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Health Improvement Partnership of Maricopa County (HIPMC)
HIPMC is a collaboration between private organizations, public entities, and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) to address priority health issues through a community health improvement plan (CHIP).
The priority areas identified through the Community Health Assessment (CHA) are:
Access to Care
Appropriate access to care means that everyone receives the services and support they need to maintain optimal health and wellbeing throughout their lifetimes. This encompasses both medical and non-medical care that effectively prevents, treats, and/or minimizes the effects of health problems and supports quality of life. This requires that care services be obtainable, accessible, and affordable to all, and be designed to ensure that individuals understand how to navigate efficiently through the care delivery system to meet their needs. Such care must also impart the best possible health outcomes and be delivered through a respectful relationship between the caregiver and recipient that is based on mutual trust and understanding.
Access to Healthy Food
Appropriate access to healthy food means that all individuals can easily obtain high quality, fresh, affordable, and nutritious food. In both urban and rural settings, regular access to healthy food retailers and other healthy food outlets that offer fruits, vegetables, and other staples at affordable prices contribute to a more equitable food environment. Such a food environment reduces food insecurity and hunger, supports nutritious diets that lead to healthier lifestyles, and provides opportunities for thriving local economies. Special attention must be paid to ensure that culturally appropriate healthy food options are available to all communities.
Early Childhood Development
Appropriate early childhood development means that all young children grow up in safe and supportive environments and receive the nurturing care and interaction needed to promote their physical, mental, and emotional growth and resilience that enables them to become healthy, happy, and productive in later life. This requires that children be protected from harm, neglect, and other undue adverse experiences. It also means that families, parents, and other caregivers must have the physical, social, and economic means to provide for their children’s needs as well as their own. Adequate support, education, and other services must also be available for children and families to address any problems during early childhood when these interventions are most likely to be effective.