Impact Stories - Health First Foundation Northern Arizona

Health First Foundation Awards $550,000 in Grants to Support Youth-Focused Programs in Northern Arizona

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:29:59 GMT

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Since inception, Health First Foundation has operated with one purpose in mind: to advance community health and well-being throughout northern Arizona and seek optimal health outcomes for all. Through the generosity of loyal donors, Health First distributes grants and sponsorships to nonprofit organizations in northern Arizona. These awards target top community health initiatives that support the programs and initiatives achieving positive health outcomes across our state.
“We’re excited to see the positive and life-changing outcomes the programs we support have on the people of northern Arizona,” said Health First Foundation Executive Director Mark Urick. “These awards emphasize innovation and health promotion while addressing the social determinants that affect health and well-being—quite simply, we want everyone in our region to lead the best lives possible.”

The 2025 HFF Grant Recipients

In its annual grant cycle, Health First has awarded a total of $550,000 in grants to nonprofits focused on projects and services benefiting youth (infants to age 18) in northern Arizona.

The programs supported by the foundation grants address a variety of areas, including mental health services, food distribution, homelessness, and holistic health education.

A total of eight organizations received grants:

• Polara Health

• United Way of Northern Arizona

• Flagstaff Shelter Services

• Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District

• The Guidance Center

• Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff

• Arizona Food Bank Network

• Northland Family Help Center

“In the 2025 cycle, we wanted to invest in initiatives that make a lasting impact on our youth, helping them and their communities achieve better health and well-being,” said Urick. “This funding empowers these organizations to provide critical services that drive positive outcomes.”

Visit our website to learn more about our mission and how you can support a healthy future for northern Arizona.

"Every Brilliant Thing" Performance Changes the Mental Health Conversation

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:34:58 GMT

Every Brilliant Thing , a one-man show, was performed at Northland Preparatory Academy (NPA) on January 15, 2025, as part of an initiative to raise mental health awareness. Sponsored by the Health First Foundation, the play by Duncan MacMillan and Jonny Donahoe follows a character who, as a child, begins a list of "brilliant things" to cope with his mother’s suicide attempt, continuing this list throughout his life.

The interactive performance involved NPA’s 11th and 12th-grade students, who read lines and took on roles such as the narrator’s family members and others, helping the audience to feel more connected to the students in the story.

Health First also sponsored performances in Flagstaff and Sedona, recognizing the play’s relevance for young audiences facing mental health challenges. The performance provides an alternative to traditional mental health discussions, offering a more engaging, less formal approach.

Dental Days Brings Free Dental Care to Northern Arizona

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 21:53:06 GMT

Access to dental care can be a challenge for many adults in northern Arizona, especially for those without adequate insurance or the financial means to pay out-of-pocket for services. This challenge is what the Dental Days program aims to address—by offering mobile, no-cost dental clinics, Dental Days is helping to bridge the gap for adults who struggle to access necessary dental care due to income limitations, insurance restrictions, and a lack of available providers.

Founded in August of 2022—and made possible by collaboration between volunteers, local healthcare providers, and key community organizations—the program has seen remarkable growth. The most recent event, held in December 2024, served 89 individuals—making it the most successful clinic yet.

“Every event is filled with excitement and warmth,” explains Executive Committee Member Alicia Yaeger-Booth, who has a background in public health and nonprofit leadership. “The gratitude from our patients is incredibly inspiring.”

Filling a Need

Flagstaff’s Dental Days program provides free dental screenings and treatments during its Saturday clinics, which have already become a crucial resource for those in need. Alicia explains this resource is exactly why the program was founded.

“There is a significant gap between the customary need-based determinations of eligibility and actual need, and these clinics address the issues of adult access to dental services, AHCCCS (Medicaid) coverage limitations, and income barriers to oral health care,” she says. “In Coconino County, there is just one adult AHCCCS provider, and it is not currently taking new adult patients. Plus, due to the high minimum wage in Flagstaff, a person working minimum wage may not qualify for AHCCCS.”

To ensure that the program is as accessible as possible, Dental Days holds pre-screening sessions on Friday afternoon before each Saturday clinic, allowing patients to be evaluated ahead of time. This makes it easier for those with busy work schedules to take advantage of the service.

Additionally, the team has learned to continuously improve, from refining their registration process to leveraging technology to streamline operations. Alicia explains that this growth and opportunity is made possible by support from Health First Foundation.

“HFF provided us with a little over $82,000 for supplies, equipment, and a trailer, and being able to purchase or rent what we needed helped that event take place,” says Alicia. “It’s made a huge difference in our ability to serve more people and expand to new venues.”

A Bright Future

The Dental Days program continues to grow, and the team is committed to reaching more individuals who lack access to dental care. With three successful clinics already under their belt, the team hopes to eventually offer as many as 4 events per year.

“We’re seeing the same people return to our clinics, which tells us we’re meeting a real need,” Alicia says. “The stories people share and the gratitude from returned clients who have no other dental home is unbelievably rewarding.”

As the program continues to serve Flagstaff and the surrounding areas, Alicia says the team is dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care to every patient who walks through the door.

“Our volunteers are incredible—they’re the ones who make these clinics run. It’s really a community effort, and it’s what makes this program so special. People are eager to help because they care about improving the lives of their neighbors.”

To learn more about how you can support critical northern Arizona programs like Dental Days, contact us.

Forging a Bond Through Music

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:48:26 GMT

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Donor-advised funds present a unique opportunity personalize gifts to go exactly where you think is the greatest need, and one example of this potential is the Lullaby Project. Developed by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, this project has proven track record of enhancing maternal health and in helping to bring expecting or recent mothers and their child closer together.

The idea is simple—by pairing a mother with a musician to compose a custom lullaby specifically for their newborn, it helps the parent make a stronger connection with their child. Forging this bond through music is crucial, because early childhood milestones like language, social skills, and walking all emerge in the first three years of a child’s life and are dependent on a healthy pregnancy, safe birth, and a nurturing relationship for the newborn.

As participating mothers work on and talk about their lullaby, they share positive emotions and relationships, create a new or rediscovered sense of personal meaning and achievement, and foster hopes for themselves—and their newborn—for the future. Research conducted by Wolof Bron has shown that mothers in Lullaby Project writing sessions use 450% more mental well-being statements than when they talk about the experience outside the session. Even more, these experiences can instill within mothers a confidence in their own abilities, both as parents and individuals.

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra currently employs four songwriters to work with residents of northern Arizona, with a primary focus on underserved populations, and since May 2023, The Guidance Center’s (TGC) “Moms and Babies First!” program has provided a steady stream of participants.

TGC Program Coordinator Lizette Melis shares that the presence of the Lullaby Project has led to more engagement in services offered to women in behavioral health, and the Flagstaff Unified School District has welcomed Lullaby Project into their Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) at Summit High School. After an inaugural semester of three participants in Fall 2023, seven more students have signed up to write a lullaby in Spring 2024.

This project has incredible impact on a critical segment of our community, and it was made possible through the generosity of a donor via a donor-advised fund. You can have this same impact—learn more about giving to HFF, and read more about donor-advised funds to the right.

What is a donor-advised fund?

The Lullaby Project was funded through a donor-advised fund, which is an account where you can deposit assets for donation to charity over time. What’s great about this method is the collaboration and personalization provided to you—a sponsoring organization like HFF manages that account, so you can recommend how to invest the assets and where to donate them. You can also claim a tax deduction for making contributions to the fund.

Once assets are deposited into a donor-advised fund, the sponsoring organization has legal control over them. But as long as you choose a charity that’s recognized by the IRS and as a U.S. charitable organization, the sponsoring organization will use your charities of choice.

Health First Grant Leads to Lives Saved

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 17:35:31 GMT

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Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening medical emergency that can strike anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Unfortunately, when it happens outside of a hospital setting, the chances of survival are often grim. In Coconino County, more than 200 people die each year from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, underscoring the urgent need for timely and effective intervention.

Experiencing a cardiac arrest can be a terrifying ordeal. When the heart suddenly stops beating effectively, it deprives the body of oxygen, leading to organ damage and death. Immediate action is crucial to increase the chances of survival. Research shows that early resuscitation and defibrillation can significantly improve outcomes in cardiac arrest cases.

In 2022, Griffith Blue Heart Nonprofit aimed to increase the chances of survival in the Flagstaff community by earning a Health First Foundation grant. The grant brought new training and equipment to Flagstaff police, enabling them to respond effectively to time-sensitive medical emergencies.

With impressive response times, police are well-positioned to play a vital role in saving lives. That’s why Griffith Blue Heart training targets law enforcement. Often the first to arrive at an emergency scene, officers are uniquely positioned to provide high-performance resuscitation and rapid defibrillation before emergency medical services arrive. These interventions can be lifesaving in cardiac arrest and situations like drowning, drug overdose, and profuse bleeding.

The Griffith Blue Heart team conducted three intensive day-long training sessions for Flagstaff Police Department officers. These sessions simulated emergencies police might encounter during daily patrols, providing them with knowledge and hands-on experience to respond effectively in high-stress situations.

Another critical component of the Griffith Blue Heart initiative was the deployment of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in patrol vehicles. An AED is a portable device that can analyze a person’s heart rhythm and, when necessary, deliver an electrical shock to help the heart reestablish an effective rhythm. These devices are instrumental in treating sudden cardiac arrest, where time is of the essence. Through the grant, Griffith Blue Heart equipped 54 Flagstaff Police Department patrol vehicles with AEDs, ensuring officers have access to this lifesaving technology when responding to emergencies.

Saving lives in the Flagstaff community has been a collaborative effort. The dedication and commitment of Flagstaff police officers, who now have the training and tools to make a difference in critical situations, have been nothing short of heroic. Additionally, Guardian Medical Transport in Flagstaff provided valuable support to this initiative by assisting with training, registration and deployment of the AEDs, and upkeep of the defibrillators.

The impact of this initiative is tangible. The training and AEDs, coupled with the dedication of Flagstaff police officers, have already helped save at least seven lives, including an infant.

The partnership between Health First Foundation, Griffith Blue Heart, and the Flagstaff Police Department serves as a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together to address a pressing issue. With the grant, training, and deployment of AEDs in patrol vehicles, Flagstaff is a safer place to live, work, and play.

The full impact of this initiative will be felt for generations and beyond. As Griffith Blue Heart founder and CEO Brandon Griffith says, “When one life is saved, it rings on for eternity.”

Advancing patient care in family residency program

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 20:22:05 GMT

To help advance quality primary care in the region, Health First funded the establishment of team-based care in North Country HealthCare’s family residency program. The goal: Teach new physicians and their colleagues a coordinated approach to patient care and improve health outcomes.

Team-based care is health providers working collaboratively with patients and caregivers to accomplish shared goals and achieve coordinated, quality care. Such care works to minimize the occurrence and severity of disease, offer better disease management, limit emergency department visits, and lower healthcare costs.

A Health First grant enabled the residency clinic to explore team-care models, determine what worked, and implement new care approaches that benefit patients and their families.

Residents learned the approaches and value of team care during the grant project. They implemented daily huddles to discuss patient care and utilized a new tool to identify patient gaps and streamline clinic visits. With these innovations, patients experienced more focused and efficient care.

As part of the program, the residency team established monthly interdisciplinary case conferencing to address the complex care needs of HIV/AIDS patients.

“We get together and do a deep dive into the patient – their medical history, their care, what resources they have, what’s holding their progress back, all of it,” explains Dr. Sarah Coles, the residency director. “In the end, we come together with an agenda and a care plan specific to that patient.”

One resident made this encouraging observation: “Participating in case conferencing has benefited both me and my patient. As a primary care physician, I work hard to ensure that my patients receive high-quality care. Sometimes, though, we are limited by time, costs, and competing priorities. Case conferencing has helped to bridge that gap and improve the care patients receive.”

A federally qualified health center, North Country focuses on people who often can’t afford care at 11 locations across northern Arizona. The health center’s family care residency program is the only one in the region.

While this grant project was confined to the residency clinic and the 7,000 patients seen during the grant period, the impact will grow in two ways.

First, with a newfound understanding of the power of collaborative medicine, graduating residents will take the holistic, team-care approach to their practices impacting future patients.

Additionally, North Country HealthCare plans to expand the model throughout the organization, giving all its patients the benefit of quality, team-based primary care.

Filling a Gap in Mental Health Care for Children

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 20:11:51 GMT

Improving mental and behavioral health is a Health First priority. We want to share with you the impact one of our grant-funded programs is having on children and families in the Lake Havasu City area. This oasis in the desert sits in the southwestern part of our region in Mohave County, where 25% of the youth population lives in poverty. Mohave County is a significant mental health provider shortage area and has reported not a single pediatric mental health provider in recent years.

To help alleviate the need, Health First Foundation awarded a grant to Arizona’s Children Association to establish outpatient and in-home behavioral and mental health services for children and their families in and around Lake Havasu City. So far, the program has served more than 140 individuals. Robert, 15, is one of them.

Robert’s life had been a struggle from the start. Born to a mother who was misusing drugs, he had often been homeless and once took shelter in a junkyard shed. A year ago, he lost the only family member that could provide him care, his grandmother. A friend’s mother took Robert in and sought help for the teenager suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep problems, and other issues. Arizona’s Children Association assists Robert and his new family with therapy and other needs through its expanded outpatient program.

“As humans on this planet, our number one priority should be to protect our children,” said Robert’s guardian parent. “They need to be protected, and they shouldn’t be hurt.”

Robert and his family are among the hundreds of thousands of people touched by Northern Arizona Community Health Grants from Health First Foundation. Our grants help area nonprofits provide care, preventative services, health education, and other assistance to those in need. They are made possible through the generosity of our donors.

Bolstering Nutrition and Health in Rural Northern Arizona

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 19:47:04 GMT

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“Whole foods are our best foods!” They include well-proportioned lean protein, fresh vegetables, fruit, and whole grains.

Nutrition educator Cheryl Lines was addressing a group of residents in the far reaches of northern Arizona. While she spoke, kitchen helpers prepared a velvety carrot-turnip soup and a casserole made with chicken, spaghetti, tomatoes, and fresh spinach. The complimentary class is part of a Health First grant-funded initiative led by Creek Valley Health Clinic of Colorado City.

Colorado City and its sister town of Hildale, Utah, have poverty rates hovering around 35 percent. Until Creek Valley Health Clinic opened in late 2019, residents had no local primary care facility and had to drive two hours or more for specialty care. These factors left many with undiagnosed and untreated chronic conditions.

Strengthening Nutrition and Activities in our Connected Community (SNACC for short) promotes healthy eating and lifestyles. The program has reached more than 525 rural residents in its first six months with nutrition classes, recipes, and incentives like produce vouchers. At the same time, it distributed 113,000 pounds of nutritious food to clinic patients and other residents.

“Everyone is excited about the project. It’s helping educate the community about the importance of eating healthy and being physically active throughout their lives,” said Lines, a Create Better Health Ambassador from Utah State University. Her team and the local Short Creek Dream City Food Bank are partnering with Creek Valley Health Clinic to implement the new SNACC program.

Colorado City mother Marjorie Holm attended a recent SNACC nutrition class with her children.

“I like to learn how to read labels, but my kids like to smell and taste all the food,” she said. “The classes give me more ideas for recipes and how to cook them. With three children, I’m all about learning all I can about food.”

They all tried the soup, a blend of simmered carrots, potatoes, turnips, leeks, and garlic, finished with coconut milk and chopped fresh parsley. (Get the recipe for Creamy Carrot and Turnip Soup.)

Another mother attending the class was happy to learn how nutritious foods can come together in one quick recipe.

“I’ve never tried chicken with spaghetti and spinach before,” she said. “It works. It’s good. It’s always good to find new ways of cooking.”

Getting healthy foods to people and teaching them how to prepare nutritious meals are vital to reducing food insecurity and improving health, according to the nationwide Healthy People 2030 initiative. A healthy diet helps children grow and develop properly and reduces their risk of chronic diseases. Adults who eat healthily tend to live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

Health First Foundation invests in this innovative program and those like it to advance health and well-being for all in northern Arizona. Your donation to Health First helps improve health in underserved communities.

High-performance Resuscitation Training Saves Lives

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 17:26:19 GMT

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Damar Hamlin’s traumatic collapse during a nationally televised NFL game stunned football fans and viewers. Four days later, doctors said the 24-year-old Buffalo Bills player was making a “remarkable recovery” from cardiac arrest.

We learned that immediately after Hamlin’s collapse, trainers rushed to the field and administered two necessary interventions – CPR and defibrillation — to save his life.

When someone experiences cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting, they usually don’t survive. In fact, there is less than a 10% chance of survival. Most cases are fatal because the victim doesn’t receive prompt and efficient CPR and defibrillation, as Hamlin did.

Health First Foundation Northern Arizona is helping increase survival rates in our community by providing grant funding to equip and train Flagstaff police officers in high-performance resuscitation. The training from the non-profit Griffith Blue Heart goes above and beyond what officers receive when they join the force.

Since police typically arrive at priority 911 calls before emergency medical professionals, it makes good sense for them to have the skills to respond immediately. Survival increases when law enforcement officers know how to respond effectively in cardiac, bleeding, drowning, overdose and other urgent medical situations.

“Seconds count; seconds matter,” said Lt. Charles Hernandez II of the Flagstaff Police Department. “This training will significantly impact our capabilities and response to emergency situations. It will enable us to save lives.”

And it already has. During two incidents – one involving a 1-year-old child who stopped breathing and another involving a man who collapsed while enjoying time with friends – Flagstaff police officers responded and started performing CPR. In each case, emergency medical technicians and physicians noted that quick action from the police officers was vital to the victim’s survival.

Health First Foundation funds non-profit health initiatives through its annual Northern Arizona Community Health Grant program. Please consider giving to help support health and well-being in our region.

(This article first appeared in February editions of Flagstaff Business News and Quad Cities Business News.)

Health First Grants Help Advance Health in Remote Community

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:32:45 GMT

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Our physical and mental health are deeply connected. Yet we typically visit one health provider for physical health needs and a separate provider for mental health care. Integrated care brings them together, addressing both in a coordinated way with primary care providers working side-by-side with licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, case managers, psychologists, and health coaches. Because it focusses on the links between physical, emotional, and mental health, integrated care is often referred to as whole-person care.

Supported by Health First Foundation grants, Creek Valley Health Clinic in Colorado City has shown that integrated care improves patient health and contributes to community well-being.

The foundation awarded two Northern Arizona Community Health Grants to help launch the clinic’s integrated care initiative. The aim was to lower high rates of chronic health conditions, depression, and suicide in the underserved remote community of 8,000 residents.

During the two-year grant period, the clinic served more than 1,450 people with integrated care, resulting in a dramatic decrease in depression among patients – from 26% in 2020 to 16% in mid-2021 and 9.6% in mid-2022. The clinic reported that the suicide rate dropped significantly, from 159 in every 100,000 people in 2018 to 20 in every 100,000 people in 2022. At the same time, it recorded patient improvements in diabetes management, obesity, tobacco use reduction, and blood pressure management.

One resident, who received needed emotional support from the program, said it made a difference in her healing and ability to cope.

Julia said multiple health problems left her feeling “overwhelmed, discouraged, and depressed.” Her latest setback was an abscess on her leg that took three surgeries to correct. She was recently diagnosed with adult-onset Type 1 diabetes and is being monitored for a liver transplant because her liver is failing from untreated hepatitis.

“There was just so much going on; I wasn’t sure I could handle it all,” said the working mother.

After the surgeries on her leg, Julia went to the Creek Valley clinic multiple times a week for wound care.

“Whenever I went in for a visit, a counselor would come to sit with me and offer help,” she said. “He really helped me with my anxiety. I was so anxious and worried, which really is counterproductive to healing.”

The Creek Valley provider gave her several tips and tools to help relieve her anxiety. Those exercises made Julia feel calmer and were vital to keeping her “brain straight” with everything going on.

“I’m not the kind of person who would sit down with a therapist and throw out all my problems,” she admitted. “But this was a safe place for me. It was the right thing, at the right time, in the right space.”

Health First Foundation grant funding supports accessible and affordable holistic care that treats the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. The foundation believes the integration of physical and mental health care can facilitate improved health and well-being.

Based on a sliding-fee scale, Creek Valley Health Clinic has some of the lowest patient costs in Arizona for behavioral health care and relies on grants and donations to ensure that services are affordable to all.

“Having the medical and behavioral health professionals work hand-in-hand to provide treatment to patients has been incredibly effective and has made a large impact in the health of our overall community,” said the clinic’s CEO Hunter Adams. “Hundreds of patients have been impacted by this program, and there is no doubt that some lives have been saved.”

Health First Foundation relies on donors to help advance health in northern Arizona communities. Please consider giving to support our Northern Arizona Community Health Grant program.

(The name of the patient quoted in this article has been changed to protect the patient’s privacy.)

Dedicated to Helping Children

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 23:23:57 GMT

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Each of northern Arizona’s five counties has places labeled mental health professional shortage areas by the federal government. Yet, the need for mental health support continues to grow, especially among children and young people.

One student passionate about supporting children in northern Arizona is Shannon Kincade, a graduate psychology student at Northern Arizona University and a 2021 Health First Foundation scholarship recipient. Originally from New York, Shannon moved to northern Arizona drawn by the region’s beauty and NAU’s psychology program.

“It was a major financial decision to move this far with the small funds I had at the time, but I don’t regret it for a second,” she said. “I love living and working in northern Arizona!”

Shannon is the recipient of the Health First Scholarship for Mental and Behavioral Health Specialists, made possible by donor gifts. Her interests include supporting indigenous communities, child therapy, and adequate access to psychologists for students.

As part of her studies, she is working with the school psychologist at Flagstaff High School to evaluate students using cognitive, academic, and social-emotional assessments to see if they qualify for and would benefit from special education services. The supervised practicum allows her to develop skills and practical knowledge.

“This practicum experience is crucial for my education and licensure and is the pathway towards a year-long internship next year when I will have my own caseload of students.”

After completing her graduate degree in May 2024, Shannon intends to enter a Ph.D. program in counseling/school psychology at NAU. Her long-range goal is to work full time with children in northern Arizona, helping address mental health needs before a crisis happens.

“The field of school psychology is moving towards a response to intervention (RTI) approach rather than the outdated ‘wait-to-fail’ approach,” she wrote in her scholarship essay. “The RTI approach will allow me to quickly serve more children and ensure they receive the free and appropriate public education they deserve.”

Health First Foundation offers financial assistance to students pursuing college-level health and healthcare degrees, helping address the critical need for quality health professionals in northern Arizona.

Learn more about Health First scholarships.

Better Together Giving Tuesday and Beyond

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:28:26 GMT

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Health First Foundation is asking for your support of our Better Together campaign kicking off November 29 on Giving Tuesday and running through the end of the year.

All donations stay in northern Arizona advancing our annual grant program, which targets the top health priorities in the region — preventing and mitigating chronic diseases, providing greater access to care, and improving mental health and well-being. Health First grants have helped improve and save lives, reaching those most in need.

Health First Foundation President and CEO Sandra Kowalski said Better Together offers a way for people to respond compassionately to neighbors in need.

“We don’t just pass by when we see someone in need. We either rush over to help or call for emergency aid,” she said. “But often, a person’s need for help is not all that apparent, and people suffer privately. Health First Foundation is aware of these hidden needs for health and well-being among our people, and we’re asking you to help us fill those needs with a donation to the Better Together campaign.”

According to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, nearly a quarter of adults in northern Arizona report fair to poor health. Other reports show that many people, including those with insurance, can’t afford or delay health care because of cost.

“We’re working to address these issues so people can live their best life for themselves, their families, and communities,” Kowalski said.

Our Better Together campaign is for everyone to contribute at any level. So please share our campaign with your family and friends. Your involvement is critical to helping all people in our region reach their best possible health. Thank you for being so supportive.

Mail donations to Health First Foundation, Better Together, PO Box 1832

Flagstaff AZ 86002 . Please make checks payable to Health First Foundation Northern Arizona.

In Honor and Memory of Wayne Fox

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 16:36:08 GMT

The board of directors and staff of Health First Foundation Northern Arizona recognize with great respect and affection Wayne Robert Fox, who passed away November 1 at his home in Flagstaff. Wayne served as treasurer of our board after retiring from a 34-year career at Northern Arizona University.

Wayne was a true thought leader in economic development in northern Arizona. In addition to serving as a beloved member of the accounting faculty at NAU, Wayne created the Arizona Rural Health Initiative and the Alliance Bank Business Outreach Center. These initiatives reached more than 10,000 people annually. They touched every aspect of life in the region, including tourism, transportation, cost of living, Native American issues, and the challenges and opportunities of rural and remote areas.

Wayne’s wealth of knowledge, understanding of our region, and commitment to the people of northern Arizona made him a strong and dedicated Health First Foundation board member. A skilled participant in research and strategic planning, his expertise was valuable to advancing our cause: building a future in which all individuals achieve optimal sustainable health and well-being for improved quality of life in a vibrant northern Arizona.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Wayne’s family and friends. He will be missed.

Click here to read more about Wayne and his life.

Wayne Robert Fox

Seconds Count, Seconds Matter

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 17:28:50 GMT

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Two Flagstaff police officers rush over to a man lying on a sidewalk. He is bleeding and screaming, then quickly loses consciousness. The officers assess the situation, check for safety concerns, apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, and begin resuscitation efforts. They know that trauma and significant blood loss can lead to cardiac arrest. Dispatch tells the officers that emergency medical service is eight minutes away.

It looks all too real, but this is a drill.

“We’re running through scenarios that officers will actually encounter on the job,” said Tim Freund, a SWAT medic and director of training for Griffith Blue Heart, an Arizona-based nonprofit. “Our training is pertinent, relevant, and realistic.”

With a grant from Health First Foundation, Griffith Blue Heart is equipping and instructing Flagstaff police officers in high-performance resuscitation. Survival increases when officers know how to respond effectively in cardiac, bleeding, drowning, overdose, and other urgent situations. Response time is critical in cardiac arrest, and police officers out in the community typically arrive at such priority 911 calls before EMS professionals.

Hernandez said Flagstaff police respond to an emergency with an unresponsive person three to five times a day and are likely to use the training from the get-go.

Along with the training, the grant provides 54 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) for Flagstaff police patrol vehicles. When someone is in cardiac arrest, these medical devices can analyze a heart rhythm and, if needed, deliver an electrical shock to help the heart reestablish an effective rhythm.

“High-performance resuscitation paired with rapid defibrillation will mitigate chronic health conditions, taking on the leading cause of death, heart disease,” said Brandon Griffith, a decorated law enforcement officer. He founded Griffith Blue Heart in 2014 after surviving a sudden cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping and blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. A person in cardiac arrest loses consciousness, stops breathing or is breathing ineffectively.

“These cases require rapid defibrillation and CPR, or the chance of survival is next to nothing,” Griffith said. “For every minute you wait to start CPR, the chance of survival goes down 10 percent.”

Health First Foundation directs grant funding to northern Arizona’s top health priorities. This program addresses two priorities – chronic health conditions and access to care.

Officer Griffith emphasizes that sudden cardiac arrest can strike any person of any age at any time, regardless of health status. According to the American Heart Association, more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the U.S. With a fatality rate of 90%, more can be done to save lives.

Health First Foundation is proud to support the Griffith Blue Heart mission to increase cardiac arrest survival.

Help improve health and save lives in northern Arizona. Donate today to support programs like high-performance resuscitation training for our first responders.

To Protect and Preserve

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 20:42:41 GMT

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An urgent appeal came to us in February from friends of the Havasupai Tribe. Some 76 tribal members who live in the remote depths of the Grand Canyon had contracted Covid-19 or were exposed to the virus and were isolating in Flagstaff to prevent further infections in their community. Health First swiftly obtained medicine, hydration drinks, diapers, and other supplies for the children and adults in isolation.

Up until then, the Havasupai had avoided Covid-19 through strict quarantine rules and by closing their village to visitors. Testing and vaccinations added to the fortress of tactics they utilized to avoid infections.

All this was done to protect and preserve the Havasupai who number less than 750, said Stuart Chavez, member of the Havasupai Tribal Council and part of the tribe’s emergency response team.

“Our village is unique and faced many challenges with the pandemic,” he said. “The needs were many as a result of cutting off visitors and tourists from coming into our village.”

Chavez said tribal members have never experienced such a “complete lockdown” and many suffered from cabin fever. The loss of tourism, which is a main source of income for the village, was especially difficult for the Havasupai.

“Even so, we were willing to do what had to be done,” Chavez said. “Many of our elders have preexisting conditions that put them at high risk if they were to be infected.”

The Havasupai (People of the Blue Green Water) have lived for centuries in Supai Village. Not accessible by road, people must make an 8-mile hike or horseback ride to get there. Alternatively, one can arrive by helicopter or by boating down the Colorado River and then making a precarious hike up.

Presenting Our 2022 Annual Report

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 18:19:59 GMT

We are pleased to present the Health First Foundation Annual Report for fiscal 2022.

Your support enabled us to invest more than $510,000 this year to improve health and well-being in local communities, reaching 72,500 northern Arizona residents through grants and other outreach.

The report details the impact of donor dollars in communities throughout the region. It includes stories on how Health First funding improves children’s health and nutrition, addresses the health needs of those experiencing homelessness, provides integrated care for those most in need, and assisted Havasupai tribal members with pandemic aid.

Health First has invested $18.43 million to improve health and well-being in northern Arizona since the foundation’s inception in 2016, helping more than half a million residents.

“Health First fundraising, grants, and scholarships continue to make a positive and lasting impact in our communities,” wrote Health First President and CEO Sandra Kowalski addressing the foundation’s friends and supporters. “Thank you for being steadfast partners on our journey to improve health and well-being. We are better together.”

Read the report.

Meet Our 2022 Community Health Champions

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 21:25:18 GMT

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We are grateful for the many friends and organizations that support Health First Foundation in its mission. This month we took time to honor a few special friends and partners, presenting them with our annual Community Health Champion awards. These individuals and organizations have made positive and enduring marks on community health in our region. Thank you!

Dr. Serge Wright

Owner of Sedona Eye Care, Dr. Wright has served as an optometrist in Sedona since 1973. A valued partner to Health First Foundation, he lent his support to creating and funding the Sedona Wildcat Extended Day program for elementary students. Dr. Wright has served five times as president of the Sedona Oak Creek Canyon Lions Club and received the Melvin Jones Humanitarian award from Lions International. He recently completed a two-year term as president of the Sedona 30, a charitable association focused on community improvement, and is an honorary member of the Sedona Bell Rock Kiwanis club.

Holly Figueroa

Figueroa is a Hopi/Ohkay Owingeh tribal member (Sun Clan) and works as the tribal liaison for Health Choice Arizona. She also is president of the Arizona Rural Health Association and a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer. Her work with tribes is focused on crisis service, coordination of care, nation building, training and education, and reducing health disparities. She has been an instrumental partner of Health First assisting the foundation with its efforts to support community health and well-being in tribal communities.

Creek Valley Health Clinic

Situated along the Arizona-Utah border, Creek Valley Health Clinic responds to a critical need for primary care, mental health support, and dental services in the sister towns of Colorado City and Hildale. Since opening in late 2019, the community health center has seen more than 5,000 patients and has recorded significant improvements in chronic disease management and mental health. Health First is a proud supporter of Creek Valley Health Clinic, awarding it three community health grants over the past few years.

Desert Financial Credit Union

Founded more than 80 years ago in the Phoenix area, Desert Financial has recently expanded into northern Arizona opening branches in Prescott and Flagstaff. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing its success and has given back millions of dollars to education, health, and other service initiatives. Its support of Health First Foundation has helped fund

pandemic mitigation efforts, especially in northern Arizona tribal communities.

You've Made a Difference

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 16:40:19 GMT

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Thank you, friends!

With your generous contributions, we met our goal of generating $100,000 for the Wildcat Extended Day program at West Sedona Elementary School. This vital program will continue through the 2022-2023 school year because of your donations and the Health First Foundation matching gift.

“We are grateful to each Wildcat campaign donor for making the health and well-being of children a priority,” said Sandra Kowalski, President and CEO of Health First Foundation.

West Sedona Elementary has federal Title 1 status, meaning many students are from families with incomes at or below the poverty line. The Wildcat program offers a safe environment where kids can be before and after regular classes. It enhances learning and teaches interpersonal skills, self-reliance, and healthy living, which align with the Health First mission to improve health and well-being.

According to Jean Barton, a retired pediatrician and the Rotary Club of Sedona president-elect, the program’s benefits also extend to the broader community.

“Data shows that accidents, inappropriate internet use, and petty crime peak in the unsupervised after-school hours,” she said. “Children’s mental health improves when they have healthy recreational activities of their choosing.”

Now, Verde Valley residents who work in Sedona know their children are well cared for while they learn healthy habits, respect for others, and self-sufficiency.

Health First Foundation seeks optimal health and well-being for all, promoting vibrant communities .

Learn more about our mission.

Dedicated to Improving Health

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 18:23:07 GMT

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Our 2022 Health First Community Health Champion was awarded to Creek Valley Health Clinic for its dedication to improving community health in an area very much in need of health services.

Creek Valley Health Clinic serves about 8,000 residents in one of the farthest reaches of northern Arizona - the towns of Colorado City and Hildale, located on the Arizona-Utah border between Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks.

Before the clinic opened in 2019, residents had no local, affordable health care. The nearest primary and dental care were either in St. George, Utah, 45 miles away, or Page, Arizona, 112 miles away. Specialty care was even further out in Flagstaff or Salt Lake City.

“This is a community that has a strong need for community health and intervention; that goes for medical, behavioral, and dental services,” said Hunter Adams, CEO and co-founder of the nonprofit Creek Valley Health Clinic. “If you look across the board at tobacco use, suicide, depression, anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, accidental overdose, and injury, … Colorado City and the surrounding area have a higher prevalence of all of those compared to both the Arizona average and the national average.”

Historical radical religious influence, high local poverty rates, and geographical isolation fueled the health disparities.

Since its opening, the clinic has seen more than 5,000 patients and has recorded significant improvements in depression remission, diabetes and hypertension management, early access to prenatal care, weight management, and tobacco cessation.

“[Our] services, they go beyond just seeing a doctor,” said Adams. “We’re really looking to transform our entire community and help our community live as safe, healthy, and empowered as possible.”

Two grants from Health First Foundation Northern Arizona have supported behavioral health services at Creek Valley Health Clinic.

“Hundreds of patients have been impacted by this program, and there is no doubt that some lives have been saved as part of this program,” Adams wrote in a grant report.

In one year, the clinic saw 675 patients for behavioral health services and reported a 16% rate of depression among all its patients and no suicides. That’s progress considering 26% of the total community population reports living with depression and its suicide rate is more than twice the national average.

One foundation grant supported integrated care, providing patients with the opportunity to talk with a behavioral health specialist while seeing a primary care practitioner. Checking in on an individual’s emotional and mental well-being during routine visits recognizes the interconnectedness of physical and mental well-being.

“Today I had an amazing visit with Joanne Yarrish for prenatal care,” said one Creek Valley patient. “She also brought in a counselor. He was so warm and kind that I felt like I could actually talk to him.... I finally took a much-needed leap and scheduled myself to see him for therapy.... This was huge for me.”

Adams said combining a mental check-in with a physical checkup often helps overcome the negative stigma often associated with mental health care.

“There’s not something wrong with you because an integrated behaviorist is coming in to check in on you,” he said. “They’re making sure that you have all the resources that you need for yourself and your family.”

Creek Valley Health Clinic was awarded a third Northern Arizona Community Health Grant from Health First Foundation this year. That grant will support the clinic’s new nutrition program, which aims to increase access to healthy foods and nutrition information for residents with chronic health conditions.

Give Now and We'll Double Your Gift

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 22:13:20 GMT

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We have nearly reached our goal to deliver $100,000 to keep the Wildcat Extended Day program running next school year at West Sedona Elementary School, a Title 1 school where more than 70% of students are from low-income households. We need $4,500 in donations to reach our goal and are extending our matching gift challenge to July 8. That means when you give $25 for the program, Health First will give an extra $25. Time is running short. Please help us meet our goal to keep children in the program safe and healthy while their parents are at work. Above, Sedona Chef Lisa Dahl shows the Wildcat students how to make a healthy and tasty dish from vegetables. Wildcat Extended day activities like this build self-sufficiency skills and teach healthy living and self-care. Thank you for supporting the health and well-being of schoolchildren.

No Hunger Here

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 23:16:37 GMT

Teacher Debbie Earl knows when a student is hungry.

“They are checked out. They are looking down, they’re kind of playing with their pencil and paper, but there’s no engagement,” she says. “It’s absolutely something we see over and over again.”

There are other signs too.

“Sometimes they start having stomach pains, but sometimes it’s not the stomach, sometimes they have a headache. They’ll look kind of pale around their mouth.”

Earl has been an aide or a teacher at Cottonwood Community School for 18 years and currently teaches social studies to 5th and 6th graders. She is grateful for a new program that allows her and other teachers to offer snacks to children right in the classroom.

Partly funded through a grant from Health First Foundation, MO Packs for Teachers from Manzanita Outreach began this school year.

It works like this. Manzanita Outreach provides a box of about 100 snacks to each teacher every month. The package contains breakfast and granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, fruit snacks, and crackers – quick, nutritious options that children can choose from or teachers can dole out. The program is reaching 300 teachers at 12 schools in the Verde Valley area of Yavapai County.

About 21% of children in Yavapai County are food insecure, meaning they lack access to enough food for a healthy and active life. Manzanita Outreach, a food sharing nonprofit based in Cottonwood, aims to make Yavapai the first food-secure county in the U.S.

Earl said receiving MO Packs lets teachers know that someone has their back.

Manzanita Outreach understands “that we are working with kids who are on the edge, on the edge of not having things to eat and not being able to learn.”

The pandemic and inflation left even more families struggling to provide basic needs for their children. And although having snacks in the classroom might seem like a small piece of the food security puzzle, Earl says it is effective.

One of her students often complains about having a headache, and when asked if she had breakfast, the answer is usually no. “I get her something [to eat], and within 20 minutes, she’s able to learn; she’s able to pay attention.”

Health First Foundation believes children should be in the best possible shape for learning because education shapes a person’s future opportunities, employment, and income. It is a key social determinant of health. Education can lift someone out of poverty to sustain themselves, their health, and their family’s health.

Learn more about the ways you can give to help improve well-being in northern Arizona.

Health First gives $400,000 to improve health in northern Arizona

Thu, 19 May 2022 18:03:45 GMT

We are thrilled to announce our 2022 Northern Arizona Community Health Grant awards and Health First scholarships.

“Our 2022 grant awards emphasize innovation, health promotion, and the social determinants that affect health and well-being,” said Sandra Kowalski, Health First Foundation president and CEO. “We are excited to see the positive and life-saving outcomes these programs will have in our northern Arizona communities.”

Grants of up to $100,000 each went to:

Red Feather Development Group for clean water access and hygiene solutions in Hopi and Navajo homes lacking running water. Water and hygiene resources are proven, cost-effective ways to reduce disease.

North Country HealthCare for team-based care in a family medicine residency clinic that emphasizes wellness, preventative care, and better care coordination for high-need patients.

Creek Valley Health Clinic for implementing a Food Rx program in Colorado City. The purpose is to increase access to healthy foods and nutrition education for people who have or are at risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

Griffith Blue Heart for training and equipping Flagstaff police officers with the ability to provide life-saving care in time-sensitive cardiac emergencies. This program addresses a leading cause of death—heart disease.

In addition, the foundation awarded funding and support for pandemic mitigation to Tuba City Regional Health Care and the Havasupai tribe.

Scholarships totaling $23,000 went to 11 college-level students studying in northern Arizona to become health professionals. Two new scholarships supported a student studying integrative health and a military veteran.

We want to thank all the nonprofit organizations and students who applied for awards. We see the good work you are doing to improve health and well-being.

A big note of gratitude goes to our Health First donors and supporters. The health of many northern Arizonans has been improved because of your incredible generosity. You make a difference.

Extended Day Program Matters

Mon, 09 May 2022 17:44:47 GMT

Christian Welch doesn’t mind talking about the hungry years. One of six children living in an RV with their mother, he shepherded brothers and sisters through their education while he was at Red Rock High School. Now a successful sophomore at University of San Diego, everything he went through is just part of the journey.

Dennis Dearden, superintendent of Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District, suggested Christian as someone who could provide a first-hand perspective on what a difference adult interest can make to a student who faces more struggles than getting a good grade on a test. He would have benefitted from the Wildcat Extended Day Program at West Sedona School if it had been around when he was.

Welch sketches his early life in broad strokes: strict household, eight children, controlling father, mother who finally fled the poverty and abuse. She drove her children from Texas to northern Arizona in the RV that was their home, and they all agreed it was the perfect place to start over.

While in high school in Texas Welch had been accepted into the National Honor Society, but he wasn’t inducted because couldn’t afford the $50 induction fee.

“I went outside and cried for a long time. I never told anyone; no one at school knew.”

He says struggling students know their parents are doing everything they can, and don’t want to make things harder.

“Parents often work in shift hours, so you try to take care of the burdens yourself. You don’t want to put things on them. I got a job so I could pay fees and things for myself and my younger siblings, so my mom didn’t have to hear about them. She was finding a way; working so hard just to feed us.”

Fortunately for Welch, some observant school faculty and staff detected the stress he was under and asked questions.

“The most important thing that got me through was the people in our school, from office workers to coaches, who helped us out.”

Sometimes that meant aid in filling out scholarship forms, sometimes sending food home. He empathizes with children who face adult burdens.

“Adults may see a kid who isn’t dressed well, always late to class, and think he doesn’t care. They don’t realize he’s having a tough time at home. Students need certain things to be able to excel, but when you have gaps in your learning, it’s so much harder.”

He was glad to hear about the extended day initiative. Since many students in West Sedona School have working parents, the program runs from 6 a.m. until school, then again until 6 p.m. Nutritious food is included, and supervision with homework as well as education play and outdoor recreation. Welch says all those things matter.

“But sometimes the most important thing is knowing someone cares. Someone actually takes time for you.”

At Wildcat Extended Day, that someone is Debbie Crincoli. A self-described hippie, she raised her children with organic gardening and little store-bought food. Cell phone and pad screens are not part of her program. Self-reliance winds like music through everything she does. Her goal is that each student know they matter, and deserve respect and attention. So, on Mondays she teaches food preparation, knowing that adults can’t always be around no matter how much they might want to be. She encourages thinking through problems and talking through conflicts. She is a steady presence when the hours might have otherwise been spent waiting in a car for a parent to get off work or walking alone to an empty house.

The entire first year of the Wildcat Extended Day Program was funded by a generous donor. For the second year, Health First Foundation will match up to $50,000 in contributions, thanks to proceeds from the sale of land gifted by Robert and Loretta Larson to the organization (they were named the Health First 2021 Philanthropists of the Year).

If you visit the Wildcat Extended Day Program, you’ll probably find some level of harmonious chaos: students are playing outside under adult supervision, while others choose to participate in the papier mâché project involving balloons and sticky strips of newsprint. Older girls might be playing a vocabulary enrichment game at one of the long tables. It’s children who get to be children for some hours instead of having to stand in for adults who don’t have the luxury of parenting because of the demands of supporting a family.

But the program isn’t just a boon to parents and children. It assists the employers; the business community doesn’t have as much absenteeism or distracted staff when children are well cared for. It also benefits potential residents, who instead of being told, “There’s no day care in Sedona,” can hear about students safe and supervised for up to twelve hours a day, with no shuttles or vans involved.

We don’t know the trajectory these students will take after their years at West Sedona School; how many will get first-generation university student scholarships, or perhaps follow Welch’s military path for continuing education and professional training. But we can be pretty certain that with the support they get from the Wildcat Extended Day Program, their futures are brighter than they would have been without it. And remember, you give twice as much as you donate.

For more information on the Wildcat Club Extended Day Program, please contact Lisa Schnebly Heidinger .

National initiative recognizes Health First as Healthy People 2030 Champion

Mon, 02 May 2022 17:28:18 GMT

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Health First Foundation is among the first organizations nationwide recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Health First is recognized as part of a growing network of public and private organizations partnering with ODPHP to improve health and well-being at local, state, and tribal levels. As a Healthy People 2030 Champion, Health First Foundation has demonstrated a commitment to helping achieve the Healthy People 2030 vision of a society where all people can reach their full potential for health and well-being across the lifespan.

“ODPHP is thrilled to recognize Health First Foundation for its work to support the Healthy People 2030 vision,” said Rear Admiral Dr. Paul Reed, director of the ODPHP. “Only by collaborating with partners nationwide can we achieve Healthy People 2030’s overarching goals and objectives.”

Sandra Kowalski, president and CEO of Health First Foundation, said the foundation is honored to be part of this critical nationwide effort.

“Health First most certainly shares the Healthy People 2030 vision,” she said. “We believe every person in northern Arizona should have the opportunity to achieve optimal health and well-being, and we direct our fundraising and grant-making efforts to that goal.”

Healthy People 2030 is the fifth iteration of the Healthy People initiative, which sets 10-year national objectives to improve health and well-being. The objectives focus on the most high-impact public health issues and reflect an increased focus on the social determinants of health — how the conditions where people live, learn, work, and play affect their health and well-being.

Health First earns high scores from charity evaluators

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 22:41:30 GMT

Health First Foundation has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (GuideStar) and a 90 “give with confidence” score from Charity Navigator, two places donors and grant-makers look for trusted charity assessments.

“Health First values integrity, impact, excellence, and accountability. These outside evaluations underline our commitment to those values,” said president and CEO Sandra Kowalski. “We are dedicated to ensuring that Health First donors and partners have confidence in us and our work to improve health and well-being in northern Arizona.”

The Platinum Seal is the highest level of recognition offered by Candid. It shows that we make available and annually update our financials, strategic plans, goals, progress, and metrics. These practices are not all that common. Only 15% of charities receiving a Candid seal have earned the Platinum designation.

A Charity Navigator Encompass score of 90 indicates that Health First is using donations effectively based on criteria in finance and accountability, leadership and adaptability, culture and community, and impact and results.

Charity Navigator says donors can “give with confidence” to nonprofits receiving an Encompass score of 75 or above. Interestingly, less than 1% of charities evaluated by the group have earned a perfect 100 score. We are working hard to get to 100!

View Health First Foundation’s Candid and Charity Navigator profiles.

Babbitt to present Red Rock State Park film at Sedona International Film Festival

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:38:24 GMT

Health First Foundation is teaming up with the 2022 Sedona International Film Festival to present “Conservation Legacy: An Afternoon with Bruce Babbitt” Feb. 20 in Sedona.

The former Arizona governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior will be on hand for a screening and discussion of the Red Rock State Park documentary, a project produced by the Benefactors of Red Rock State Park and narrated by Babbitt. During his time as governor 1978-1987, Babbitt was instrumental in establishing the 286-acre nature preserve and environmental education center on the outskirts of Sedona.

The Red Rock State Park film takes viewers through the area’s history from the Permian period through the emergence of its impressive red rock features. It discusses the park’s inhabitants and the preservation of the riparian habitat of Oak Creek.

“Health First is happy to play this small role in promoting the conservation of public parks,” said president and CEO Sandra Kowalski. “Natural spaces like Red Rock State Park are environmental havens that have proven benefits to health and well-being. They inspire relaxation and recreation, helping us open our minds, calm our spirits, and renew our energy.”

The Sedona International Film Festival runs Feb. 19-27. “Conservation Legacy: An Afternoon with Bruce Babbitt” takes place Sunday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center. Visit the Sedona International Film Festival for ticket information.

Desert Financial gives $20,000 to Health First

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 21:52:16 GMT

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Desert Financial Credit Union gave $20,000 to support the mission of Health First Foundation Northern Arizona.

In an accompanying letter, Desert Financial President and CEO Jeff Meshey said Health First was selected for the gift because of its “essential and effective services and unwavering commitment” to serving Arizona residents.

“This gift represents our support of Health First Foundation and the life-changing work your organization is doing to care for Arizonans in need,” Meshey wrote.

Since 2016, Health First-funded programs have helped improve health and well-being for more than 500,000 people throughout northern Arizona.

“We very much appreciate the confidence that Desert Financial has in our organization and its work for healthier and more vibrant communities,” said Sandra Kowalski, Health First president and CEO. “We are grateful to them and all our donors. They play a critical role in this effort to put health first for all people in our region.”

Desert Financial has more than 50 branches and 360,000 members. It gives back to the community with its “sharing success” efforts, which in 2021 included $3.8 million in gifts to health centers, schools, students, and nonprofit organizations.

After securing a state-wide charter two years ago, Desert Financial expanded into northern Arizona with branches in Prescott Valley and Flagstaff.

Matching gift challenge to benefit before- and after-school program

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 16:46:01 GMT

Health First Foundation is calling on residents and businesses to donate to a matching gift challenge with a goal of awarding $100,000 to an essential before- and after-school program in Sedona.

Health First will match every dollar given, up to $50,000 in total donations, to benefit the Wildcat Extended Day Program at West Sedona School, a Title 1 elementary school that serves a high percentage of students from low-income families in the Verde Valley. The program aims to help working parents, giving them a wonderful opportunity to know their children are safe while being taught self-reliance, kindness, and respect for others.

The Wildcat Extended Day Program is free to parents and requires outside funding to operate. It currently serves 120 students and combines enhanced learning, socializing, healthy eating, exercise, and play. Activities are designed to build self-sufficiency and self-care skills and include gardening, crafts, painting, knitting, and cooking.

“Health First is proud to help fund a program that supports the healthy development of children in our region,” said Sandra Kowalski, Health First Foundation president and CEO.

The foundation looks forward to connecting with individuals and businesses interested in fostering confident and resilient children.

Donations are matched dollar for dollar by Health First and are accepted until the $100,000 goal is reached or until June 30, whichever comes first.

Or, direct your check to Health First Foundation: 95 Soldiers Pass Rd, Ste A-3, Sedona AZ 86336. Be sure to indicate that your gift is for the Wildcat Extended Day Program. For additional information, please call 928.223.9250.

We want to invest in innovative community health programs

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 19:15:14 GMT

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We are soliciting interest in our 2022 Northern Arizona Community Health Grant Cycle, which looks to fund innovative and sustainable nonprofit programs addressing chronic health conditions. Letters of intent are required before grant application and must be submitted by Jan. 21.

Health First has delivered up to $1.5 million in grants each year to improve health in the five counties of northern Arizona. Individual grants typically range from $35,000 to $200,000.

“Many people in our region have unaddressed diabetes, heart disease, respiratory issues, cancer, dental disease, and obesity,” said Health First President and CEO Sandra Kowalski. “We want to invest in impactful initiatives that prevent, diagnose, treat, or mitigate these types of conditions, putting individuals and communities on a path to greater well-being.”

Since its inception in 2016, Health First Foundation has invested more than $18 million in improving health in northern Arizona communities. These efforts support community nonprofits and have reached more than 500,000 people.

Improving Health with Homes

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 19:53:14 GMT

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Not having affordable, safe, or stable housing is dangerous to a person’s health. Those who experience homelessness have higher rates of illness and die on average 12 years sooner than the general population.

For these reasons, Health First Foundation is proud to support the Housing as Healthcare program run by Flagstaff Shelter Services with help from North Country HealthCare, Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, and The Guidance Center in Flagstaff.

A team of housing and health professionals works with each client to bring them to a healthier and more stable place in life. Kimberly Houston (pictured) is among more than 550 people already served by Housing as Healthcare.

“I’ve never called a shelter ever in my life,” said Houston, a single woman who had been living in her car seeking haven under lighted parking lots as she searched for work in Flagstaff. “At that point, I was just scared and needed some help, and they just came to my rescue like you would not believe.”

Permanent housing was especially critical for Houston because her chronic back and neck pain made it impossible to walk or even stand at times. She said having a safe place to call home improved her quality of life significantly.

“In the same way you’d take a prescription to deal with a cold, we’re prescribing housing as a way to overcome an illness of any variety,” said Ross Altenbaugh, Executive Director of Flagstaff Shelter Services. “We put physical health, behavioral health, and housing on the same level to be able to address each one in a meaningful way.”

Since its formation in 2019, Housing as Healthcare has documented improved physical and mental well-being in 60% of the people it has served.

“The reality is that housing is in fact healthcare,” Altenbaugh said. “If we have neighbors in congregate shelters, you better believe that getting them into their own home not only benefits them greatly, but it also moves our humanity forward.”

Health First Foundation donors enrich our communities by helping us raise the level of health and well-being in northern Arizona. Give today to support health in our region.

A Guide for Creating Your Health First Foundation Grant Application

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:35:08 GMT

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At Health First Foundation Northern Arizona, our mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities through leadership, innovation, and partnership. One of the ways we accomplish this is through our Northern Arizona Community Health Grant, awarded annually to exceptional organizations who support our mission with high impact projects and programs.

Each year, we review letters of intent and applications for groundbreaking health and wellness initiatives, and a strong application is key to securing funding. To that end, our grantmaking team at Health First Foundation has compiled the following tips to ensure your application is best positioned for success.

1. Share how your project supports our mission. Understanding where our goals align and how your project or program can raise the bar for community health is paramount. Connecting these dots helps us to better evaluate your application, and will provide you a focused lens through which to communicate your initiative.

2. Let your passion guide you. As the saying goes, “Enthusiasm moves the world.” It can also move our grant reviewers to fund your organization. Include compelling facts that reflect your passion—examples paint us a picture of your impact and provide us a reason to rally around your cause.

3. Don’t apply until you’re ready. As stated above, passion is welcome and encouraged, but it’s important you make sure the time is right for your organization to lead and implement your project. Conducting an honest evaluation with your organization early on to ensure all of the components are in place can potentially save you headaches down the road because you weren’t quite prepared.

4. Create a core application team. Work with program staff to confirm you’re representing the expertise and perspectives of the team who will implement the work. Collaboration is a great asset to this process; however, it’s also important to have one primary decision maker who drives the application progress forward.

5. Include meaningful collaborators. Collaboration plays a critical role in our ability to improve health and change lives. We want to hear about your partners and collaborators, including how they contribute to your process and will add to your project’s success.

6. Manage time wisely. Starting the process as early as possible is the best way to position your application for success. Put a schedule in place, delegate action items, and assign deadlines.

You’ll also want time to ensure your attachments and documents are up to date; our grant application asks for organizational documents and résumés, and the last thing you want is an 11th-hour scramble gathering everything you need.

7. Keep your responses focused. The best way to ensure our team can review your application efficiently is to craft your answers purposefully and intentionally. Brevity is key, and a good rule of thumb is to write for general understanding. Get straight to the point, rely on common sense language, and make sure every word you use contributes to directly answering our questions.

Also, please eliminate acronyms, jargon, or industry-speak—these have the potential to hinder comprehension, create confusion, and can ultimately complicate the process for our grant application reviewers.

8. Allow time for fresh eyes to review. Another reason to budget time early is to provide you a window for proofreading and polishing. When possible, ask someone who is not connected to the project to review and provide feedback. This decreases the chance of typos and allows for an outside perspective.

Thank you for your interest in partnering with us in our mission. In closing, we would like to recognize the excellent organizations recently funded through our Northern Arizona Community Health Grant cycle:

Manzanita Outreach
Flagstaff Shelter Services
Arizona's Children Association
Steps to Recovery Homes
Creek Valley Health Clinic
Northern Arizona University
Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council
Polara Health

Commencing in December 2021 for June 2022 awards, the Northern Arizona Community Health Grant cycle will focus on mitigating chronic health conditions in northern Arizona. Such conditions, especially diabetes, heart disease, obesity, respiratory conditions, cancer, and dental disease, are significant health priorities in our region. Visit our Grant Funding page for more information.

We Have A New Name!

acastillo@healthfirstforall.org (Mark Urick) — Thu, 20 May 2021 15:42:00 GMT

We are excited to announce that we are now Health First Foundation Northern Arizona.

Our new identity conveys the foundation’s priority and vision for each person in northern Arizona to achieve optimal health and well-being. Our rallying cry is, “Health first for all!”

“Health does come first,” said Chris Bavasi, chair of the Health First Foundation Board of Directors. “We fully thrive as individuals and communities when we are healthy and well. Health First Foundation is eager to bring even more people together to work toward better health and more vibrant communities.”

As the leading philanthropic organization addressing the region’s health priorities, we evaluate health needs in northern Arizona communities and direct charitable support to the areas of greatest need.

Since becoming an independent organization in 2016, our foundation has invested nearly $17 million in improving health in the five counties of northern Arizona. We have funded more than 400 nonprofit health initiatives, helping more than 488,500 people achieve better health.

OUR FOUNDATION AT WORK

Allow us to share a few of our achievements.

Last year, we awarded more than $100,000 to health care workers, regional health centers, and Hopi and Navajo organizations working to save lives during the pandemic. With its grant, Tuba City Regional Health Care purchased needed medical equipment to address the disproportionate number of Covid-19 cases in Navajo Nation and Hopi communities.

“Patients’ lives were saved,” wrote a Tuba City medical team in its follow-up report.

Health First Foundation is also a leading funder of innovative mental health programs in northern Arizona, including Mental Health First Aid® training. The groundbreaking program helps people understand the signs of mental illnesses, supports timely intervention, and reduces the stigma associated with mental health conditions.

Another example of foundation funding at work is the Housing as Healthcare program run by Flagstaff Shelter Services. The collaborative effort, which received a 2020 Northern Arizona Community Health Grant from the foundation, aims to improve the health of residents experiencing homelessness. As of this spring, 58 people in the program have transitioned to safe, affordable, and stable housing, with many reporting improved physical and mental health.

ABOUT OUR NEW IDENTITY

The Health First Foundation logo incorporates a mark expressing our focus and service area. The segments of the circle represent the diversity found in the five counties of northern Arizona coming together in a vibrant form. They also stand for the social determinants that impact health.

Those determinants fall under five broad categories—economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environments, and social and community context.

“If we work for improvements in these areas, we will experience better health and well-being in our communities,” Bavasi said. “Everyone reaps the benefits.”

This year, Health First Foundation launched the Health First Community Fund to raise and distribute money to nonprofits with innovative and collaborative solutions to community health disparities.

“We invite everyone to put health first and help bring our communities to greater health and well-being,” said Rick Smith, president and CEO of Health First Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to all who work for a healthier northern Arizona. We continue to support our regional nonprofits, collaborative initiatives, and health and medical centers.”

PLEASE JOIN US

You have the power to enrich lives. Donate to the Health First Community Fund to help improve health and well-being in our region.

Health First Foundation Northern Arizona is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity dedicated to advancing health and well-being. Based in Flagstaff, Arizona, the foundation serves the five-county region of northern Arizona. Donations to Health First Foundation (EIN 81-3137336) are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Transforming Veteran Trauma Through Storytelling

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 16:09:00 GMT

Hundreds of northern Arizona veterans are finding that storytelling helps heal the mental, emotional, and spiritual injuries that can come with military service.

“When everybody starts sharing their story, you realize your humanity and their humanity, and it makes you [feel] safe to share the stuff that we don’t typically talk about,” said veteran Kelly Jaglo. “You’re like a hero at the end of a story because you lose that identity of being broken and a victim.”

Jaglo, who served as a Navy hospital corpsman and physical therapy technician in the early 1980s, told her story through Veterans Speak-Performing Wellness, an innovative arts-in-health program made possible through a grant from Health First Foundation Northern Arizona and presented by Sedona’s Red Earth Theatre with assistance from the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System.

More than 220 northern Arizona veterans participated in the program in its first year. Evaluations noted a direct positive impact on how they felt about themselves and their mental health.

“I started to be able to calm down and open up some to let my creative child have some fun. It has been many years since that has happened,” wrote one veteran.

Professional therapists saw good results as well.

“The veterans who participated in the sessions reported having fun, feeling more confident and stronger both mentally and emotionally,” reported two VA therapists.

According to the U.S. government, up to 30% of veterans have had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from the Vietnam War and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Combat, combat situations, and other aspects of military service, including sexual trauma experienced during service, can contribute to PTSD and other mental health issues.

Kate Hawkes, the producing artistic director at Red Earth Theatre and creator of Veterans Speak-Performing Wellness, said the program views individuals who have experienced trauma as creators, not wounded persons. She believes sharing personal stories in a setting outside therapy or support groups normalizes painful experiences, allowing individuals to process better what has happened to them.

“When we get to tell our stories in a context that is purely about being creative, artistic people, wellness will happen,” she said.

"You're like a hero at the end of the story..."

— Veteran Kelly Jaglo

Veterans Speak includes sessions of drop-in artistic activities, projects to address isolation and mental health challenges, and “Journey of Imagination,” a 12-week writing workshop where veterans write their own stories, read them aloud, and then are paired with an actor who performs their story publicly.

A goal of the public performances is to provide wider public awareness of the challenges veterans face.

Another value of Veterans Speak is the opportunity for discovery and new connections. Even as the program worked around Covid restrictions in a virtual platform, social interaction and a sense of community flourished, Hawkes reported.

“You get to know yourself and develop intimate relationships with others,” she said. “What’s more precious than that in life?”

To support health programs for local veterans, please consider a gift to the foundation's Veterans Health Fund.

Pandemic Mitigation Grants Save Lives

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 22:06:00 GMT

In May last year, the Navajo Nation had a startling number of coronavirus infections, the highest per-capita rate in the U.S. The situation in Hopi tribal lands also was getting worse.

To help, Health First Foundation awarded $100,000 in special grants for pandemic mitigation to nonprofit organizations working in Navajo and Hopi communities. The funds purchased ventilators and intubation equipment for Tuba City Regional Health Care, handwashing stations for families and communities, and much-needed supplies for quarantined households.

The funding saved lives.

“Lives were saved,” wrote a Tuba City medical team in their grant report. “We are humbled and grateful for the Foundation’s donation.”

Tuba City Regional Health Care increased its ventilator capacity and treated 3,765 people with Covid-19 symptoms between July and December. Its ventilator use had increased 10-fold from the prior year.

Chronic health conditions, which put Covid-19 patients at increased risk of severe complications or death, were among the challenges medical staff overcame.

“The health and socioeconomic inequities make (our) service area particularly vulnerable to Covid-19,” they said.

Another mitigation grant went to Red Feather Development Group to build handwashing stations on Navajo and Hopi lands. Washing hands is a fundamental preventative measure in the fight against virus spread, yet around 30% of tribal households lack running water for effective handwashing.

Red Feather oversaw the construction and installation of 56 handwashing stations with funding from Health First. Overall, the group installed 572 stations in tribal communities.

“Regardless of the status of Covid-19, thorough handwashing will always be an important aspect for preventing illnesses and staying healthy,” said Joe Seidenberg, Red Feather’s executive director.

A third grant went to The Hopi Foundation, which early in the pandemic had set up relief efforts to get personal protective supplies and food to Hopi families who were under strict stay-at-home orders.

Within the grant’s six-month timeline, The Hopi Foundation served 500 households reaching more than 1,700 people with personal protection kits and food essentials.

Later in the pandemic, Health First provided food, medicine, and other essentials for Havasupai tribal members who had to quarantine in Flagstaff during an Covid-19 outbreak in their community.

Each time Health First Foundation awards a grant to a nonprofit initiative, there is follow-up reporting. We seek details on expenses, results, and impact. This reporting is vital to the responsible stewardship of foundation and donor funds.

Our investments in community health can have no greater return than lives saved.

Health First Foundation donors enrich our communities by helping us raise the level of health and well-being in northern Arizona. Give today to support health in our region.

Faith, Confidence, Healing

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 21:06:00 GMT

When she was told she had cervical cancer, G. Maribel Arazamendi reacted with surprise, and her husband began to cry at her side.

“He was afraid because his first wife had passed away from cancer,” she said. “I turned to him and said, ‘It’s going to be okay. That’s not going to happen to me.’”

Maribel, 49, had faith that God would take care of her.

She also was confident in the team at North Country HealthCare, where she received screenings and care through the Well Woman HealthCheck and Treatment Link programs for uninsured and underinsured women.

To help save lives, Health First Foundation has generously supported Well Woman HealthCheck and Treatment Link at North Country HealthCare in Flagstaff and the Community Health Center of Yavapai.

After being guided by a dedicated case manager through diagnosis, surgery, and follow-up care, Maribel is healthy, happy, and grateful.

“All the angels of God were here for me, to help me be well,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the people donating and giving to these programs, I think many people would die.”

Early detection and treatment is the mantra for cancer survival. Periodic breast and cervical cancer screenings provide early detection and therefore more successful treatment.

Yet women without insurance often don’t get screened. Not having access to primary care providers and a fear of not being able to afford care are barriers to periodic screenings.

Well Woman HealthCheck and Treatment Link help break down those barriers and provide no-cost treatment to women who fall under the federal poverty level and are ineligible for coverage through state or other medical assistance programs.

Through the HealthCheck and Treatment Link programs, North Country and the Community Health Center of Yavapai have screened 2,910 women for breast and cervical cancer and managed the treatment of 13 women diagnosed with cancer during the year-long grant cycle.

“I am living cancer-free and can continue to pursue my goals and dreams together with my children and husband,” wrote another patient in a letter following her treatment last year. “Donors like you helped save my life.”

Health First Foundation donors enrich our communities by helping us raise the level of health and well-being in northern Arizona. A gift of any amount makes a difference. Donate today.

Finding Healing in Sedona

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 21:04:00 GMT

Her diagnosis was a shock and devastating. How could this happen to a 28-year-old mom, wife, and businesswoman?

“People my age don’t get breast cancer,” Kristin Salazar-Coffman recalls thinking. “All I wanted to do was to be there for my girls. They’re so little. They’re not ready to not have a mom.”

Kristin’s unpredictable journey led her to the Sedona office of celebrated breast surgeon Dr. Beth Baughman DuPree. First and foremost, Dr. DuPree let Kristin know that breast cancer is not a death sentence. She then outlined an integrative care approach that addresses the whole person.

Integrative medicine puts the patient at the center. It follows a holistic approach to care, attending to the physical, emotional, mental, social, and environmental aspects that affect health. It means providing the most advanced and proven medicine along with complementary and supportive therapies. Such care has shown to reduce patient distress and pain.

Part of that support includes a “thrivers retreat.” Sponsored in part by Health First Foundation, the retreat focuses on restoring emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being for those diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kirstin attended the retreat with surgery, radiation and chemo treatments behind her. Although the treatments were over, she couldn’t dismiss the fear her cancer may come back.

She arrived to the retreat feeling sad and depressed. “There’s always that C word in the back of your mind.” But those emotions gave way to lightness and clarity following a set of breathing exercises.

“We came out of this breathwork … and the entire mood of the group shifted. We were all chatting and laughing, and there was no more barrier between us.”

The retreat participants formed a strong network of friends who continue to give support and encouragement to each other.

Kristin was not a bystander in her care. She was active, making lifestyle changes and self-care priorities that would help her live her best life through treatments and after.

Every cancer patient needs to “feel that hope, and feel like they have control in a time that is really out of control,” says Kristin about her integrative care experience.

The foundation is a proud supporter of cancer care and integrative medicine in this region. It puts us one step closer to our vision for every person in northern Arizona to have the opportunity to achieve optimal health.

Health First Foundation donors enrich our communities by helping us raise the level of health and well-being in northern Arizona. A gift of any amount makes a difference. Donate today.

Foundation Invests $900,000 in Community Health

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 20:50:00 GMT

Health First Foundation Northern Arizona has given $900,000 toward improving community health in the region.

Initiatives of eight nonprofit organizations were recently awarded grants during the foundation’s annual Northern Arizona Community Health Grant cycle. The recipients are the Stronger as One Coalition, Flagstaff Shelter Services, Sage Home, Northern Arizona University Foundation, Creek Valley Health Clinic, United States Veterans Initiative, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) Behavioral Health Services, and NAH Children’s Health Center.

The initiatives focus on Mental Health First Aid® training, housing for the vulnerable, telehealth services for veterans, family-centered addiction treatment, mitigating abuse and trauma in a rural community, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) training, increased screening for behavioral health issues in children, and the creation of a pool of patient actors to facilitate behavioral health training for first responders and healthcare professionals.

The foundation’s focus on behavioral health this year stems from community health assessments that point to mental health as a top concern. High rates of substance abuse, suicide, accidents, and assault in northern Arizona underscore the problems. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the distress for many people.

Additionally, the foundation gave $250,000 to other health causes this past fiscal year including assisting Navajo and Hopi communities in fighting COVID-19, providing scholarships to current and future healthcare workers, and granting sponsorship aid to other nonprofit community organizations.

Health First Foundation donors enrich our communities by helping us raise the level of health and well-being in northern Arizona. A gift of any amount makes a difference. Donate today.

Pandemic Pushes Telemental Healthcare To New Levels

Thu, 21 May 2020 18:23:00 GMT

Therapists with Northern Arizona Healthcare say COVID-19 has thrust telemental healthcare to new levels with good outcomes. And the need is growing.

“On the whole, it’s been incredibly successful,” said psychologist John Martin, a Northern Arizona Healthcare provider. “We’ve been able to reach people we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to reach because they’ve been isolated or quarantined at home.”

“This is the push we’ve needed to do telemedicine and do more of it,” said clinical manager and counselor Todd Parker of Northern Arizona Healthcare.

The escalation came swiftly across the U.S.

“The coronavirus pandemic is pushing the once-niche telemedicine industry into the mainstream, testing its ability to keep up with soaring demand and forcing innovation on the fly,” said an April article in the Wall Street Journal.

Telemedicine can include a wide range of services, from an online consult for a prescription refill to remote monitoring of a patient’s vitals. With behavioral and mental healthcare, it is providing therapy or psychotherapy remotely using HIPAA-compliant video conferencing or text-based messaging.

Outpatient behavioral health services at NAH quickly went to telehealth mode once Arizona called for residents to stay home. Patients and counselors met in private sessions via the internet, group sessions were held in online meetings, and when necessary or requested, appointments were carried out by phone.

For some patients, the use of a telehealth for counseling is not new.

Randy Boehne of Cottonwood has been online for weekly counseling sessions for the past 10 months. He’s part of a NAH telehealth pilot program funded by Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation and operating with Steps to Recovery Homes in the Verde Valley.

Boehne said he likes the convenience of the sessions.

“I go to a laptop, log in, and I’m in therapy.”

Another thing he appreciates is being in his environment, rather than in someone’s office.

“I feel more relaxed and comfortable this way,” he said. “If people don’t take advantage of this, they’re missing out. It’s really good therapy.”

According to the American Telemedicine Association, telehealth offers value for healthcare payers, consumers, and providers. Benefits include increased healthcare access, expanded reach of service, reduced costs, and high customer satisfaction.

Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation will host the https://www.nahealthfoundation.org/participate/copperball2020 May 27-31 to benefit behavioral health care services at Northern Arizona Healthcare.

“This virus will leave many personal and societal struggles to navigate,” said Foundation President and CEO Rick Smith. “We are, and have been, committed to improving behavioral health outcomes, helping those in northern Arizona through this and other health crises.”

A third of Americans have already experienced high levels of psychological distress during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a recent Pew Research Center study.

“It’s an incubator for all sorts of mental health issues,” Martin said. “We will need to address those by increasing our access to services and improving our service delivery.”

Interpreters Crucial to Quality Care

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 00:06:00 GMT

Hematoma, dysphagia, arrhythmia, EKG, embolism, A1c level, epidermis, echocardiogram…

Medical terms bewilder many people.

“It’s hard enough, even if you know the English language, to decipher medical language,” agrees Marvin Cody, one of three full-time Navajo medical interpreters at Flagstaff Medical Center, part of the Northern Arizona Healthcare system.

“What makes us unique is that we know medical language along with the Navajo language and English language.”

Specially trained and certified, the Navajo medical interpreters primarily serve elderly Navajo patients, family members, and medical staff caring for them. The interpreter service is free and operates with a decade of support from the John and Sophie Ottens Foundation and Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation.

In many hospitals, language barriers are overcome by a network of remote, on-demand language services. The Navajo language, though, presents unique challenges best served by in-person interpreters.

First, the Navajo language is complex. It was unwritten until modern times, and it is one of the most demanding languages to learn for English speakers.

Secondly, there are English words that have no Navajo equivalents, especially in the health field.

“There are a lot of medical or biological terms that don’t exist in Navajo,” Cody said. “We all learn about a cell in biology. But in Navajo, there’s no word for it.”

“For me, it’s important to keep the language alive. It’s important to preserving Navajo ways and traditions.”

— Vernice Wagner

There are cultural sensitivities, too. Discussing a medical power of attorney, advanced directives, and do not resuscitate (DNR) orders must be handled delicately.

“Among the Navajo, it’s considered a curse if you’re telling them about death and dying,” Cody explained. “It’s like you’re prophesying their death. We must be careful in how we speak about these things.

With Navajo and Hopi lands nearby, more than a third of patients at Flagstaff Medical Center are Native people. One particular day in March, the hospital had 195 patients, 80 of whom were Native Americans. The vast majority of those were elderly Navajos.

Hospital physicians see the interpreters’ work as crucial.

They assist in our interactions with patients and “improve our patients’ quality of care,” according to NAH hospitalist Dr. Christina Veenstra.

Since a hospital is an around-the-clock operation, a small team of fluent Navajo speakers who work other jobs at the medical center fills in when the full-time interpreters are off. Together they made nearly 6,300 patient visits in 2019.

Besides helping medical teams, the interpreters say they bring familiarity and trust to Navajo patients.

When a Navajo introduces themself to another Navajo, they always refer to their respective clans, said interpreter Gerry Fuson. Clan names, she added, not only indicate where you come from but also the essence of who you are.

“When you establish that relationship with a patient, it helps them to loosen up, to feel more comfortable talking with you,” said Vernice Wagner, the latest interpreter to join the team.

For many elderly Navajos, the interpreter service is critical. But Fuson wonders if it will be necessary a few decades from now.

“Maybe we will be needed for another 10 or 15 more years, but after that, we’ll have to see.”

Even as it’s one of the most widely spoken Native American tongues, UNESCO classifies Navajo as a “vulnerable” language. The pervasive use of English in schools and youths seeking jobs away from their homeland has led to a decline in Navajo people learning their native language.

In 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau counted 169,369 Navajo speakers in the U.S. Of those, less than 12,000 spoke little or no English.

Wagner said she became an interpreter to help people overcome illness and help preserve Navajo language.

“For me, it’s important to keep the language alive. It’s important to preserving Navajo ways and traditions.”

The Ottens Foundation, which has long supported Native American causes, is closing this year. It gave a final $500,000 gift to the Navajo medical interpreters service to benefit the program through 2024.

Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation gives additional support to the interpreters and other NAH programs that serve Native American patients. Among these are an onsite Native Healer at Flagstaff Medical Center and a Navajo video series explaining palliative care options.

You can help champion these programs by directing a donation to Health First Foundation.

The Eyes Have It

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 19:00:00 GMT

“Helping students see well so they can succeed advances our mission.”

Good hearing and vision are essential to childhood development and learning. That’s why nearly all states mandate hearing and eye screenings for school children.

Faced with outdated and inefficient vision screening equipment, the Humboldt Unified School District of Prescott Valley turned to Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation for help. The district purchased state-of-the-art portable vision screening devices with a grant from the Foundation.

As a result, 3,100 student vision screenings were conducted with greater efficiency and accuracy, giving parents and medical providers more complete information on a child’s eyesight.

Teachers praised the new system for freeing up more classroom time, and one educator said students were more at ease with the device that could be used in the classroom without much disruption.

“Reports were easy to read and very thorough,” said another staff member.

In addition to improving vision screening time and accuracy, the school district partnered with the

Prescott Valley Early Bird Lions Club to assist families with vision resources and students with prescription eyewear.

“Helping students see well so they can succeed advances our mission of creating healthier, thriving communities,” said Rick Smith, President and CEO of the Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation.

Finding Comfort Through Pet Therapy

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 19:23:00 GMT

When Michelle Newlin’s mother underwent surgery, Michelle visited her in the hospital every day for a week. During this time, she noticed that many patients spent their days alone and, it broke her heart. Michelle knew she wanted to find a way to comfort patients who needed companionship while in the hospital.

Not long afterward, a solution presented itself through Pet Partners, a non-profit registering therapy dogs, and other therapy animals. Being the dog-mom of Caymus, a young Teddy-Bear Goldendoodle with a sweet, intuitive, and caring soul, Michelle knew she had to pursue the registration.

Since becoming a Pet Therapy team in 2018, Michelle and Caymus have volunteered twice a week at Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) during the summer months. What started as a desire to comfort patients has evolved to something greater—they also bring joy to family members, visitors, and caregivers.

Once, the two were visiting nursing staff in the ICU when they met an elderly woman. She knelt to pet Caymus, then looked up and said, “I just watched my husband of 65 years take his last breath.” Choking back tears, Michelle knew that everything in that moment was about the comfort the woman was receiving from Caymus.

Increasingly, pets have been recognized as a powerful weapon in fighting disease, chronic conditions, and reducing depression and anxiety. The impacts of pet therapy are both beneficial and effective in healing and recovery.

As volunteers, Michelle and Caymus have experienced these impacts and, it’s crystallized their mission to prevent the effects of mental health issues for youth. Since making this commitment, the two have started volunteering with the Behavioral Health Services Department at FMC. They aspire to be advocates in breaking the cycle of isolation, depression, anxiety, social awkwardness, and other challenges through the power of pet therapy.

Northern Arizona Healthcare's pet therapy program brings friendly dogs and hospital patients together. Furry friends have proven to promote healing by offering unconditional love – something everyone needs. Every dog in the program has passed rigorous physical and behavioral testing. Animal-assisted activities and therapy are offered at Flagstaff Medical Center and Verde Valley Medical Center.

For more information, visit https://nahealth.com/patients services/be-well-services-help-you-heal

Awarding $1.5M in Grants to Advance Health and Well-Being

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 18:11:00 GMT

We are fortunate to have the opportunity to support community health through our annual Northern Arizona Community Health Grant Cycle. This year, we awarded $1.5 million to nonprofit organizations throughout northern Arizona.

Healthy communities are ones in which local groups from all parts of the community work together to educate others, prevent disease, and make healthy living options and quality care available to everyone. We are excited to work together with our awardees and generous donors to promote healthy living, bringing health benefits to the greatest number of people.

Together, let’s reduce health gaps caused by differences in income, education, location, and other factors that can affect health. Let’s improve behavioral health outcomes, reduce the incidence and impacts of chronic medical conditions, and provide improved access to quality healthcare for everyone.

Learn more about this year’s awardees here .

Creating Spaces for Youth to Thrive

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 18:47:00 GMT

Academic failure, drug use, bullying, teen pregnancy, crime, depression, and obesity—these are just a few of the challenges the youngest in our communities face. The troubling circumstances of our youth are often the outcome of widespread and chronic social issues that include persistent poverty, ill-equipped parents, social inequities, and a lack of support systems or resources.

These supports and resources can come in many different forms. Safe and supervised spaces are one example that also happens to be in high demand. According to a research report by the Afterschool Alliance, in communities across the United States, “11.3 million children are without supervision between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m.,” meaning 1 in 5 children do not have someone to care for them after school.

In the absence of positive influences and safe spaces, many youngsters find other, often negative, ways to fill their time. This furthers the struggle to manage the sometimes life-long mental and physical effects of neglect. The harsh reality of our youth crisis has galvanized youth-serving organizations and initiatives to address the issues head-on.

Here in northern Arizona, we are fortunate to have one of these organizations. The Boys and Girls Club of Flagstaff (BGCF) is dedicated to providing accessible, culturally aware and community-based support so that more youth can thrive. Their Healthy Lifestyles Program, funded by our Foundation in 2018, was designed to improve the overall health of our youth through engaging activities that address diabetes and the obesity epidemic, promote healthy practices and prevent risky behaviors including sexual activity and substance abuse.

Through Healthy Lifestyles, the BGCF has already impacted 100 of the projected 300 participants in the Flagstaff, Holbrook, and Winslow communities. However, BGCF is doing more than providing safe spaces, caring relationships, and transformational learning experiences. They are fostering foundations for resiliency and sustained life-long health, and we are so honored to be supporting them in this work.

If you are interested in learning more about how BGCF is positively impacting youth in northern Arizona or about purpose-driven charitable giving, please contact Matt Brasmer by calling 928.213.6538 or emailing matthew.brasmer@nahealth.com or visit our website nahealthfoundation.org/donate .

Creating Health Through Harmony

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 18:42:00 GMT

For the Navajo people, the dynamic, complex, and rich term “hózhó” is one expression used to describe harmony. Hózhó reflects the path or journey by which an individual strives towards and attains a state of health and wellness. However, on the Navajo Nation, this path can be riddled with challenges.

The Navajo Nation, the largest land area retained by a Native American tribe, is a 27,000-square-mile swath of high plains and desert stretching across Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Utah. Woven throughout the tapestry of the lands are tradition, culture, and natural beauty. However, harsh living conditions, environmental issues, the prevalence of chronic illnesses, and limited access to specialized healthcare have created barriers to achieving hózhó. By many accounts, more than a third of the native peoples in northern Arizona live without electricity, paved roads, cell phone service, landlines, safe housing, stable income, or other essentials of modern life. Most roads are unpaved and in the rainy and snowy seasons they are impassable, creating islands of captives for stretches at a time.

These conditions are harsh for a person in good health, but for those battling a chronic disease like cancer, it’s a matter of life or death. According to the Navajo Epidemiology Center, cancer is the second leading cause of mortality for all Navajo people. Environmental issues have aggravated cancer risk as many are victims, or Downwinders, of radioactive contamination and nuclear fallout from more than 100 abandoned uranium mines.

For a patient living in the Navajo Nation, a cancer diagnosis means frequent trips to a care center that is often hours away. This distance, along with other impediments to accessing care, makes it hard to maintain life-saving treatment. Many forego treatment altogether.

Acknowledging these barriers to cancer care, Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) committed time and resources to open a cancer center, the first of its kind in the Navajo Nation, and increase access for patients. During 2018 and 2019, the Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation awarded TCRHCC a grant to support vital cancer treatment equipment and tools for the center.

Over the years, our Foundation has maintained a commitment to filling in healthcare gaps through strategic funding, grant seeking, and partnerships oriented towards the areas of greatest need in our region. Cancer treatment is undoubtedly a focal point, but so is decreasing health disparities among our Native American population. Supporting TCRHCC with the founding of their cancer care center has allowed us to address both effectively.

Through the combined efforts of TCRHCC, our Foundation team, and generous community of donors, we’re not only creating access to cancer treatment but for hózhó in the lives of thousands who call the lands of the Navajo Nation their home.

Keeping Families Close

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 18:11:00 GMT

If your child was seriously injured or ill, what lengths would you go to in the pursuit of helping him/her regain health? Would you seek the best medical providers? Of course. Would you travel long distances to access specialized treatment? Most likely. Would you pay whatever it cost?

This last question might be an easy ‘yes’ for some, but for many families faced with financial hardships, it’s a tough one to confront. The problem isn’t about putting a price on the health of a sick child, but about how to manage that cost with the added financial burden of housing, food, transportation, childcare, and lost work income as a result of long-term specialized care at a hospital hours away.

Acknowledging that distance and transportation to specialized care in the Phoenix metropolitan area can be barriers to pediatric services, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona (RMHC) has been working to increase access for families since 1985. A Ronald McDonald House provides a “home-away-from-home” so families can be close to their hospitalized child at little to no cost.

As a recipient of grants from Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation in 2018 and 2019, RMHC is on track to serve roughly 500 families from Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai counties through their Help-A-Family Program. They had already hosted more than 300 families in need.

In partnership with RMHC, we are making it possible for families to stay together during some of the most stressful times in their lives and focus on what matters most, the health of their child. More than that, initiatives like Help-A-Family move us closer towards a vision where no family ever has to ask whether or not they can afford the life-saving measures for the ones they love.

If you are interested in learning more about RMHC or purpose-driven charitable giving, please contact Matt Brasmer by calling 928.213.6538 or emailing matthew.brasmer@nahealth.com or visit https://ahealthfoundation.org/donate .

Unlocking Health & Happiness

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 21:12:00 GMT

Through a focused approach to grant-making, we’ve been privileged to support local nonprofit initiatives established to create the best health outcomes for people who call northern Arizona home. One of these programs is the Hozhoni Foundation’s Health & Happiness Project (H3) aimed at addressing the unfunded physical, dental, behavioral, communication, and therapeutic needs of its clients.

Founded in 1970 as an alternative to institutionalizing children with intellectual/developmental (I/DD) disabilities, the organization has provided residential, vocational, and education services through 21 group homes, ongoing multi-day programs, and client employment sites across three cities. Hozhoni’s commitment to sustainable health solutions remains steadfast. However, enhancing the quality of life for adults with I/DD, who are generally more prone to chronic illness, comes with its challenges.

Individuals with I/DD often experience higher rates of obesity, sedentary behaviors, and poor nutritional habits. These occurrences, in addition to limited access to healthcare options and dedicated funding, create obstacles to optimal health outcomes.

The H3 Project was designed to fill in the gaps—to treat the whole person through a continuity of care. H3’s programming goals hope to see a decrease in urgent care and emergency room visits, hospitalization, and behavioral incidents by providing relevant education, enhanced medical management, nutrition coaching, and several therapies to encourage overall well-being.

Through our Foundation grant, we are proud to support H3’s holistic approach to empower 80 more clients with the tools for self-sufficiency that combat the effects of chronic illness and unlock health and happiness for life.

Becoming a Mental Health First Aider and Being the Difference for My Community

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 22:37:00 GMT

For two years I served as a peer mentor, coaching first-year students and students on academic probation at Northern Arizona University. My main job was to help them understand how to be successful in college. Many times, however, my conversations with these students addressed the large, unwanted elephant in the room: their mental health.

I have coached students who were sleep-deprived, depressed, anxious, suffered schizophrenia, showed signs of being suicidal, had been emotionally/sexually abused and worst of all, those who didn’t have a support system. In the worst of cases and outside of my experience, the university has had students successfully complete suicide.

Recently, I completed an 8-hour Mental Health First Aid® training that addresses mental health concerns. What is so special about the course is that it sheds light on the fact that professionals are not the only people who can help; anyone can support someone in crisis or experiencing challenges . The course focuses on bettering an individual’s “noticing skills” and providing one with the necessary tools and action plan so they know when to intervene and how to intervene.

As a young adult, this training was invaluable to me because I am still interacting with the world’s future workforce and leaders on a daily basis. It is not only students who are affected, but many people of all ages across northern Arizona. Mental health is a team effort; as humans, it is our duty to care about one another, and becoming a Mental Health First Aider is a great first step . It is so empowering to know that I can be the difference in the life of someone else, just as others have been for me. The Mental Health First Aid course is free, so take advantage of this opportunity so that you, too, can make a difference.

To become a Mental Health First Aider, register for a free Mental Health First Aid class. To learn about courses available in northern Arizona, visit https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/take-a-course/find-a-course

Setting the Foundations for Oral Health: An Essential Part of Care in Early Childhood

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 18:15:00 GMT

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tooth decay is the most common chronic illness affecting more than 40% of children before the time they reach kindergarten. Like other bacterial infections, cavities and tooth decay can worsen if left untreated, leading youngsters on a path filled with pain, challenges with eating, and other severe diagnoses throughout life.

When exposed to regular dental checkups at an early age, the chance of maintaining a healthier mouth into adulthood increases. Oral health is integral to general health and, the good news is tooth decay is largely preventable.

But, how can you work on prevention if you’re a child that lives in a rural area where access to a care provider is sometimes 2-3 hours away—when many of your family members are unemployed, living under the poverty line and struggling to meet basic needs?

In 2007, Dr. Thomas Barnes, Chief Dental Officer at Winslow Indian Health Care Center (WIHCC) and his dental team grappled with this same question. The children of the Winslow, Arizona Service Area live with a high cavity and overall disparity rate, but those aren’t the only challenges. The clinic’s service area encompasses roughly 2,414 square miles of rural and border town communities within Navajo and Coconino Counties.

This year the program is focused on communities located in Navajo County which, according to the AZ county health rankings, is characterized by the following rankings: 15th in quality of life out of 15 Arizona counties; 14th in health outcomes, health factors, and health behaviors; and 12th in social and economic factors.

With an eye towards solutions that could push back against seemingly impossible odds, the WIHCC dental team established the Mobile Dental Van (MDV) Program with one clear objective in mind: bring services to patients in need.

Driven by this goal, the MDV team travels throughout the week to schools and youth programs in some of the most remote areas of the Navajo Nation. For the past eleven years, the diligent team has been successful in increasing access to quality and cost-free dental care, improving healthy habits, and decreasing oral health inequity for Native American children in grades K-12.

The Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation is committed to investing in early childhood health, especially given the great need in our region. We have awarded grant funding which will enable the Mobile Dental Van to continue expanding its reach to more than 600 children in the coming year.

If you are interested in supporting these efforts or other similar efforts creating access to healthcare, please contact Matt Brasmer, Vice President of Development at Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation by calling 928.213.6538 or emailing matthew.brasmer@nahealth.com .

Learning to Fly

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 20:02:00 GMT

On an ordinary day in 1993, Dennis Grant’s life changed forever. While on duty with the Department of Corrections, Dennis suffered an accident leaving him a double amputee above his knees.

Years later, after adapting to life with prosthetics, Dennis’ life changed in a new way after gaining an opportunity to try something that hadn’t previously been available to him. Through the Adaptive Ski & Ride program at Arizona Snowbowl—he learned how to sit-ski at Snowbowl’s Mount Humphreys, the tallest point in Arizona where the base elevation is 9,200 feet above sea level.

After a few lessons, Dennis was soon ready to head out on his own. With each independent carve down the mountain, a renewed sense of self-esteem, confidence, and positive mood began to arise within him.

Dennis’ success gets to the heart of why the Adaptive Ski & Ride program exists in the first place. Driven by a goal to provide access to the transformative benefits of outdoor winter recreation to anyone experiencing physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, the program has impacted the lives of more than 1,400 riders of all ages in just seven years. The program brings individuals, often relegated to the sidelines, out onto the slopes to facilitate self-empowerment and community connection.

In 2011, Dennis was one of 12 students who took to the mountain through the program. The following year, after receiving a grant from the Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation, an adjustable sit-ski was purchased to accommodate a broader range of student size and ability.

Our Foundation has continued to support this program because of its focus on addressing a key priority for our region. With the help of our donors in increasing the program’s capacity and equipment inventory, nearly 500 new students from across Arizona got to ride this past winter season.

As for Dennis, he not only became a very advanced sit-skier but also the program’s first adaptive volunteer. He now gives back by sharing his passion for the sport with other disabled riders. “I love the freedom of being able to do a winter sport, and it’s just very invigorating to fly down the mountain and have total control on the ski,” he says.

For more information on ways to support the Adaptive Ski & Ride Program through the Foundation, please contact Matthew Brasmer at 928.213.6538 .