SE Valley Times

Arizona State University's College of Health Solutions is collaborating with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to tackle a significant life expectancy disparity between residents in north Scottsdale and south Phoenix. This five-year initiative, led by Deborah Williams, a director and clinical assistant professor at ASU, is supported by a $1 million Community Solutions Funding award from the board.

Supervisor Steve Gallardo emphasized the importance of addressing this issue, stating, “It’s a simple fact that where you live, even down to the ZIP code, can impact your quality of life." He noted his concern upon learning about the life expectancy gap within his district.

ASU's involvement began when Equality Health approached them in 2022 to develop a well-being initiative. Williams explained that they conducted initial analyses and partnered with Equity Health to propose funding for community projects.

The university and Equity Health engaged over 800 stakeholders through six Community Voices meetings. Residents highlighted concerns such as access to healthy food, improvements in infrastructure like parks and transportation, educational enhancements, health education for youth, safety issues, and healthcare accessibility. Williams noted a strong sense of community among residents who preferred active participation rather than external directives.

Looking ahead, ASU plans to collaborate with Equity Health on baseline assessments to guide program development. Key focus areas include health equity, food ecosystems, built environment improvements, and educational access. Williams acknowledged the challenges but expressed hope for substantial progress over five years.

She concluded by expressing her desire for tangible changes in infrastructure that support health improvement: "I don’t think this initiative is going to solve all of the problems... But I think it will be a good start."