AFHP Collaborating with Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. in Cochise County
Arizona Family Health Partnership, Arizona’s designated Title X agency, is using a $124,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand and enhance the telehealth system in Southern Arizona.
Title X (ten) is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive, confidential sexual reproductive healthcare in communities across the United States. During a typical year in Arizona, more than 30,000 individuals receive Title X services at low or no-cost at more than 50 health centers.
Arizona Family Health Partnership is collaborating on the infrastructure expansion with Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. (CCHCI) in Cochise County to “expand telehealth technical capabilities and systems supporting sustainable access to high-quality, client-centered and equitable sexual health services,” said Arizona Family Health Partnership CEO Bré Thomas.
“Expanding telehealth at our nation’s Title X family planning clinics will help ensure all women and families have equitable access to this essential care,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Across the nation we are seeing attacks on sexual and reproductive health care services, and through these funds and other HHS efforts we can ensure that we’re able to provide this care that so many across the country need.”
The telehealth infrastructure system is designed to improve sexual and reproductive healthcare services, prioritizing low-income people and families and those in urban, rural and frontier communities that are medically underserved.
“Our goal is to consistently expand access and reach to these vital healthcare services to communities, individuals and families in Arizona and this grant from HHS is incredibly important in achieving that goal,” Thomas said.
The grant was one of 31 awarded to Title X grantees in 26 states, one U.S. territory and one freely associated state totaling $16.3 million. HHS used funds made available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to award the grants for a 12-month project period ending May 15, 2023.
For more than 50 years, Title X health centers have played a critical role in ensuring access to a broad range of sexual and reproductive health services for more than 190 million low-income or uninsured individuals, including breast and cervical cancer screenings, contraceptive counseling, and STI/HIV testing. Title X services are delivered through a diverse network of clinics, including state and local health departments, federally qualified health centers, hospital-based sites, and other private nonprofit and community-based health centers. Populations most served include uninsured and under-insured people with low incomes and other groups who have been systematically excluded from receiving care.
