Each summer, free healthy meals are available to children ages 18 and younger at approved sites across Arizona as part of the Summer Lunch Buddies program. Sites are operated by schools, nonprofit agencies or local governments and are located in low-income neighborhoods where many children receive free or reduced price school breakfast and lunch during [...]
Most tooth decay can be prevented through a combination of interventions like our school-based sealant program and our fluoride mouth rinse program. If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to difficulty eating, speaking, and learning in school. Tooth decay can affect anyone, but we are seeing oral health disparities continue to exist for many Arizona [...]
The purpose of the Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP) is to move the dial on important health outcomes and it is an important component of Public Health Accreditation. A lot has been going on behind the scenes to move us forward in the accreditation process. Below is an update of the work we have done [...]
During the school year in Arizona, nearly 650,000 meals are served at schools each day. Last summer, the Summer Food Service Program served 16,007 meals each day at schools and other sites. Meals are served at a variety of community sites, but many families do not know about the program. Our staff and the Arizona Department [...]
During the development of the Arizona State Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), workgroups identified strategies that would cut across several of the leading health issues, impacting one or more of them. These cross-cutting strategies target worksite wellness, school health, and the Built Environment. Last week, we hosted a webinar with leadership partners from the Arizona Department [...]
Guest blog by Mary Ellen Cunningham, Bureau of Women's and Children's Health All new parents have experienced a version of this thought when they bring home their helpless, tiny newborn: “I have no idea what I am doing.” We also know now how terribly important those first years are for baby. The brain development in [...]
October 24th is the 2nd annual Food Day in the US. It’s a nationwide celebration and movement towards more healthy, affordable and sustainable food. We’ve been collaboratively planning a “Phoenix Real Food Tour” with Maricopa County Department of Public Health, the The Orchard Community Learning Center garden, Tiger Mountain Foundation, Central Farmers’ Market, and the Arizona Department [...]
October 24th is the 2nd annual Food Day in the US. It’s a nationwide celebration and movement towards more healthy, affordable and sustainable food. We’ve been collaboratively planning a “Phoenix Real Food Tour” with Maricopa County Department of Public Health, the The Orchard Community Learning Center garden, Tiger Mountain Foundation, Central Farmers’ Market, and the Arizona Department [...]
Some of my most memorable moments of elementary school are about things that happened at lunchtime. Back in the day, lunchtime lasted just as long as all the other periods. It’s still that way in some places- but in others lunch hasn’t been competing for time as successfully with the other academic priorities. The School [...]
The Arizona Department of Health Services is partnering with the Arizona Department of Education to help schools make health a priority. Arizona has the 15th highest childhood obesity rate in the nation. By creating healthier places to learn, schools are part of the solution to the childhood obesity epidemic. One of the most effective ways [...]
