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Grading the States 2009 Report Card: Arizona
In 2006, Arizona’s mental health care system received a grade of D. Three years later, it has improved to a C. The improvement is commendable, but the test will be whether progress can continue in the face of the current economic downturn. Full narrative (PDF).
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Health Promotion and Measurement: D 25% of Total Grade
Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices,
emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
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Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: B 45% of Total Grade
A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
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Consumer & Family Empowerment: B 15% of Total Grade
Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the
state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
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Community Integration and Social Inclusion: C 15% of Total Grade
Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.
Innovations
- Cultural competence plan, tools, and online information
- Partnership between mental health and housing agencies
- Screening and treatment of co-occurring disorders in the criminal justice system
Urgent Needs
- Data on numbers of consumers served
- Stronger state oversight to ensure quality of services
- Greater availability of services
- Address workforce shortage, particularly in rural and tribal areas
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"When I first tried to get help after attempting suicide, I was told that I wasn’t sick enough to qualify."
"Having case managers with nearly 100 clients does not allow them to do anything but respond to emergencies. Until my family member has an emergency, there is no case management."
"In the town I live in, the population is roughly 100,000. There are very few psychiatrists, and often there is a six to eight week wait to see one as a new patient."
