Rural healthcare services in Arizona to continue with fresh funding via grant awarded to UArizona Center for Rural Health
The Arizona State Office of Rural Health (SORH) has been awarded a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) over the next five years. This funding will support the delivery of up-to-date research, practices, and resources to health services providers in rural Arizona.
The program, which is part of the SORH, aims to improve the health and wellness of Arizona's rural and vulnerable populations. The SORH's primary goal is to assist states in strengthening rural health care delivery systems.
The Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AzAHEC) and the Center for Rural Health in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at UArizona Health Sciences are among the recipients of this grant. The funding will enable these entities to continue serving rural, underserved communities in Arizona.
Many rural communities in Arizona are isolated from human services and health care providers. The SORH recognizes this challenge and works to address it through its three core areas of focus: information dissemination, coordination of rural health care activities, and technical assistance to public and nonprofit entities.
The SORH collects and disseminates information to rural health care providers and agencies about grant opportunities, research findings, policy updates, best practices, and other rural health issues. It also partners with communities, regions, statewide, and national entities to coordinate rural health care activities and provide technical assistance to increase capacity in rural communities to develop and sustain successful rural health programs and services.
The SORH has been federally designated as the Arizona State Office of Rural Health since 1990. Dan Derksen, MD, the director of the Center for Rural Health, leads the SORH's efforts to improve the health and wellness of Arizona's rural and vulnerable populations.
Arizona is the sixth-largest state by land mass, with approximately 55% of its 114,000-square-mile area owned by the federal and state government, and approximately 17% owned privately. About 28% of Arizona's land is owned by 22 federally recognized Native American tribes.
Rural Arizonans, particularly Native American and Latinx populations, face significant health disparities due to their isolated locations. This new funding will help the SORH continue serving these communities, ensuring they have access to the health services they need to thrive.
The grant will last for the next five years, providing a stable foundation for the SORH to continue its vital work in Arizona's rural communities.
