SPECIAL
POINTS OF
INTEREST:

A P R I L

April is Sexual
Assault Awareness
Month

2 0 1 1

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in the United States.
The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and
individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. Each day, people witness a continuum of behaviors that
range from being respectful and safe, to being sexually abusive and violent.

National Public
Health Week is
April 4-10
Infant
Immunization
Week is April 24-30
Wear your Denim
on April 27th

The 2011 national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign explores common, everyday
behaviors and offers individuals viable, responsible ways to intervene. This primary prevention approach
helps create environments where people are safe in their relationships, families, neighborhoods, schools,
work places and communities. This year’s campaign, “It’s time … to get involved,” incorporates a
bystander approach to sexual violence prevention. SAAM brings together resources and information, thus
offering everyone the opportunity to address behaviors before sexual violence occurs.

Epidemiologist
Needed

INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
OCSHCN
joins BWCH

2

Nat. Infant
Immunization

2

Teen Pregnancy

3

DV Prevention

4

Project Connect

5

Breastfeeding
Success

5

AZ Children’s
Oral Health

6

National Health
Week

6

Title V State
Priorities

8

Childhood Home 9
Visiting Program
BWCH Contacts

10

A bystander, or witness, is anyone who sees a situation but may or may not know what to
do, may think others will act or may be afraid to do something. Research shows that
engaging bystanders is a promising way to help prevent the widespread problem of sexual
violence in communities. Making the change from being a society of passive bystanders to
one of engaged and responsible bystanders will take more than just individual actions and
scattered programs across the country. We must educate on healthy relationships, sexual harassment, and
inappropriate sexual behavior. Society needs the skills to recognize what is not acceptable. It is critical
that people learn how to evaluate the danger in circumstances, when not to intervene for safety reasons,
and be aware of other options.
What can YOU do in SAAM?
Educators: teach non-violent conflict-resolution skills and promote anti-bullying values that
demonstrate respect for everyone.
Health Care Providers: talk with patients about normal human development and healthy, consensual
sexuality.
Faith and Spiritual Community Members: sponsor activities that demonstrate appreciation for
diversity, such as hosting educational activities around various holidays and inviting people to share
favorite recipes and talk about family traditions that build respect.
Employers: promote violence-free workplaces, establish and enforce sexual harassment and antibullying policies, contribute resources to programs that are working to make a difference.
To see what events are happening around Arizona please visit our web site at:
http://www.azrapeprevention.org/svpep_events
More ideas can be found at: http://www.nsvrc.org

Sexual Violence
Awareness Day
April 27th

On Wednesday, April 27th,
wear denim and join in
spreading the word about
sexual violence
prevention.

PAGE

2

The Office for
Children with
Special Health
Care Needs
(OCSHCN) has
moved to BWCH

Welcome OCSHCN!
The Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs (OCSHCN) has moved to the Bureau of
Women’s and Children’s Health!
In addition to a new home, there have been some changes in staff. Marta Urbina is now serving as
the Office Chief for OCSHCN. Marta previously served as OCSHCN’s Clinical Programs
Executive Coordinator, guiding parent and youth leadership, coordinating staff activities related to
family support and community development, chairing the cultural competence committee, and
overseeing information and referral.
Marta has vast experience professionally and personally as a parent working with the multiple,
complex systems of care for children with special health care needs. We are happy to have Marta
leading Arizona’s Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs.
Assisting Marta at OCSHCN are Rita Aitken, working as Education and
Advocacy Manager and Shelly Persons, OCSHCN’s invaluable Programs
and Project Specialist.
Previous OCSHCN leadership, Joan Agostinelli and Judie Walker, have
each found new paths in promoting the health of children and families in
positions with the Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity and United
Healthcare Arizona Physicians IPA, respectively. OCSHCN continues to
contract with United Healthcare Arizona Physicians IPA to support best
practices including parent and youth involvement and social service
funds. They are greatly missed, but we wish them well in their new
endeavors.

Shelly Persons, Marta Urbina, Clint the service-dog
OCSHCN continues working to improve systems of care, provide
-in-training, and Rita Aitken.

information and referral to families who would like assistance in finding
services available to their child, provide training to families and professionals on best practices
related to medical home, cultural competence, transition to adulthood and family and youth
involvement, and support telemedicine to provide services in remote areas of the state. You may
contact OCSHCN by calling (602) 542-1860 / 1(800) 232-1676 or sending an email to
OCSHCN@azdhs.gov.

Arizona to Host National Infant Immunization Week
Arizona has the honor of being chosen as the launch state for
this year's National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)
campaign from April 24th to 30th. For the last several years
the National Immunization Program of the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) has spent the week in a border state
highlighting the joint efforts of the United States and Mexico
in the Vaccinate the Americas initiative that is also observed
the same week as NIIW. Their visit gives Arizona the
opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to children's
health and wellness, innovative practices and strong
partnerships.
Pertussis (whooping cough) is highly contagious and can
infect people of any age. However, infants are the most
vulnerable to pertussis because they are too young to receive
the vaccine. Sadly, most infants who contract pertussis catch
SPRING

it from a parent, family
member or close
th
th
caregiver because they
were never vaccinated or
their immunity to the
disease has waned over time. A toolkit with flyers,
posters, immunization resources and information about
where to get a pertussis vaccine will be available soon at
www.WhyImmunize.org.

April 24 -30

Visit http://azdhs.gov/phs/immun/ or call the Arizona
Immunization Office at (602) 364-3630 for more
information about NIIW and pertussis vaccines; if you
would like to volunteer or sponsor a NIIW community
activity, contact The Arizona Partnership for
Immunization at (602) 288-7568 or

PAGE

3

Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Funding for Teen Pregnancy
Prevention Available for 2011
According to the most recent
teen birth rates from the Centers
for Disease Control, Arizona
ranks 6th in the Nation for
highest teen birth rates at 61.2
per 1,000 females, age 15-19
years of age.
There is however, good news on
the horizon to help decrease
those rates thanks to federal
amendments made to the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care
Act. The amendments authorize
funding for a new
comprehensive sex education
initiative titled, the Personal
Responsibility Program
(PREP) and renews funding for
the Title V State Abstinence
Education Grant Program.
The
Arizona
Department
of Health
Services,
Bureau of
Women’s
and
Children’s
Health
(BWCH)
will administer these funds for
the State of Arizona through
Request for Grant Applications
(RFGA).
The Abstinence Education
Program RFGA is expected to
be released to the public in
April 2011 and will be effective
through 2014. These funds will
be used to provide classroom
education programs and/or the
development and
implementation of community

based, multi-faceted youth
development/service learning
programs that address the
problems of teen pregnancy and
sexually transmitted infections
among youth. At the option of
the State, where appropriate,
mentoring, counseling, and
adult supervision services to
promote abstinence from sexual
activity may be funded.
Programs funded under this
grant must be consistent with
the federal abstinence education
program definition.
The targeted population for the
abstinence grant is youth ages
11-19 years with an emphasis
on Hispanic/Latino, African
American, and/or American
Indian descent. Parents of this
population are also targeted.
Populations addressed in the
grant should reside in
geographic
areas that are
either
underserved or
un-served
across the state.
The RFGA will
be open
statewide to
private
nonprofit
agencies, tribal agencies, and
other public agencies.
The PREP funds will be utilized
to design and implement school
or community-based multifaceted education and youth
development/service programs
to educate adolescents on both
abstinence and contraception to
prevent pregnancy and sexually
transmitted infections (STIs),
including HIV/AIDS, and to
provide at least three adulthood

preparation subjects.
To have the most positive impact
on Arizona’s teen birth statistics,
BWCH has outlined several
approaches to delivering services
including identifying
communities with the highest
need for teen pregnancy
prevention services utilizing the
Community Health Analysis Area
(CHAA) report, targeting
population groups of youth who
reside in the CHAAs, selecting
appropriate curricula for the
targeted population, and selecting
adulthood preparation topics for
integration into evidence based
curricula.
The targeted population for the
PREP grant is youth 12-19 years
of age of all ethnicities with a
primary focus on teens 12-17
years of age and sub-populations
of Hispanics, African Americans,
and foster care youth.
PREP is expected to be released
early summer of 2011 and will be
effective through 2016. There is
approximately one (1) million
dollars of funding available for
each program.
BWCH will also offer trainings
for interested parties to learn how
to deliver effective programs.
Organizations interested in
receiving notification of the
RFGA release, should sign up as
a vendor at www.procureaz.gov.
For additional information
regarding the grants, contact
Angie Lorenzo, Sexual Health
Program Manager,
(602) 542-0360 or
angie.lorenzo@azdhs.gov.

“Arizona
ranks 6th in
the Nation
for the
highest teen
birth rates,
ages 15-19
years of
age.

PAGE

4

Domestic Violence Prevention
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence, also known as
domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child
abuse or intimate partner violence
(IPV), can be broadly defined as a
pattern of abusive behaviors by one
or both partners in an intimate
relationship such as marriage,
dating, family, friends or
cohabitation that include the use or
threat of violence and intimidation
for the purpose of gaining power
and control over another person.
Types of abuse may include:
physical abuse, sexual abuse,
economic abuse, isolation,
emotional abuse, control, or verbal
abuse.
What is BWCH doing to combat
domestic violence?
Currently, BWCH administers the
Federal Family Violence Prevention
and Services Act (FVPSA) grant
which supports the establishment,
maintenance, and expansion of
programs and projects to prevent
incidents of family violence and to
provide immediate shelter and
related assistance for victims of
family violence and their

dependents.
In Arizona, the FVPSA funds have
supported the development of Rural
Domestic Violence Services
Network (RDVSN) programs which
provide safety and adjunct services
to victims of domestic violence in
rural Arizona. The RDVSN
program encompasses all domestic
violence (DV) programs funded
through the department and provides
guidelines and technical assistance.
Services provided include
temporary, safe emergency shelter,
crisis intervention, individual and
group peer counseling, case
management, transportation,
advocacy, legal advocacy,
children’s services, and information
and referral. In addition to the six
rural shelters, FVPSA also partially
funds the Arizona Coalition Against
Domestic Violence. (AzCADV)
AzCADV was formed in 1980 to
increase public awareness about the
issue of domestic violence, to
enhance the safety and services
available to domestic violence
victims, and to reduce the incidents
of domestic violence in Arizona

New Staff

Dianne Myers
Executive
Staff Assistant

families. Since its inception, the
Coalition has served as an advocate
and a voice representing the needs
of domestic violence service
providers and the victims they serve
throughout Arizona.
In addition to promoting DV
support through the RDVSH, the
Bureau of Women’s and Children’s
Health also collaborates with other
BWCH programs. Currently all
county family planning clinics
screen clients for domestic abuse as
does the Health Start Program, a
home visiting program that utilizes
community health workers to
provide education, support,
and advocacy services to pregnant/
postpartum women and their
families in targeted communities
across the state.
For more information about the
Rural Domestic Violence Safe
Home Network, contact Program
Manager, Brenda Nichols at
602-542-7341 or
Brenda.Nichols@azdhs.gov.

Looking for a New Career?
Brenda Nichols
Family Planning
& Domestic
Violence Services

Sajikumar Gopalakrishnan
Administrative Assistant III
OCSHCN

There are exciting opportunities now available in the Bureau of
Women’s and Children’s Health for those who want to translate their
passion to action. Currently, there are two epidemiology/research
associate positions available. Both positions are federally funded
positions and require individuals to have basic epidemiological research
and/or social science research skills including basic understanding of
statistics. To apply, go to https://www.azstatejobs.gov
The position descriptions are under:
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIY
PROGRAM EVALUATOR
EPIDEMIOLOGY SPECIALIST II

PAGE

5

Project Connect A public health response to intimate partner abuse
The Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence has partnered with several public
health agencies to bring the Project Connect initiative to Arizona. This initiative
addresses domestic violence, sexual violence, and reproductive coercion and allows
Arizona including BWCH to:
Integrate and strengthen screening for domestic violence, sexual violence, and
reproductive coercion in family planning clinics
Provide continuing education to the health care providers on violence against
women and its impact on patient health
Distribute patient education material outlining these issues
Offer basic reproductive health services to domestic violence victims in 7 shelters
Improve data collection
Influence public policy
Intimate partner violence and coercion have long been linked to negative health
outcomes for victims (increased injury, substance use, depression, decreased access to
care, etc.).
A growing body of research is examining coercive behaviors associated with
contraception use and pregnancy. Examples of these behaviors include:
Birth Control Sabotage: Active interference with contraceptive
methods (flushing pills, poking holes in condoms, refusing to wear
condoms).
Pregnancy Coercion: Threats or acts of violence if the partner does not
comply with the perpetrator’s wishes to continue or terminate a
pregnancy.

Partnering Agencies:
Arizona Coalition Against
Domestic Violence
Department of Health Services
Arizona Family Planning
Council
AZ Association of Community
Health Care Centers
Southeast Arizona Health
Education Center

“In a recent study of four urban
family planning centers, over 25%
of women reported a lifetime
experience of reproductive coercion,
19% reported pregnancy coercion,
and 15% reported birth control
sabotage”.

For more information on Project Connect contact Dorothy Hastings at (602) 364-1423.

Baby Steps to Breastfeeding Success
The Arizona Department of Health
Services (ADHS) Arizona Baby
Steps to Breastfeeding Success
program is working with hospitals
statewide to make institutional
changes in maternity care practices
that have been shown to
significantly increase breastfeeding
initiation and duration rates. The
Program institutes five (5) of the ten
(10) World Health Organization
(WHO) Baby Friendly Hospital
Initiatives.

The five simple “Baby Friendly” practices include:
Initiate breastfeeding within the first hour after birth
Avoid giving infants fluids or solids other than breast milk unless
medically necessary
Promote 24-hour rooming-in, encouraging the family to recognize and
respond to infant’s cues
Do not use a pacifier or artificial nipple with infants during the hospital
stay
Give mothers a telephone number to call for help with breastfeeding, the
ADHS Breastfeeding Hotline 1-800-833-4642
For additional information about the Arizona Baby Steps to Breastfeeding
Success program visit: http://azdhs.gov/phs/bnp/gobreastmilk/
BFAzBabySteps.htm

PAGE

6

Oral Health Status of the State’s Children

75% of third grade
school children have
had tooth decay, one
of the most common
chronic diseases of
childhood.

The Arizona Department of
Health Services, Office of Oral
Health
recently
announced
new
information
on the oral
health
status of
the state’s
children.
According
to this newly available data,
75% of third grade school
children have had tooth decay,
one of the most common
chronic diseases of
childhood. A total of 40% of
third graders had untreated
tooth decay, an indication of
overall oral health need.

In addition, 47% of third
grade school children had
dental sealants. Dental
sealants, thin coatings applied
to the chewing surfaces of the
back (molar) teeth, are one of
the most effective ways to
prevent tooth decay. They
are particularly important for
low-income children who
lack access to regular dental
care.
The new data, collected
during the 2009–2010 school
year, show that while sealant
prevalence is increasing,
there is still a high level of
tooth decay and oral health
needs among Arizona
children. Currently, 42 states
provide data for third grade
children to the National Oral

“Safety is No Accident”

Health Surveillance
System. This data allows states
to assess the oral health status of
children, identify disparities in
receipt of preventive services
such as dental sealants, and
guide decisions to efficiently
use resources to improve the
oral health of children.
The new data is available
through the National Oral
Health Surveillance System
(NOHSS) and can be viewed at
http://www.cdc.gov/nohss/.
NOHSS is a collaborative
surveillance system provided by
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) with the
Association of State and
Territorial Dental Directors.

National Public Health Week April 4-10

For more than a decade, communities across the country have celebrated National Public Health Week each April by
highlighting public achievements and raising awareness of issues important to improving the public’s health. This
year’s theme is “Safety Is No Accident: Live Injury-Free”.
Everyone has a role to play and each action, no matter how
small, can make a big difference in your community. You can
help raise awareness of injury and violence prevention in
your community during National Health Week by observing
this year’s daily themes:
• Monday: Injury Prevention Starts At Home – Learn what
precautions can be taken to make homes safer.
• Tuesday: Injury Prevention Starts At Work – Conduct
safety training and wear protective equipment to reduce
exposures to hazards at work.
• Wednesday: Injury Prevention Starts At Play – Host a
sports and recreation-related injury awareness event.
• Thursday: Injury Prevention Starts On the Move – Remain
alert while on the move and wear a seat belt.
• Friday: Injury Prevention Starts In Your Community –
Work with local authorities to address public safety issues.

PAGE

7

NATIONAL

PUBLIC

HEALTH

WEEK

It takes only a moment for an injury to happen, but
simple actions can make you and your family safer.
Driving a car, playing a sport, swimming or simply
walking down a street can all present hazards. In
addition, violence and maltreatment affect people of all
ages, including in the workplace. Taking actions such as
wearing a seat belt, properly installing and using child
safety seats, wearing a
helmet, and storing cleaning
supplies in locked cabinets
are important, easy ways to
promote safety. See
www.nphw.org/nphw11/
first1.htm for more
information on how you can
promote injury-free living.

CONTINUED

the Injury Prevention Advisory Council (IPAC),
the next meeting will be held May 25, 2011 from 9am
to 12pm at the Arizona Department of Health
Services, 150 N 18th Ave. You may come in person or
join the meeting via teleconference by emailing
alana.shacter@azdhs.gov for details. This meeting is
open to anyone with an interest in injury prevention.

Another avenue to work on
injury prevention is through
Safe Kids. Safe Kids
Arizona is a state-wide
program dedicated to the
prevention of unintentional
injury for Arizona’s children
younger than 15 years of age.
Safe Kids Arizona is a
Increasing awareness on how
member of the Safe Kids
to live safer and injury-free
Worldwide. Local Safe Kids
lives is the first step in
Coalitions throughout
creating a healthier nation.
Arizona receive leadership
Preventable injuries rank
and technical assistance from
among the top 10 causes of
Safe Kids Arizona. In
death for people of all ages,
Arizona, there are five local
and for each injury-related
Safe Kids Coalitions and one
fatality there are dozens of
local chapter. Assistance in
non-fatal injuries. Figure 1
establishing new coalitions,
shows the number of injuries
developing injury prevention
in 2009 among Arizona
strategies for communities
residents.
and injury data are available
from Safe Kids Arizona.
On average, 12 Arizonans
Local coalition
died from an injury each day
Figure 1.
accomplishments include regular
during 2009. Since 2000, the
Injuries Among Arizona Residents, 2009 car seat check up events, a
Centers for Disease Control &
permanent car seat testing site,
Prevention (CDC) has supported ADHS in developing a
child passenger safety (CPS) technician certification
systematic injury surveillance and control process. As a
and development of resource materials for public
result, Arizona developed a statewide Injury
education. For more information on Safe Kids, contact
Surveillance and Prevention Plan, and activated an
Tomi St. Mars at (602) 542-7340, or
Injury Prevention Advisory Council. The Advisory
tomi.st.mars@azdhs.gov
Council provides recommendations on injury priorities,
works together on priority strategies, assists in problem
More information on various injury topics can be
solving, participates in revision and evaluation of the
found at the BWCH website publications
plan, and acts as a network of partners from multiple
http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/publicat.htm page by
disciplines working toward shared goals of reducing
injury in Arizona.
clicking on Injury Prevention Factsheets and the
If you or someone from your agency would like to join
Injury Surveillance and Prevention Program.

PAGE

8

Title V

Five Year Needs Assessment & New State Priorities

Last July, the Bureau of Women’s & Children’s Health submitted a five year needs assessment to the Health Resources & Services
Administration, as required by the Title V Maternal Child Health Block Grant. Arizona’s 2010 Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
Needs Assessment provides an overview of the state, partnership efforts, capacity to address MCH needs, and health status of MCH
populations.
The statewide five year needs assessment provides the foundation upon which state priorities are chosen for maternal and child health.
Arizona’s selection of state Title V priorities for 2011-2016 was grounded in review of quantitative and qualitative data, as well as
careful consideration of capacity and public input. Input was gathered through multiple means – surveys, focus groups, public input
sessions, and stakeholder priority-setting meetings. Here are the new Title V priorities.
PRIORITY 1: REDUCE THE RATE OF TEEN PREGNANCY AMONG YOUTH LESS THAN 19 YEARS OF AGE.
While Arizona’s rates of teen pregnancy and teen births have been declining over the past decade, Arizona still ranks within the top
five highest teen birth rates in the nation. Arizona has capacity to address this priority through state lottery dollars and new federal
funding through the Affordable Care Act.
PRIORITY 2: IMPROVE THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO ARE AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT.
Arizona’s percentage of children who are overweight or obese has increased at higher rates than any other state. For youth 10 to 17
years of age, there was a 45.9 percent increase in the prevalence of obesity from 2003 to 2007, which was the greatest increase in the
nation. Nearly half of all reproductive age women in Arizona are either overweight or obese.
PRIORITY 3: IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF WOMEN PRIOR TO PREGNANCY.
Birth outcomes, such as low birth weight and infant mortality, have remained relatively stable over the past five years. The percentage
of Arizona women accessing prenatal care in the first trimester increased since the last needs assessment, particularly among women
receiving Medicaid. Since 2006 when the CDC issued its recommendations on how to improve the health of women prior to
pregnancy, known as preconception health, Arizona has shifted more attention to this strategy in order to improve birth outcomes,
including infant mortality. Preconception health comprehensively addresses multiple areas of women’s health across the lifespan,
including reproductive health, nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, substance abuse and mental health.
PRIORITY 4: REDUCE THE RATE OF INJURIES, INTENTIONAL & UNINTENTIONAL
Injuries are the leading causes of death for Arizonans ages 1 – 44. Homicides and suicides remain a significant issue for teens and
young adults, and dating violence among Arizona high school students increased significantly between 2003 and 2007. Multiple
programs within ADHS and across the state implement injury prevention strategies.
PRIORITY 5: IMPROVE ACCESS TO AND QUALITY OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN.
The new priority of preventive health services for children was identified by the group of stakeholders and ADHS staff charged with
setting general MCH priorities. Preventive health services include, but are not limited to immunizations, screenings, and home
visitation.
PRIORITY 6: IMPROVE THE ORAL HEALTH OF ARIZONANS.
The oral health of children residing in Arizona is significantly worse than for their national peers. Arizona’s Healthy Smiles, Healthy
Bodies survey reported that 31 percent of children ages 2-5 years in Arizona had untreated tooth delay, compared to only 16 percent of
their peers nationally.
PRIORITY 7: IMPROVE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
While quantitative data is lacking to fully assess the behavioral health status of women and children, both the BWCH partner survey
and community survey, and input provided by stakeholders, indicated that mental health and substance use/abuse (including alcohol as
well as illegal drug use) are critical issues that need to be addressed.
PRIORITY 8: REDUCE UNMET NEED FOR HEARING SERVICES.
While every newborn in Arizona is screened for hearing loss, approximately one third of those who fail the initial screening do not
receive appropriate follow up services. The needs assessment data shows a relatively high proportion of unmet need related to hearing,
with one in four of the CSHCN with an identified need for hearing aids or hearing care failing to have those needs met.
PRIORITY 9: PREPARE CYSHCN FOR TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.
Although adolescents represent a relatively small proportion of all CSHCN, most CSHCN will eventually become adults and will
require transition services. In addition, the transition process begins long before adolescence. Whether a child will grow to live
independently or require some kind of assistance, every family must address how health care needs will be met as well as all of the
requirements of everyday living.
PRIORITY 10: PROMOTE INCLUSION OF CSHCN IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE.
Inclusion of CSHCN in childcare, school, sports, work, and even in wellness activities, such as nutrition and physical activity, and
injury prevention, present many opportunities for improvement. During public input, families often spoke about the lack of
accommodations for CSHCN to participate in all aspects of life, and how important these were to address.

PAGE

9

ACA Maternal, Infant and Early
Childhood Home Visiting Program
On March 23, 2010, President
Barack Obama signed into law the
Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act of 2010. Included in this
Act is language authorizing Section
511, an amendment to Title V of
the Social Security
Act. This act
establishes the
Maternal, Infant
and Early
Childhood Home
Visiting Program
which will provide
funds for evidencebased home
visiting to families
in at-risk
communities.
Arizona's
allocation for
federal fiscal year 2010 is
approximately $1.8 million.
Studies have consistently shown
that the health status, development
and life experiences during the
early years of a child’s life, have
long term implications for physical
and mental health, educational
attainment, and other quality of life
indicators.
Home visiting for pregnant women
and families with young children
helps support new parents by
offering information on child
health and development,
conducting screenings to identify
developmental delays as early as
possible and promoting skills that
improve family self sufficiency and
school readiness for the young
child. Evidence based home

visitation programs are also
effective at reducing incidences of
child abuse and are able to
promote primary prevention of
domestic violence by teaching
family members about healthy
relationships
while
modeling and
reinforcing
those
concepts.
In
anticipation
of responding
to the
application,
the Bureau of
Women’s and
Children’s
Health met
with other state agencies that
provide services for young
children, including the Arizona
Department of Economic
Security, the Arizona Department
of Education, the Inter Tribal
Council of Arizona and the Early
Childhood Development and
Health Board, also known as First
Things First.
The law required every state to
conduct a needs assessment in
order to identify communities
with concentrations of poor
maternal and child health
outcomes. The federal statute
clearly described the elements to
be used to identify those
communities and included
information on the following
indicators, infant mortality,
preterm births, low birth weight

babies, crime rates, child
maltreatment, teen pregnancy and
income levels. The statute also
required states to identify the
quality and capacity of existing
programs or initiatives for early
childhood home visitation in the
state.
The information about current
home visiting programs was
drawn heavily from the Vision for
Early Childhood Home Visiting
Services in Arizona: a Plan for
Action 2010-2015. Arizona’s
needs assessment was submitted
to Health Resources and Services
Administration and the
Administration for Children and
Families on September 20, 2010.
The third and final application
will be the submission of an
updated State Plan. The state will
make the final designation of the
targeted at risk communities and
submit a specific plan tailored to
address the identified needs. The
home visiting model(s) selected
for implementation in Arizona
must meet rigorous evidence
based criteria. There will be
guidance from the funders in the
selection of these models. The
plan must also show how the
selected model matches the needs
identified and how fidelity to the
model will be assured.
For updates on where we are as
this Updated State Plan develops
go to http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/
owch/VisitingProgram.htm

PAGE

10

The Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health The Bureau of Women's
and Children's Health (BWCH) supports efforts to improve the health of
Arizona women and children. Activities focus on assessment of health status
and identification of health issues, development of partnerships and planning
to address health issues, and provision of "safety net" services.
Our Vision
Healthy Women...Healthy Children...Healthy Tomorrow
Our Mission
To strengthen the family and the community by promoting and improving
the health and safety of women, infants, and children.

Contacts

Bureau Chief
Sheila Sjolander, MSW
Phone: (602) 364-1419 Fax: (602) 364-1494
Email: Sheila.Sjolander@azdhs.gov

OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH

OFFICE OF WOMEN’S HEALTH

INJURY PREVENTION

Office Chief
High Risk Perinatal Program
Transport
Mary Ellen Cunningham, MPA, RN
Phone: (602) 364-1453
Email: Mary.Ellen.Cunninham@azdhs.gov

Office Chief
State Adolescent Health Coordinator
Toni Means, MBA-HCM
Phone: (602) 364-1422
Email: Toni.Means@azdhs.gov

Section Manager
EMS-C, Safe Kids
Tomi St. Mars, RN, MSN, CEN
Phone: (602) 542-7340
Email: Tomi.St.Mars@azdhs.gov

Education Section Manager
Dorothy Hastings
Phone: (602) 364-1423
Email: Dorothy.Hastings@azdhs.gov

Injury Prevention Program
Alana J. Shacter, MPH
Injury Epidemiologist
Phone: (602) 364-1444
Email: Alana.Shacter@azdhs.gov

High Risk Perinatal Program
Hospital and Community Nursing
Karen Stewart, RN, MSN
Phone: (620) 364-1462
Email: Karen.Stewart@azdhs.gov
Project LAUNCH
Rosalinda DiTommaso, MPH
Project Director
Phone: (602) 364-1449
Fax: (602) 364-1494
Email: Rosalinda.Ditommaso@azdhs.gov
ADHS Hotlines & Medical
Services Project
Karen Kuhfuss, Section Manager
Phone: (602) 364-1454
Email: Karen.Kuhfuss@azdhs.gov

OFFICE OF ORAL HEALTH
Office Chief
Julia Wacloff, RDH, MS
Phone: (602) 364-1474
Email: Julia.Wacloff@azdhs.gov
Dental Trailer Loan Program
Dental Sealant Program/Fluoride
Mouth Rinse Program
RaNee Tuscano, RDH
Phone: (602) 542-2945
Email:Ranee.Tuscano@azdhs.gov
Fiscal Service Specialist
Prudence Nelson
Phone: (602) 542-2939
Email: Prudence.Nelson@azdhs.gov

Health Start/Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder
Sara Rumann, MA, Program Manager
Phone: (602) 364-1421
Email: Sara.Rumann@azdhs.gov
Sexual Violence Prevention &
Education Program
Carol Hensell, Program Manager
Phone: (602) 542-7343
Email: Carol.Hensell@azdhs.gov
Email: carolrpep@aol.com
Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Program
Angie Lorenzo, Program Manager
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-0360
Email: Angie.Lorenzo@azdhs.gov
Domestic Violence & Family
Planning Program
Brenda Nichols, Program Manager
Phone: (602) 542-7341
Email: Brenda.Nichols@azdhs.gov

www.azdhs.gov

OFFICE OF ASSESSMENT &
EVALUATION
Office Chief
Khaleel Hussaini, PhD
Phone: (602) 364-1415
Email: Syed.Hussaini@azdhs.gov
Assessment and Evaluation Specialist
Douglas Ritenour, MPH
Phone: (602) 364-1433
Email: Douglas.Ritenour@azdhs.gov

OFFICE FOR CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS
Office Chief
Marta Urbina
Phone: (602) 542-2528
Email: Marta.Urbina@azdhs.gov
Education and Advocacy Manager
Rita Aitken
Phone: (602) 364-1480
Email: Rita.Aitken@azdhs.gov
Program Project Specialist
Shelly Persons
Phone: (602) 364-1497
Email: Shelly.Persons@azdhs.gov
Title V Outreach Manager
Ralph Figueroa
Phone: (602) 354-1397
Email: Ralph.Figueroa@azdhs.gov