Promoting health education and services to extremely low-income, isolated, and indigenous families in a remote region of Northern Arizona

First Things First (FTF) offers supports to families of children 0-5 in Arizona. The Coconino Region is the second largest county in the US and is in a remote area of Northern Arizona which includes Flagstaff, Winslow, much of Coconino County and 3 tribes (Hopi, Havasupai and the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians). It is extremely difficult to collect data due to complicated geographic boundaries and a history of tribes experiencing oppression through unwelcome data collection. This lack of data contributes to ongoing health disparities and a lack of services. ASR helped to conduct a face to face survey of parents with children 0-5 in 2010, and collected secondary data for a Needs and Assets report. Primary data showed that 27% of respondents reported having to travel more than 20 miles for their child to receive dental care (100% of Grand Canyon respondents traveled at least that far). In response to the data, FTF is launching a mobile dental clinic for children, oral health education, screenings, fluoride varnishes, and referrals to dentists. Data also showed that just under two-thirds (63%) of local children ages 19 to 35 months had received the recommended vaccinations as compared to three-quarters of children in Arizona and the U.S. The region subsequently promoted community clinics that provided free vaccines, and secondary data now shows a significant increase in immunization rates. A new 2012 Needs and Assets Report tracking health and social determinants of health trends will be available September 2012.