southwest Region: Arizona Resources
Website
Overview of the state, with links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for Arizona.
Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC)
Website
Comprised of 14 accredited schools of public health that serve in a national capacity to meet preparedness and response training and education needs of the U. S. public health workforce. Funded schools are located in AL, AZ, FL, IA, IL, MA, MD, MN, NY, OK, NC, TX, and WA.
U.S.- Mexico Border HIV/AIDS Resource Directory
Website
Connects HIV/AIDS resources with community needs along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Provides local, regional and national information on HIV/AIDS training resources for a range of health care providers, and HIV/AIDS-related services for both providers, and consumers.
United States - Mexico Public Health
Website
Provides information about health issues unique to the border region, CDC's border and binational programs and activities, the Technical Guidelines for United States—Mexico Coordination on Public Health Events of Mutual Interest, and resources for colleagues working on border/binational public health issues.
See also: State-by-State Resources: Tools Funding
Aetna Foundation Regional Grants
Funds community wellness initiatives focusing on healthy food and activity that serve low-income, underserved, or minority populations.
Community Facility Loans
Loans to help create and improve essential community facilities in the rural West.
Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants
Funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading.
Environmental Infrastructure Loans
Loans to finance water and waste facility projects in the rural West.
Gannett Foundation Community Action Grants
Supports local organizations with funding priority given to programs that focus on education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation, and cultural enrichment.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation Housing Loans
Offers loans to create, improve, or expand the supply of affordable housing for communities in the rural West.
Wells Fargo Corporate Giving Programs
Funding for nonprofit organizations in the areas of community development, education, human services, arts and culture, civic responsibility, and environmental consciousness.
Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund
Awards grants in various rural and urban areas where Weyerhaeuser does business. Funds programs that work in the areas of affordable housing and shelter; education and youth development; environmental stewardship; and human services.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
2012 WICHE Workplan: It's All About Outcomes
Sponsoring organization: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Discusses WICHE's focus in 2012 which includes finance, access and success, workforce and society, technology and innovation, and accountability. Highlights students exchange programs in rural and underserved areas, rural healthcare initiatives, and rural primary care clinics.
Date: 09 / 2011
Arizona Health Equity Stakeholder Strategies
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Health Services
Addresses efforts to reduce health disparities among racial, ethnic, and other vulnerable populations throughout Arizona.
Date: 01 / 2013
Arizona Rural Health Clinic Designation Manual: Version 3
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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: 2008
Arizona Rural Health Plan 2005-2007
Author(s): Howard J. Eng, Julie Jacobs, Jennifer Peashock
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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 Workforce Trend Analysis
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Area Health Education Center Program
Provides rural and urban healthcare workforce comparisons and multi-year trends that can be used to examine changes in access to care for the development of new or revised existing workforce related policies and programs.
Date: 06 / 2012
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
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
Compendium of Best Practices/Models That Work in Rural Workforce Development
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
Developed by NRHA's National Rural Task Force. Highlights rural workforce programs in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
Date: 09 / 2008
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): 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
On the Edge of Opportunity: A Review of the Public Behavioral Health System in Rural Arizona
Author(s): Lynda Bergsma, Renee Fullerton, Betty King, Jennifer Peters
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
Examines the situation that the rural residents of Arizona face in accessing behavioral health services and makes recommendations for possible actions.
Date: 03 / 2011
Profiles of State Innovation: Roadmap for Managing Long-Term Supports and Services
Author(s): Alice Link, Suzanne Gore, Lindsay Barnette, Stephen Somers
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
Identifies five states that demonstrate expertise in managed care approaches for individuals with long-term care needs. States included are Arizona, Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Date: 11 / 2010
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
Rural Dropout Problem: An Invisible Achievement Gap
Author(s): Jerry Johnson, Marty Strange, Karen Madden
Sponsoring organization: Rural School and Community Trust
Reviews high school dropout rates and related factors in rural high schools throughout 15 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia.
Date: 2010
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: 2 / 2013
Southwest Border of Arizona and Mexico Colonias News
Author(s): Maribel Ruble
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
Housing America Corporation describes its efforts providing housing assistance in the Arizona colonias communities of San
Luis, Somerton, Wellton and Quartzsite.
Journal citation: Rural Voices Volume 14 Issue 1
Date: 2009
State of Arizona: Population Brief
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Access baseline information for the advancement of rural development that examines population changes and characteristics within Arizona. Files are available for each county or as a statewide overview.
Date: 2008
USDA Rural Development 2012 Progress Report
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
Reports on investments made by USDA Rural Development intended to have a lasting, sustainable impact on rural American by supporting economic growth, broadband implementation, housing programs, and public utility projects. Features programs implemented in Minnesota, Georgia, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Louisiana, Illinois, Arizona, North Carolina, North Dakota, Colorado, Florida, and Wisconsin. Reports total funds granted to each of the 50 states from 2009 - 2012.
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: State-by-State Resources: Documents Success Stories
EMS Co-op Helps Rural Providers
Using the power of group purchasing within a cooperative structure, the North Central EMS Cooperative (NCEMSC) is an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) cooperative developed to serve Minnesota and surrounding states.
Arizona-Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc.
The project by Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. (CCHCI) offered a new and innovative
health care delivery system in a rural area that lacks primary and dental health services.
Angel Flight West: A Higher Level of Kindness
Angel Flight West provides free, private air transportation for people with medical and other needs.
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