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Older adults face homelessness at high rates. Here’s how governments, organizations are responding

Thu, 02 May 2024 17:15:09 +0000

May 2, 2024

Older adults face homelessness at high rates. Here’s how governments, organizations are responding

PHOENIX – Homelessness is an ongoing issue in the state and around the country. As the number of unhoused individuals rises, government and nonprofit organizations continue to assist those impacted – with the help of federal funding. Arizona older adults in particular have difficulties with housing and may be limited in generating new income. A 2022 report from the Arizona Department of Economic Security indicated that more than 4,500 individuals ages 55 and older received homelessness assistance, more than any other age group that year. Rachel Milne, director of the Phoenix Office of Homeless Solutions, said older adults are a fast-growing subgroup in the unhoused population, with unique challenges. “Seniors are typically on a very fixed income. Whether they're receiving a little bit of assistance, they have what they have, and that number is not going to change,” she said. “So they need to be able to find a unit that will fit within their budget knowing that they're not anticipating getting raises.” Milne said in May 2023, the city used $5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to buy an old Super 8 near Northern Avenue and Interstate 17. Then in March, Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema announced that $3 million in federal funding would go toward converting the hotel into a permanent housing option for older adults. [caption id="attachment_231367" align="alignright" width="300"] Robert Chayrez gets a haircut from Adriel Romano. Chayrez says he’s been coming to Justa Center for four years and has been able to get biweekly haircuts from volunteers. (Photo by Crystal N. Aguilar/Cronkite News)[/caption] Other sources are also financing the project, Milne said, including a grant from Maricopa County and general funds from the city. Milne said that shelter services are a major focus for the city, which solves homelessness for older adults only in the short term. The hotel conversion project, she said, is meant to be a longer-term solution. “Shelter doesn't end homelessness,” she said. “It helps people stabilize, certainly, but we're really happy to have this housing so folks will have their own leases at this site. This will be their home for as long as they want to and without risk of losing it due to rising rents.” Kelly and Sinema also announced $850,000 in federal funding for the Justa Center. The Justa Center in downtown Phoenix has worked for years to assist unhoused older adults in the community. The organization works toward getting older folks a place to go for the day. Justa Center started in 2006 and provides shower and laundry services, a dayroom, a health clinic and digital skills training. Also, the nonprofit serves two meals a day for most of the year. During the summer months, it serves three meals a day and provides heat relief. The center provides case manager assistance and a director of housing solutions who can help older adults find shelters or housing facilities. Dean Scheinert, executive director of Justa Center, explained why the organization is unique among nonprofits looking to help an aging unhoused population. “There are many organizations that provide services to either seniors or people who are experiencing homelessness, … but they do a lot of other things. So that (unhoused older adults) is our one and only mission,” Scheinert said. John Dean, a Justa Center visitor, has lived in Phoenix his whole life and said the center has been valuable in getting relief. Dean said that he became unhoused after his apartment caught fire and burned down. “I lost a lot of things,” Dean said. “It was awful.” "I'm just trying to get a place," Dean said, who spends nights in a motel and relies on Justa Center primarily for its food and housing resources, which have helped him through a difficult process. [caption id="attachment_231366" align="alignnone" width="1024"] John Dean frequents Justa Center for help finding housing while he stays at a motel, after a fire forced him out of his apartment. He says he likes the center because it’s easy to talk to everyone due to their shared experiences. (Photo by Crystal N. Aguilar/Cronkite News)[/caption] “It’s very hard. Very hard. You have nowhere to go, you know? It’s real hard,” Dean said, in reference to the difficulty of being unhoused. Dean said that he is also receiving assistance from Central Arizona Shelter Services as he looks for permanent housing. “I’m going to CASS right now,” Dean said on a February morning. “I have a case manager, so she’s working on it.” Scheinert said there are a number of reasons older adults experience homelessness. “One is, obviously, the lack of affordable housing. Seniors are often on fixed incomes,” Scheinert said. “When you’re a senior and you’re homeless and you haven't been diagnosed for many years, they (mental health challenges) become exacerbated. The summer is a big issue – things like that.” Scheinert said that though awareness surrounding the issue is improving, there has been a lack of “core focus for public policy.” Scheinert said Justa Center’s approach has served thousands of people and that it has created a close community whose members help each other through the process of gaining housing. “We’re like a family,” Scheinert said. “We have a small staff – there are 13 people here – some of whom have lived experience … and a lot of people who work here are seniors, so it could be any of us.”

Bobby Winkles enshrined in bronze at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, cementing ASU baseball legacy

Thu, 02 May 2024 16:43:53 +0000

May 2, 2024

Bobby Winkles enshrined in bronze at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, cementing ASU baseball legacy

PHOENIX – Bobby Winkles, Arizona State baseball’s first varsity head coach, has a permanent home at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Immortalized along the third baseline and revealed on April 10, the former ASU coach's statue is decorated with his countless accomplishments while guiding the program from its infancy to an annual powerhouse. The statue was funded by 70 former Sun Devils baseball players who played under Winkles. Before the statue’s unveiling, former players recalled laughable moments and his impact on and off the field. “Winks was an unbelievable person,” said Fred Nelson, a 1967 national champion and Sun Devil Hall of Famer. “(He was) loved by the players (and) loved by the fans.” During his 13 seasons coaching at ASU, Winkles amassed 524 wins and coached the team’s first three national championships. [caption id="attachment_231355" align="alignright" width="300"] The Bobby Winkles statue was funded by 70 former Sun Devil players who played under the legendary coach during his 13 seasons at ASU. (Photo by Tyler Bednar/Cronkite News)[/caption] The 1964 Sun Devils team produced one of the more memorable years with a 44-7 record, a Western Athletic Conference title and their first College Baseball World Series appearance, where the team finished sixth. ASU baseball held a 60th anniversary ceremony for the team before first pitch, where numerous players attended and were honored. One season later, the Sun Devils finished 54-8 and earned their first national championship but didn’t stop there. The Sun Devils established themselves as a college baseball dynasty by winning the national championship in 1967 and 1969. Winkles was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1965 and 1969, in addition to the Sporting News Coach of the Year in 1965, 1967 and 1969. He was inducted into the ASU Hall of Fame in 1982, the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 and his No. 1 is retired. Quickly into his speech, Nelson spoke about Winkles’ desire to teach the game’s fundamentals, sometimes with a little sarcasm. “He said, ‘Boys, I’m going to tell you. They’ve been playing the game of baseball for 105 years and not one guy has ever been thrown out at the mound, so get your (butt) off the mound and get over,’” Nelson said. ASU coach Willie Bloomquist, a Bobby Winkles Award winner, says his impact still resonates with the program to this day. “I can only hope and imagine that my players look at me one day the way that you guys look at him,” Bloomquist said. “I have the honor of trying to fill the footsteps of the foundation that he built here. He was the founder, the godfather that put this place on the map, which made Arizona State the greatest place to play baseball.” [caption id="attachment_231354" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The front of Bobby Winkles’ statue represents his immense accomplishments as the former Arizona State baseball coach. (Photo by Tyler Bednar/Cronkite News)[/caption] After many players told their favorite stories of Winkles, the group walked back down the third base line to see the unveiling of his statue. His family members revealed the statue, including his grandson, Parker Gatewood, who cut the ribbons and threw out the game’s first pitch. “I think the thing that I go back to every time when I talk about granddad is that he molded who I am, personally, as a man and my life’s philosophy, because all I wanted to do was be like him,” Gatewood said. “All you can do is try to do that to the best of your ability. If I ever come out, just half the man that Grandad was, I’ll consider that a success.” It was a busy weekend for the Winkles family. Winkles was one of seven people inducted into the 2024 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. “This weekend means the world to our family,” Gatewood said. “We just are so honored and feel so privileged to be able to share, in his legacy playing out here at Arizona State, the Hall of Fame and statue dedication. It means more than words can even express just the fact that we get to talk about and share and the love that we had for our granddad. The granddad himself, Bobby Winkles, is just an absolute blessing.”

The Lopes’ leap: GCU’s esports powerhouse fuels Arizona’s collegiate gaming boom

Wed, 01 May 2024 20:05:39 +0000

May 1, 2024

The Lopes’ leap: GCU’s esports powerhouse fuels Arizona’s collegiate gaming boom

PHOENIX – In 2019, ESPN hosted the inaugural Overwatch College Esports Championship, matching up the country's best universities for an Overwatch tournament. Airing on one of the nation's biggest sports networks was a huge moment for college esports, but the event was the start of an esports culture shift in the Valley. That year marked a rare opportunity for a university that joined Division I sports just six years earlier in 2019. “ESPN picked up the tournament, and as a result, GCU Esports was featured on ESPN for the whole world to see, including the president of GCU,” GCU esports operations supervisor Tyler Galvin said. “That success of a relatively small club at GCU earned a major commitment from the university to help our program continue to grow.” The early support for esports shown by the GCU faculty and staff has blossomed into arguably the strongest community on campus, said GCU esports director Jay DeShong. GCU is home to an esports lounge on campus, which takes up the entire second floor of the technology building. In a 3200-square-foot room, GCU has invested thousands of dollars in over 72 gaming PC setups, along with six TVs dedicated to console play on Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch. The massive space can cater to not only the competitive gamers but also the casual gamers, – a decision that has been a huge success. The lounge now plays host to daily events in an attempt to get isolated gamers who play by themselves in their dorm rooms to engage in their community. GCU’s esports community had around 500 members when the renovated space opened in 2019, according to the school. In 2024, the community has grown to 2,000 active gamers. “You can ask any of our 2,000 members, and they’ll tell you it’s a second home to them,” DeShong said. “Especially the workers and especially people who are here more than one day a week to play video games. It’s a home for everybody. It’s one for me, it’s a home for my staff. It’s a second home.” A key reason for the lounge’s success is creating a “second home” for everybody, women on campus. DeShong and his staff have created a program titled “Women’s Wednesday.” Every two weeks, the lounge opens its doors for women only from 6 p.m. to midnight. As a result, the percentage of female members jumped from 1% of the club to 25%. “It’s beautiful for everybody who likes video games on some level to be able to get together and talk about the things that they love,” DeShong said. “Whether it’s video games, whether it’s what’s going on in the news, whether it’s what they’re talking about on social media, whatever it is, we all share the common theme of gaming, and that allows us to kind of get to know each other better.” While the casual community is strong, GCU still values the competitive side of esports. In mid-March, the Lopes hosted the inaugural Western Cactus League Tournament. The WCL was the first time Arizona’s four major universities – GCU, ASU, Arizona and NAU – played an in-person LAN Tournament. The schools competed in four games – Overwatch, Valorant, Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Rocket League – with the winner of each tournament qualifying for Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup 2024, a national LAN tournament also known as May Madness. [caption id="attachment_231344" align="alignnone" width="1024"] GCU's 3,200-square-foot esports lounge, complete with 72 gaming PCs and console setups, has become a second home for the university's 2,000-member gaming community. (Photo by Sammy Nute/Cronkite News)[/caption] “In order for esports to grow, especially collegiate esports, the scene is at a point where, yes, other schools are technically our rivals,” DeShong said. “We’re all going to compete to be the best in Arizona, obviously. But it’s also important for us to have this event where everyone gets that level so we can all grow together.” The WCL is just the beginning of what DeShong thinks could be an esports consortium in Arizona, starting at the top with the major universities and trickling down to local junior high and high school events. However, if that consortium ever comes together, it will need more schools at the top. GCU has changed the esports game with its early entry, and other schools are catching up. “Esports is number two to basketball for reasons why students come to GCU, and you can imagine what that means for us,” DeShong said. Arizona State is on its way to joining GCU as another elite esports program in the state after its performance at the WCL tournament. The Sun Devils entered the tournament as the No. 6 ranked team in the country, according to the Overwatch College Ranking Association. ASU earned three dominant sweeps to guarantee its spot at May Madness, a National Overwatch Competition held in Dallas Texas at the beginning of May. However, the Sun Devils succeeded without the same support and funding as GCU. GCU has the advantage of being a private school, resulting in more accessible funds for clubs like esports. ASU does have an esports lounge, but the ASU esports teams have run into trouble consistently booking for practices and events. Despite the challenges, the Sun Devils believe they can become the powerhouse to lead Arizona and Southwest esports. “I feel like it comes down to, ‘Well, you guys are already successful, so why invest more into something if you’re already doing well,’” ASU Overwatch competitive director Asad Jamal said. “But for me, it’s that level of pride that as a school, if we had funding, I have no doubt in my mind that we could instantly be the number one school in esports.” Without an athletic director in place and a move to the Big-12 on the horizon, the Sun Devil athletics department might have too much on its plate to organize funding for ASU’s esports program, but proof of the concept is across town in Phoenix. GCU has created an amazing community full of contributing students being brought together by a love of gaming largely because of the school’s early commitment but the task was far from easy. “Esports can be a daunting commitment for a lot of universities because very few have the necessary expertise to run their program at a high level,” Galvin said. “When done incorrectly, an esports program can be quite expensive and yield relatively minimal returns for the school. “What GCU has done differently is hire people who are highly familiar with esports and gaming culture and give us the freedom to operate our teams in the most effective possible way. GCU is the prime example of a university doing esports the right way and how that can be a major benefit to the school.”

San Antonio oncologists tackle rising rates of cancer deaths in Latinos

Wed, 01 May 2024 20:04:25 +0000

May 1, 2024

San Antonio oncologists tackle rising rates of cancer deaths in Latinos

SAN ANTONIO – Cancer is now the leading cause of death for Latinos, accounting for 20% of all deaths, and according to a news release from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Latinos could face a 142% increase in cancer cases in coming years. Those were among the concerning statistics discussed by researchers and health care providers at a conference focused on Latino cancer care, hosted by the Mays Cancer Center and the Institute for Health Promotion Research earlier this year at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. Despite progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, cancer disparities persist. Compared to white patients, Latinos have more incidents of stomach, liver and cervical cancer and are twice as likely to die from liver and stomach cancer, according to 2019 figures from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. The American Cancer Society identifies cancer is the “leading cause of death among Hispanic people,” accounting for 20% of deaths. Cancer experts at the San Antonio conference said lack of early screening in the Hispanic population plays a large role in higher rates of cancers like cervical cancer. [caption id="attachment_231337" align="alignright" width="300"] Amelie G. Ramirez, associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at Mays Cancer Center, discusses the leading cause of death for the Hispanic community, on March 27 in San Antonio. (Photo by Maria Garcia/Cronkite News)[/caption] “Cervical cancer is something no one should die of anymore,” said Amelie G. Ramirez, associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at UT Health Mays Cancer Center. “Yet, we have higher rates of unscreened and people losing their lives to cervical cancer because they're not coming in early enough.” Early screenings can detect cancer in the cervix, breast, colon and lung before they cause noticeable symptoms and, in some cases, improve the chances of successful treatment. Delays in cancer care could decrease survival rates, increase costs of care and prompt additional health problems. For cervical cancer, women are encouraged to begin regular Pap smears at 21 years old, regardless of their sexual activity. Recommended screening ages for breast and colon cancer have been lowered as health providers see an increase of those cancers in younger patients. The U.S.Preventive Services Task Force now recommends breast cancer screening start at age 40, and colon cancer screening start at 45. Dr. Emmalind Aponte, oncologist and hematologist for Texas Oncology, a statewide private oncology practice, noted the Hispanic community lacks access to care and education on cancer screenings and its benefits. While Aponte believes that expanding access could bring more patients in for early screenings, she found that other problems could stand in their way, like language barriers, cultural traditions and lack of transportation. “Being able, for patients, to actually have health insurance,” Aponte said. “Many Hispanics do not have health insurance, and another one would be something as simple as transportation; patients don’t have a way to get where they can do the screening.” In 2013, Maricarmen D. Planas-Silva was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after doctors found a 9 centimeter malignant tumor. Prior to her diagnosis, Planas-Silva hadn’t regularly gone to a doctor because her time and energy were focused on being a caregiver. Treatment involved the removal of her thyroid and hormone medication to replace the hormones she can no longer produce naturally. [caption id="attachment_231339" align="alignright" width="300"] Oncologist and hematologist for Texas Oncology, Dr. Emmalind Aponte, returns to work on March 28 at Gonzaba Medical Group’s Woodlawn Medical Center, where she provides care to numerous Hispanic patients in San Antonio. (Photo by Maria Garcia/Cronkite News)[/caption] After surviving cancer and watching a close friend from her native Peru die from breast cancer, she realized Hispanics need help getting through cancer. Planas-Silva provided that help by founding Angelmira’s Center for Women with Advanced Cancer, a volunteer group of female patient advocates dedicated to helping other women with metastatic cancer. “We try to be an extra hand and extra heart for those who are struggling with cancer,” Planas-Silva said. “We have a lot of Latinos that are, you know, going through cancer, and they don't have insurance, and they don't have resources. So we have been helping them.” Advocates at Angelmira’s Center work with stage 4 patients and their families, helping them navigate paperwork, insurance, transportation, language barriers, groceries and more. Even though Houston is Planas-Silva’s home base, she and other advocates throughout South Texas offer their advice, comfort and training to patients at the Mays Cancer Center in San Antonio. For the first time, the San Antonio conference, Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos, included a group of Latina advocates discussing their cancer experiences and advocating training. Over 280 individuals attended the conference. Advocates and researchers stressed the importance of diverse representation in clinical research, trials and daily provider care. “Having the information from diverse communities helps us better understand the type of cancers that Latinos are being impacted by the most and then sort of what interventions we can do,” said Erica Martinez Zumba, director of community and participant engagement at the All of Us Research Program at the National Institute of Health. Hispanic involvement in research could help improve cancer care access and education, according to Zumba and Ramirez. Yet, those involved in cancer research and care want more action. “We need more answers,” Ramirez said. “I used to call liver cancer, stomach cancer, gallbladder cancer, kind of orphan cancers because nobody was really doing research in them … but those are the cancers that are affecting our community.”

As Arizona shifts into warmer weather, beware of rattlesnakes, experts say

Wed, 01 May 2024 16:53:07 +0000

May 1, 2024

As Arizona shifts into warmer weather, beware of rattlesnakes, experts say

PHOENIX – As the temperatures rise and the sun casts its golden glow over the Arizona landscape, more and more people are drawn outside to embrace the beauty of the outdoors. However, amid the breathtaking scenery and rugged trails, there’s a potentially dangerous cohabitant – the rattlesnake. Bryan Kuhn, a toxicologist from the Banner Poison & Drug Information Center, cautions adventurers about the increased encounters between humans and snakes as temperatures climb above 80 degrees. "Generally speaking, once we get consistent temperatures in the Valley above 80 to 85 degrees, we start to see a dramatic increase in the number of encounters of snakes and people who are out in the territory in which snakes are. That could be in your home or in rural areas," Kuhn said. In Arizona, where the desert stretches far and wide, 13 rattlesnake species make their presence known in both rural areas and even occasionally in homes, especially from March to October, according to the Arizona Game & Fish Department. But fear not, for knowledge is the key to safety, according to Cale Morris, the venom manager at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary. He advises hikers and residents alike to stay vigilant and always mindful of their surroundings. A simple rule emerges – never reach into the unknown as rattlesnakes may be lurking nearby. [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2019/06/24/snake-safety-classes/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/snakes-500x800.jpg" headline="It’s rattlesnake season. Are you prepared?"] "As far as being safe hiking around, safe around your home, paying attention to your surroundings, you know you're in the desert and rattlesnakes are around you, be mindful of that,” Morris said. “Don’t ever put your hands down into bushes or into spaces where you can’t see where they are.” Barbara Postorino, an experienced hiker, shared her encounters with the slithering neighbors. She said she aims to respect their space and allow them to continue on their path undisturbed. "We hike all these mountains around here and some longer hikes, and in the dead of summer, they are really out a lot then,” Postorino said on a hike at Pinnacle Peak in April. “They’ll be there and they’ll coil, and you just let them have their space, and they turn around and go the other way or go where they're going. But occasionally we have had to take a rock, and you throw it in their direction and they move much quicker.” In the event of a snakebite, swift action is paramount, Kuhn said. He emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention promptly, urging individuals to head to larger hospitals equipped with the necessary antivenoms. He said it's crucial to stay calm and let experts handle the situation. “We want all of these patients to present to an emergency department at a larger hospital, not at a freestanding emergency department or urgent care. At our facilities we have the ability to administer one of the two antivenoms,” Kuhn said. With a 3-foot strike zone, rattlesnakes command respect. Yet, with a step back, the average adult can safely evade their reach, allowing both human and serpent to coexist harmoniously. If you encounter a rattlesnake in your yard, garage, or home, get away and call a professional to come and safely remove it.The Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary can remove the rattlesnake from the property for a fee. More information can be found on the organization's website or by calling (602)-550-1090.

Triathlon trailblazer: How ASU coach Cliff English became architect of ASU powerhouse, catalyst for collegiate growth

Wed, 01 May 2024 16:34:37 +0000

May 1, 2024

Triathlon trailblazer: How ASU coach Cliff English became architect of ASU powerhouse, catalyst for collegiate growth

TEMPE – From coaching Olympic gold medalists to building a seven-time NCAA champion, Arizona State triathlon coach Cliff English’s resume might be as good as it gets. In over 15 years of coaching triathlon at an international level before joining ASU, his professional triathletes won 278 races, including 23 Ironman wins, the ultimate accomplishment a triathlete can have. The four-time Olympic coach helped train Olympic triathletes such as Canadian Samantha McGlone and American Hunter Kemper. In his time at ASU, the school has won seven national championships in the seven years of the team’s existence. And yet, despite all of the success of his former triathletes, English’s contribution to the sport of triathlon goes far beyond anything that can show up on a stat sheet. When he became the first head coach for ASU’s new women’s triathlon team in 2015, he exited the professional sphere and committed to building not only the Sun Devil program but also the sport across the country on the college level. “It seems like wherever I’ve gone … I’m always able to build a program that’s top tier,” English said. “I guess that’s always been in my DNA, so I like the challenge of starting something. Something that is more than yours.” [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/02/19/asu-tennis-coach-sheila-mcinerney-40th-season/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/FeaturedImageCrop.jpg" headline="ASU tennis coach Sheila McInerney continues to succeed in 40th season"] ASU became the first NCAA Division I Power Five school to adopt women’s triathlon as a sport in 2015, about a year after the NCAA declared it as an emerging sport in 2014. The NCAA required that 40 schools sponsor women’s triathlon at the varsity level within 10 years of the designation for it to become an official NCAA sport. However, with only a handful of schools including the sport at the time of the designation and few willing to take a risk, ASU and English stepped up. Ray Anderson, then the athletic director at ASU, hired English to grow the sport. When Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, California, adopted triathlon in 2022, the sport reached the 40-school threshold, setting it on course to become an official NCAA sport in the near future. The sport couldn’t have met the requirement without English’s efforts. “I always knew we had the task, we had to help grow this,” English said. “We really kind of took on that leadership role and that meant any school that is interested, we would reach out, we would share our budget, we would share how we did this.” Out of the 42 schools that currently sponsor women’s triathlon, 14 are NCAA Division I athletic programs. English mentioned he’s taken schools including Arizona, TCU and San Francisco on tours around ASU’s facility. All three now sponsor women’s triathlon, and Arizona and TCU are the only other Power 5 schools with the sport. Despite giving the competition insight into their process, the Sun Devils have not missed a beat since the team’s inception. The team has won seven consecutive NCAA championships, and the last six championship events took place in Tempe in and around Tempe Town Lake. Despite their willingness to help other schools, the Sun Devils remain intent on beating all the newcomers and staying on top. “We’ve got some incredibly young, talented women … they’re hungry, they want to carry on this tradition and this culture,” English said. [caption id="attachment_231302" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Under Cliff English's leadership, the ASU triathlon program has captured an NCAA-record seven consecutive national titles since the team's inception in 2015. (Photo by Peter Vander Stoep/Photography AZ)[/caption] In collegiate triathlon events, athletes compete in sprint-distance races that include a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike ride and a 5-kilometer run. Races are often decided in the transitions between each of the disciplines, which means strategy and execution can be just as important as fitness. That’s where coaching is so important, and even with new schools adding the sport to make it even more competitive, English’s squad keeps ticking off national championships. “I’ve always had this mentality that you have to keep raising your bar,” English said. “I think we’ve done a really good job of that and we’ll keep doing that.” English says he prioritizes depth on the team, as collegiate triathlon events are scored according to a school’s top five finishers. That mindset has led to ASU’s dominant streak, but it also can create pressure and competition between the athletes on the team. English takes an athlete-friendly approach to coaching his team, and he especially emphasizes his athletes’ mental health. He says he helps however he can, and that includes open relationships between himself and the athletes and even having team psychologists to help them handle pressure. “Through the years they always talk about the many roles of a coach. Do you, at some points, expand to your motivator, your comforter, your friend, your mentor?” English said. “You have to get to that point where your athlete recognizes in you that you are relatable and can help them get to a place of openness.” According to Arizona State assistant coach and former ASU standout Kyla Roy, it’s English’s athlete-first approach that helped her when she was competing for the Sun Devils. “Being a student-athlete is so hard, and I think there was a good balance between being an athlete and a student, which allowed me to excel in both,” said Roy, who was a First Team All-American honoree all five years at ASU and won the individual national championship in 2019. The approach is what’s helped English achieve his career success. And as important as mental health is for him, maintaining his athletes’ physical health is just as critical. [caption id="attachment_231303" align="alignright" width="256"] ASU triathlon coach Cliff English is a pioneer in growing the sport at the collegiate level, helping guide it to become an official NCAA sport. (Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)[/caption] “He’s very good at identifying what an athlete needs and then creating a training program that nurtures that,” said Leanda Cave, a former international star triathlete who placed fourth in the 70.3 World Championships in 2006 under English. “He manages to change and adjust the training to really suit every athlete’s physical ability but also mental ability.” Cave started training under English in 2005 following some injuries, and she said his training program helped her recover and stay injury-free. She added that small aspects of training such as ice baths and diets, which coaches don’t usually pay attention to, were at the forefront of English’s regimen. Cave went on to win 70.3-mile and full-distance Ironman World Championships later in her career. And even though she was on an entirely different level than English’s ASU triathletes, Cave’s confidence was still a priority for him. “I had zero confidence about doing long-distance racing, but he managed to give me the confidence I needed to step up to the Ironman,” Cave said of the grueling full-distance test that includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. “And eventually, that’s what I ended up winning.” English, who Cave described as a “pioneer” for NCAA women’s triathlon, has managed the impossible task of building a dominant program while helping the triathlon reach collegiate relevance. He’s helped schools adopt triathlon programs – and then he has gone on to beat those same programs. Even though every year could be tougher than the last, English gladly welcomes the challenge. “I always joke that, at one point, we’re going to stop doing that because every team is really figuring it out and getting a lot stronger,” English said. “The fight is definitely much tougher, so we have to make sure we stay on top.”

Succeeding by failing: ‘Virtue signaling’ runs high in the Legislature

Wed, 01 May 2024 01:19:56 +0000

April 30, 2024

Succeeding by failing: ‘Virtue signaling’ runs high in the Legislature

PHOENIX - They can't say they weren't warned. When Republican lawmakers pushed a bill that would rewrite state law to include "only two sexes" and specifically rejected "gender identity," Gov. Katie Hobbs told them she would veto the bill if it passed, just like she vetoed a similar measure last year. They passed it. She vetoed it, just one of 52 bills vetoed by the governor so far this year. Bills addressing immigration, abortion, and diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI programs, are among the many that have passed with almost no chance of becoming law, part of the regular "political theater" aimed less at legislating and more at getting media attention and appealing to constituents. Steve R. Johnson, a law professor at Florida State University, said that's because the negatives of "wasting people’s time" are often outweighed by the benefits such theater brings to lawmakers. "The introducing legislator often makes it known they are not serious about this. You introduce it, you make the constituent happy," said Johnson, author of an Iowa Law Review article on "The Dangers of Symbolic Legislation." So, Johnson said, legislators say to themselves, "All that happens is I have wasted people's time, but I have wasted people's time to get favor with these constituents. [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/02/06/gop-bill-would-strike-gender-from-state-law-limit-sex-to-male-female/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/fixedkerr-1024.jpg" headline="GOP bill would strikc 'gender' from state law, limit sex to male, female"] "This is unspoken, you do me a favor, I'll do you a favor," he said of the tradeoff between lawmakers and advocates. But the threat of a veto, or a long shot to passage, is no reason not to pursue an issue that a lawmaker or his constituents believe in, said Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler. Even if a bill is destined to fail, he said, using that as a reason not to file "as an excuse is just a lazy work ethic." "There is no way to know unless you’ve tried," Mesnard said. "There are a lot of new ideas and all you can do is try, and for my constituents, I can point to this and say, 'I've tried.'" And in this year's Legislature, there seemed to be a lot of that long-shot trying. GOP lawmakers pushed bills to address "the invasion" at the border that included proposals to make illegal border crossing a state crime and to require that local governments use E-Verify to confirm the citizenship status of anyone seeking public benefits - despite Hobbs' statement that the bills are only meant "to score cheap political points" and would draw vetoes. Another bill, sponsored by Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, would prohibit public funding "to promote, advocate or plan for, or become a member of an association or organization that promotes advocates or plans for" reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, plane travel, global temperature, car usage, or the dairy and meat industry; or the promotion of "Marxist ideology" or limits on the amount of clothing people can own. Kern called it "a good bill, a good pro-freedom bill. It disallows government entities from using taxpayer money to promote Marxist ideology." But Sandy Bahr, the director of the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon Chapter, said it would open local officials like Tucson Mayor Regina Romero to legal action for that city's climate action plan. [caption id="attachment_226761" align="alignnone" width="1024"]Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, listens on Feb. 21 as Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson, blasts SB 1231 - an immigration bill all but guaranteed to draw a veto. It passed; it was vetoed. (File photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] "We are concerned by the messages the Legislature is trying to send," Bahr said. "This is a culture-war manifesto." It's not just Republicans. A total of 23 Democrats in the House and 14 in the Senate this year signed on to "right to contraception" bills, which Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, derided as a proposal that addresses a "controversy that does not exist … nobody has any kind of plan to deny any kind of contraceptives." The bills did not get a hearing or a vote in either chamber, despite Democratic attempts to force a floor vote - putting Republicans on record. That allowed Democrats to frame GOP lawmakers as opposed to contraceptive access. James Strickland, an assistant professor of political science at Arizona State University's School of Politics and Global Studies, said the use of such "symbolic" legislation is normal behavior, often used as means to get re-elected. [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/02/29/congress-in-action-or-inaction-this-congress-among-the-least-productive/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/hiatusdome-1024.jpg" headline="Congress in action, or inaction? This Congress among the least productive"] "Legislators typically seek to get re-elected, and symbolic laws often help them to receive earned press coverage and take a public stance," Strickland said in an emailed statement. Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, who has been in the Legislature since 2012, said he thinks lawmakers have taken a step back from years past. "I don't feel like we have been working on policy like we used to," said Mendez, who accused Republicans of proposing bills that are not in good faith. "They are in search of a problem, they are not putting together real legislation. They aren’t really coming at this with measured, researched proposals," he said. Johnson said this political theater does not "diminish legislative outputs" in the short term, but he warned that lawmakers should be aware of the potential long-term damage to their reputation in the eyes of voters. "Most of us wish that it didn’t happen, but I think it is hard to say these activities have a directly correlated impact on legislative outputs," Johnson said. "Folks on both sides of the political aisle do not view their political legislators with tremendous amounts of approval … Political theater is an entirely fair characterization."

Arizona ranks 49th in nation for access to adult mental health care

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:48:34 +0000

April 30, 2024

Arizona ranks 49th in nation for access to adult mental health care

PHOENIX – Mental Health America ranked Arizona 49th in the nation for adult mental health care. The national nonprofit determines rankings based on the prevalence of mental illness and the access to mental health care. Arizona’s 2023 ranking of 49 out of 51 is based on the state having a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower access to insurance and treatment. For Rachel Streiff, an organizer and member of Arizona Mad Moms, this ranking was no surprise. She and other family members, caregivers and friends of individuals with severe mental illness, have been advocating on their behalf for adequate psychiatric services and treatment for quite some time. “It (Arizona Mad Moms) really organized itself,” Streiff said. “The end result of not providing these long-term and acute levels of care is that families are feeling that heavy burden.” Streiff was granted legal guardianship over her 31-year-old friend, whom she identified only as Kelsey, in 2022, and has been supervising her medical needs since then. “She’s been in and out of the hospital for years, and she hasn't received effective long-term stabilization and treatment,” Streiff said. “Her illness is very complicated and it's beyond what current community treatment services are equipped to handle.” [caption id="attachment_231282" align="alignright" width="300"] Rachel Streiff, an organizer and member of Arizona Mad Moms. (Photo courtesy of Rachel Streiff)[/caption] Kelsey, who currently lives in a behavioral health residential facility, was assigned to Streiff’s care with her mother’s permission. Streiff said that going to court to obtain a guardianship can be difficult and very expensive. “Families that can't afford an attorney or can't afford to hire a private doctor don't have the ability to get that kind of order,” Streiff said. “I took on her case because her parents were aging and her father recently passed away,” Streiff said. “She just didn't have anyone to advocate for her.” Legal guardianship gives Streiff permission to attend doctor appointments and, by Arizona law, she must be included in all conversations regarding Kelsey’s medications. “In those discussions, individuals with an SMI (severe mental illness) really can't communicate whether a medication is working or not,” Streiff said. “They may also have incorrect ideas about what's actually helpful.” In January, Streiff said Kelsey was prescribed the incorrect dosage for medication given after her discharge from the hospital, which resulted in a seizure two days later. “I verified the medications that were on the sheet leaving the hospital, but I did not verify what was actually filled in the prescriptions that arrived at her residential placement,” Streiff said. “How would the average person with a serious mental illness that didn't have a guardian even know that mistakes are being made in their treatment?” An SMI is “a chronic and long term mental health condition that impacts a person’s ability to perform day-to-day activities or interactions,” according to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. SMIs are most commonly treated with psychotherapy and medications like antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Some people with SMIs need heavy supervision and some do not. Kelsey needs the level of supervision that happens in a residential facility, like the one she’s in now. Streiff’s guardianship has enabled her to get Kelsey into a behavioral health residential facility (BHRF). “Having the means for her (Kelsey’s) family and friends to be able to do that is why she's doing well where she's at today,” Streiff said. [related-story-right box-title="Related story" link="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2023/10/05/arizona-hispanic-population-grows-lacking-mental-health-care/" image="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_2607.jpg" headline="Spanish-language therapy is becoming harder to find in Arizona, even as the Hispanic population grows"] Although she doesn’t need restraint, Kelsey does need full-time care and help with decision making. Strieff points out that there’s capacity in what are known as “voluntary” facilities, for individuals who are able to advocate for themselves, but there is a lack of resources for highly vulnerable individuals who need constant care, like Kelsey. Acute locked facilities, like the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Arizona State Hospital in Phoenix, provide “the highest and most restrictive” level of care in the state, according to AZDHS. Patients who cannot be treated in a community facility or cannot receive care due to their criminal legal status are admitted. The Arizona State Hospital is able to hold 260 patients, with 117 beds at the Civil Hospital and 143 at the Forensic Hospital. As of April 28, 92% of the beds were occupied between both facilities. As of 2019, there were 8,923 supportive housing and residential care beds in Arizona available for individuals with an SMI who qualify for Medicaid, but do not need the Arizona State Hospital's level of care. To gain admission to a BHRF, patients must be diagnosed with a condition with symptoms and behaviors that make residential treatment necessary, including at least one serious functional or psychosocial impairment, a display of significant risk of harm, such as suicide or homicide and inability to remain safe within the patient’s current environment. Kelsey currently lives in a residential SMI clinic operated by Copa Health and Mercy Care, an Arizona nonprofit that provides services for people with disabilities, but Streiff said she is about to lose her space since she does not qualify for Medicaid and the state has limited funds. Her family’s income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but not high enough to afford private care. “They (SMI patients) end up at home with their mother or their family who often don't have the resources to care for them, and it's a very difficult situation,” Streiff said. “So we have caregivers that are very heavily burdened and who are often in harm's way.” Because Kelsey does not receive AHCCCS assistance, she was given a six-month maximum stay at her facility. Streiff said that although Kelsey is “thriving” at her BHRF’s level of care, the next option is Flex Care – a short-term program that combines treatment within an apartment setting. “As soon as a member is placed anywhere, the discharge planning starts,” Streiff said in a text message. “This (Flex Care) is not supported at all for non-Medicaid or the state funds. So (it’s) not really an option. The family is researching a lot of potential discharge options including private pay. The clinic sent us some private pay options. Some of them were $25K per month which few families can afford."

Medicaid disparities

Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, an advocacy organization, said a new law requiring AHCCCS to collect and analyze data on clinical outcomes for those with an SMI will help provide statistics for court-ordered evaluations. [caption id="attachment_231284" align="alignright" width="300"] Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, an advocacy organization. (Photo courtesy of Arizona Public Health Association)[/caption] “Right now, there's not enough data available on the patients to make good decisions. About whether to go into court-ordered treatment,” Humble said. “So one of the weaknesses in our behavioral health system right now is that our state Medicaid agency is only capturing processed data, like ’Did this person with mental illness get assigned to an assertive community treatment team? Are they getting outpatient treatment encounters at day programs?’” The bill, SB 1311, was signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs on April 16 and will require AHCCCS to create recommendations to improve the information gathered on the SMI community and give assistance to those who need mental health services, but do not qualify for court-ordered evaluations. “What you really want to know is how often are persons with a serious mental illness getting arrested, going into emergency departments, having inpatient hospital stays, getting arrested and ending up homeless,” Humble said. “This is going to require AHCCCS and their managed care plans to collect much better outcome data so we can hold them more accountable for the public dollars.” According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, the average cost of psychiatric care in a community hospital for an individual with a SMI can range anywhere from $3,616 to $8,509 for less than two weeks. As of April, more than 1.9 million Arizonans were enrolled in Medicaid, with the income limit for one person set at $1,670 per month. Humble also said affordability extends beyond patient care in how it affects the number of employees at state facilities. “The (workforce) shortage is worse in Arizona than it is in other states,” Humble said. “Like it or not, clinicians do follow the money. If a state has a reputation of bad reimbursement in the Medicaid system, over time, fewer and fewer clinicians will locate to that state.” According to data from the University of Arizona reported in May 2023, the state needed between 142 and 233 full-time psychiatrist physicians to eliminate the current mental health care shortage. [caption id="attachment_231283" align="alignright" width="300"] Matt Jewett, director of health policy at the Children’s Action Alliance. (Photo courtesy of Matt Jewett)[/caption] Matthew Moody, the president of the board of directors for Mental Health America of Arizona, said the state’s sober living fraud may have been a symptom of Arizona’s poor access to mental health services. The scam preyed on vulnerable individuals - particularly Native Americans - who were lured into residential facilities and encouraged to sign up for AHCCCS to pay for care that did not exist. Officials estimate that the state may have lost as much as $2 billion in payments to fraudulent providers before the scheme was shut down early last year. “It was a complete failure of the system in Arizona to protect these people and to make sure that people get good care. I know that they're working very hard to find ways to fix that,” Moody said. Although youth mental health access in Arizona ranked 29th out of 51 on the MHA’s national list, adult mental health deeply affects the mental well-being of children whose parents lack necessary resources, according to Matt Jewett, director of health policy at the Children’s Action Alliance. “Children's mental health is going to be affected by parents, especially (by) mother's mental health,” Jewett said. “Adverse childhood experiences … are extremely important. Arizona has a higher rate of children who have multiple adverse childhood experiences. That can be things like maternal depression, parents going to jail or domestic violence.” Jewett said that despite these barriers in adult mental health care, children are receiving better care from services provided by their schools. “One of the things that we have pushed for has been reimbursement by AHCCCS of services that are provided at schools,” Jewett said. “Children may get quality care at a health care provider … But not every young person has that. Sometimes the most convenient place is for them to get services in school.”

Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market, Phoenix Bioscience Core promote health education at festival

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:22:00 +0000

April 30, 2024

Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market, Phoenix Bioscience Core promote health education at festival

PHOENIX – The Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market and the Phoenix Bioscience Core hosted the first Health & Wellness "Phoestival" with multiple guest speakers, a blood drive, cooking demonstrations and booths. The Phoenix Bioscience Core is a 30-acre life science innovation district in downtown Phoenix that serves as a center for bio research and education. It boasts the highest concentration of research scientists in the state, from TGen, Exact Sciences and Phoenix’s major health care systems – Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Banner Health, Dignity Health and Valleywise Health – and more. It is the only area where all three of Arizona’s public universities – University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University – have medical campuses. [caption id="attachment_231262" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Chef Matthew Padilla, True Food Kitchen’s senior vice president of culinary, cooks stir fry at the Health & Wellness Phoestival in downtown Phoenix on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_231263" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Collin Thomas, a festival attendee, watches Dr. Shad Marvasti and chef Matthew Padilla’s cooking demonstration at the Health & Wellness Phoestival on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] The Phoenix Bioscience Core partnered with the farmers market to bridge a connection between research institutions and community members. “There’s research and then there's what’s happening at ground level, and trying to get the interaction between researchers and the people who live here is what the Phoestival of Health is about,” said Sara Anderson, who coordinated the event for Phoenix Bioscience Core. [caption id="attachment_231264" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Attendees purchase produce from Blue Sky Organic Farms at the Health & Wellness Phoestival in Phoenix on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_231265" align="alignnone" width="1024"] University of Arizona Culinary Medicine students chop candied pecans for chef Matthew Padilla’s cooking demonstration at the Health & Wellness Phoestival in Phoenix on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] Anderson said the goals for the festival were to be a resource for the community to live a healthier and more sustainable life and to provide a place where people could have conversations surrounding health, food and gardening. “Health is not convenient, it’s not an easy process to stay healthy, but if you centralize it as a community focus, it gets a little easier,” Anderson said. Chef Matthew Padilla, True Food Kitchen’s senior vice president of culinary, hosted a cooking demonstration with the UArizona Culinary Medicine Program using ingredients students chose from the farmers market. [caption id="attachment_231266" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Chef Matthew Padilla, True Food Kitchen’s senior vice president of culinary, mixes a salad with ingredients from the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market as Dr. Shad Marvasti explains the health benefits of different ingredients at the Health & Wellness Phoestival on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_231267" align="alignnone" width="1024"] University of Arizona Culinary Medicine students chop up tomatoes for chef Matthew Padilla’s cooking demonstration at the Health & Wellness Phoestival in Phoenix on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] “We are surrounded by so much unhealthy food that is easily accessible. The American diet has evolved into one that is based on convenience, but part of the demonstration was to show you can make healthy foods out of convenience as well,” Padilla said. [caption id="attachment_231268" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Carrots from Blue Sky Organic Farms for sale at the Health & Wellness Phoestival on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_231269" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Beets from Blue Sky Organic Farms for sale at the Health & Wellness Phoestival on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] Dr. Shad Marvasti, founder of the UArizona Culinary Medicine Program, spoke alongside Padilla’s presentation to provide a medical perspective on healthy eating and to educate attendees on the health benefits of each ingredient. “It’s a place where the community comes together, and for me, it makes sense to have all that, including demonstrations and Q&A sessions, so you can empower the public with all the tools they need to live a healthier and better life,” Marvasti said. [caption id="attachment_231270" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Attendees watch Dr. Shad Marvasti and chef Matthew Padilla’s cooking demonstration at the Health & Wellness Phoestival on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_231271" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Chef Matthew Padilla, True Food Kitchen’s senior vice president of culinary, prepares fruits and vegetables for his cooking demonstration at the Health & Wellness Phoestival on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] “It really democratizes the required information to view food not just as something to satiate you when you're hungry but as something that could be looked at as medicine,” said Collin Thomas, a festival attendee. The festival also hosted a blood drive. “We have a lot of people who are health conscious and they are also altruistic, and this is like the ultimate mix, donating without knowing who it’s going to help,” said Mike Hashimoto, a volunteer with Vitalant, which ran the blood drive. [caption id="attachment_231272" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Scarlett Spring, Phoenix Bioscience Core assistant executive director, donates blood at the Health & Wellness Phoestival on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)[/caption] The farmers market and bioscience core plan to make the health festival an annual event. For now, Saturday’s weekly farmers market at Fifth and McKinley streets is hosting monthly cooking demonstrations from the UArizona Culinary Medicine Program, blood drives every quarter and providing the opportunity to connect with local farmers.

From robots to real connection: Arizona initiatives take on letter writing

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:52:11 +0000

April 30, 2024

From robots to real connection: Arizona initiatives take on letter writing