Category: Health

Coconino County Board of Supervisors Appoint Steve Peru as County Manager

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Steve Peru as its next County Manager, with his service to begin on April 5.

The Board interviewed Peru on Tuesday for the role. Peru also interviewed with the County Elected Officials and Department heads. In making the appointment, Supervisors cited Peru’s experience at the County and in the private sector and other community agencies. This experience is part of “an alignment of opportunity” for the County to fill its need for consistent and capable leadership in the coming months as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and for the financial challenges the County faces due to the pandemic. Additionally, Peru knows the County well as a former County Manager with an eye toward the culture of the organization.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Students, families, community benefit with CCC&Y partnership with the Coconino County Education Service Agency (CCESA) and more news

From providing professional development training to educators, to informing parents and education advocates about policy and legislative reforms, the political process, school improvement efforts, and local events around education — students, families and the community have benefited from the long term partnership between CCC&Y and the Coconino County Education Service Agency (CCESA).

The Coalition has provided a variety ongoing professional development in recent years including Trauma Informed Care training for educators at the Flagstaff Unified School District and other districts throughout Coconino County.

FUSD reported that more than 1,500 professionals were in attendance for virtual webinar presented in 2020 by CCC&Y.

“Through the support of CCC&Y we were able to provide the opportunity for all staff on our professional development day, August 10th to participate in viewing the webinar: “Understanding Adverse Child Experiences,” district officials reported.

Coconino County Moves to Include Those 55 and Older in Phase 1b

 During the ever-evolving COVID-19 response, Coconino County continues to remain nimble to best meet the needs of the community.

Today, in accordance with the updated Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, Coconino County is expanding vaccinations to individuals aged 55 and older as part of the current Phase 1b. Also, ADHS informed Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) that it has been allocated 1,100 doses of the JANSSEN single dose COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Partner Update: Round Valley Community Center

Seniors in Springerville, Eagar and surrounding towns have missed visiting the Round Valley Community Services and Adult Center since it stopped hosting lunchtime meals and in-person programs last year due to the pandemic.

In fact, Community Services Director Robin Aguero says she gets calls every week from seniors asking when they can come back.

That long wait might be over soon, as the center – a partner agency of UWNA – works to slowly reopen in-person programs.

Northern Arizona Healthcare currently has more than 1,000 appointments available for first doses of the COVID Vaccine in Flagstaff March 1 – 5

Northland Family Health Center currently has more than 1,000 appointments available for first doses of the COVID Vaccine in Flagstaff March 1through 5.

These first dose vaccine appointments are available for all those meeting this criteria:

1a or 1b populations
Living or working in Coconino County
18 years old or older
For more information or to register, please visit:

https://www.nahealth.com/covid-19-resources/covid-19-vaccination-info

The Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival is Cancelled AGAIN due to COVID-19

Due to continued impacts of the pandemic, the Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival will be moved to June 2022. The move is due to the nature of the event, gathering thousands of fans in one location and the event falling earlier in the calendar year. Large scale music festivals and concerts remain deeply affected by the pandemic across the globe. Flagstaff is no exception and it may not be safely possible until much later in 2021. We cannot safely replicate the experience that our fans know and love with the potential COVID 19 restrictions. Refunds will be given immediately to all ticket holders for the 2021 festival.

Grand Canyon National Park Launches Virtual Cultural Demonstrator Video Series

Starting March 2, Grand Canyon National Park’s Cultural Demonstrator Program at Desert View will launch the ‘History Behind the Arts’ video series. This series will feature cultural demonstrators from the 11 traditionally associated tribes of Grand Canyon and will highlight the history of tribal crafts and personal interviews with artisans.

The Cultural Demonstration Program provides the opportunity for viewers to learn more about each tribe’s culture, their history, and the skills, knowledge, and efforts involved in creating each craft. Through symbols, patterns, and designs, native art of the Southwest displays the everyday life, beliefs, dreams, visions, and long-lasting traditions of tribes. The Cultural Demonstration Program at Grand Canyon began in 2014 and continues today with grant support from the Grand Canyon Conservancy.

Coconino County Board Changes Course on County Manager Recruitment, Prepared to Name Steve Peru as Manager

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 25 changed course on the County Manager Recruitment process opting to interview Steve Peru, an experienced, local candidate for the position.

Peru is the former Coconino County Manager and Clerk of the Board and current Chief External Affairs Officer of the Coconino Community College and President of the Coconino Community College Foundation. The Board will interview Peru on Tuesday, March 2.

The Board of Supervisors expressed the need for continuity of leadership and experience in Coconino County issues during the COVID-19 pandemic as primary driver for the change of direction in the County Manager recruitment.

Additional First Dose COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments to open on Friday, Feb. 26. Also see Spanish-language online event on Feb. 26 — ‘What families should know about COVID-19 vaccines’

On Friday, Feb. 26 at noon, Coconino County will open over 700 first dose COVID-19 vaccination appointments for the Fort Tuthill County Park vaccination site. Appointment times are available on Monday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2.

Those interested in scheduling an appointment can visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine and navigate to Vaccine Locations webpage, then click on the Flagstaff – March, Fort Tuthill, First Dose link. With the release of additional appointments, Coconino County is also unveiling a Spanish vaccine registration system. English and Spanish registration links for Monday and Tuesday appointments can be found at noon on Friday at coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine

NAU News — Collaborative ¡MIRA! team, including student researchers, working on nanotechnology to streamline vaccine delivery and more news

While their colleagues build a vaccine that only requires one shot, ¡MIRA! director Jennifer Martinez and the NAU team are building a box for the vaccine, which starts with creating the right nanomaterials.

AARP Hispanic Connection holds Teletown Hall via FB Live on the COVID-19 vaccination process in Arizona. Includes Q&A

The AARP Arizona Hispanic Connection held a Teletown Hall via FB Live on the COVID-19 vaccination process in Arizona on Feb. 24. The recorded event included a Q&A session.

Click here to hear the session.

Arizona MVD: Online renewal of driver licenses is here!

When it comes time to renew your driver license, ADOT MVD has good news: driver license renewal can now be completed online at AZMVDNow.gov.

Because Governor Doug Ducey’s Executive Order on deferring standard driver license expiration dates ends on Feb. 28, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is giving many Arizonans the ability to renew their driver license online. Previously, renewals could only be processed during an office visit.

Text to 9-1-1 is now available in Coconino County

The Flagstaff Police Department, in conjunction with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has announce that Text to 9-1-1 is now available to the citizens and visitors within the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County. If an individual uses the Text to 9-1-1 system, the call will be routed to the dispatch center responsible for the 9-1-1 calls.

During an emergency or life-threatening situation when seconds matter, a voice call is the best and fastest way for the 9-1-1 call taker to obtain and deliver life-saving information; whereas, a text message may take longer.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up for Feb. 22-26, 2021

COVID-19 Updates

This week’s numbers at a glance:

The average number of new cases per day in Arizona is 1,552 down from 2,246 on average per day last week.
As of Thursday, the total number of cases in the 86023 zip code since the pandemic began is 183. This number represents cases both inside and outside the park.   
There is one new reported case in the park this week. 
Since the pandemic began, we’ve had 43 total positive COVID-19 cases in the park. To date, and as reported, none of the positive cases resulted from interaction with park visitors. 
More detailed statistics are available on the Coconino County COVID-19 Dashboard.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — one•n•ten Online Open Mic Night to be held on Feb. 27

one•n•ten — Today’s Youth. Tomorrow’s Future, will present the virtual Online Open Mic Night from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27.

Goal(s):

To provide dedicated time and space for LGBTQ+ youth and their friends to freely express themselves
To build stronger safety net for LGBTQ+ youth through collaboration with organizations across the state
Click here for the event link

CCC nurses lend a hand with COVID-19 vaccinations

“Do you have any allergies?”

“No.”

“Do you have a fever?”

“No.”

As she received answers, Coconino Community College Nursing student Jodie Santillan marked off a checklist. She prepared the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination to deliver to Coconino County resident Lita Byerly. She swabbed Byerly’s arm, and before too much thought could be put into whether Byerly would feel it, Santillan delivered the vaccine.

It was one of more than 30 she delivered that day, doing the work to help fulfill her clinical requirements for the Nursing program. All of CCC’s 55 first-year and second-year Nursing students have done or will do at least one clinical rotation at the Fort Tuthill County Park COVID-19 vaccination site.

Grand Canyon National Park Weekly Wrap-up

This week’s numbers at a glance:

The average number of new cases per day in Arizona is 2,246, down from 2,963 on average per day last week.
As of Thursday, the total number of cases in the 86023 zip code since the pandemic began is 174. This number represents cases inside and outside the park.   
There are no reported new cases in the park this week and no reported cases in which the individuals are isolating. 
Since the pandemic began, we’ve had 42 total positive COVID-19 cases in the park. To date, and as reported, none of the positive cases resulted from interaction with park visitors. 
More detailed statistics are available on the Coconino County COVID-19 Dashboard.

LULAC — Please Help Us Rush Assistance To The Worst Affected Areas Of Texas

The situation in Texas is dire. Dozens of people have died and countless more have been hospitalized for treatment from hypothermia and other effects of freezing weather. Electric power for millions has been knocked out. This has left people trapped in their homes without power for heating or a way to cook meals. Major water supplies have gone dry as sources and pipelines have frozen. The situation has led to alerts for residents to boil all remaining drinking water. Seniors are at especially high risk, along with patients operating medical equipment at home and are now using portable generators. Many food stores and gas stations are unable to meet the demand for essential items or fuel.

Please help us rush assistance to the worst affected areas of Texas. Donate what you can and ask others to do the same.

We can each make a difference and any amount helps.

Due to Continued Shipping Delays, Coconino County to Cancel Saturday First Dose Appointments

Coconino County was notified by the Arizona Department of Health Services that this week’s shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine continues to be delayed due to extreme weather conditions across the country.

Due to the prolonged delay and limited on-hand vaccine supply, Coconino County and some partner vaccination sites announced they must cancel and reschedule first dose appointments scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18 and Friday, Feb. 19, and now Saturday, Feb. 20. Fort Tuthill County Park is the only site impacted for Saturday first dose COVID-19 vaccination appointments. 

Coconino County and Some Partners Forced to Cancel Some First Dose COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments

Coconino County was notified by the Arizona Department of Health Services that this week’s shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine allocation has been delayed due to extreme weather conditions across the country.

Coconino County COVID-19 response team staff are working with vaccination partners to assess vaccine needed for scheduled appointments and transferring available vaccine to partners to limit appointment cancellations. The County was able to provide vaccines needed for appointments at all vaccination sites in Coconino County for today; however due to the prolonged delay and limited on-hand vaccine supply, Coconino County and some partner vaccination sites must cancel and reschedule first dose appointments scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18 and Friday, Feb. 19. Impacted vaccination sites are Fort Tuthill County Park, Northern Arizona University, Northern Arizona Healthcare/Flagstaff Medical Center (Elks Lodge), and North Country HealthCare.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Family Protective Factors virtual training to be held Feb. 23

The Strengthening Families Protective Factors framework is a research-based approach to prevent child abuse and neglect, strengthen families, and promote optimal child development. The National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds (Alliance) launched Bringing the Protective Factors Framework to Life in Your Work-A Resource for Actionin 2012. When implemented, the framework helps ensure optimal outcomes for children and their families. These strategies strengthen families, develop responsive family support systems, and strengthen the community’s capacity to establish safe and healthy environments.  

Building Community, LLC, NACOG Head Start and Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth are collaborating to present the Intro course virtually. We invite all interested individuals, family service teams, and community leaders to join us on Tuesday, February 23rd, from 1:00 pm-2:30 pm.  The no-cost course will provide an introduction to the protective factors and strength-based theory. 

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Flagstaff’s Carbon Neutrality Plan

Flagstaff has an ambitious mission: reach net carbon neutrality by the year 2030. City Council declared a climate change emergency last year, spurred by a citizen’s petition and recent scientific findings. Flagstaff’s Carbon Neutrality Plan updates our award-winning Climate Action and Adaption Plan (2018) by significantly reducing the timeline in which we must work to reach net carbon neutrality. The new target of 100% net carbon neutrality by 2030 is in line with urgent international recommendations that a sharp decline in greenhouse gas emissions is needed in the next nine years in order to avoid exceeding 1.5°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels. Exceeding 1.5°C will lead to irreversible loss of fragile ecosystems and extreme crisis for the most vulnerable people.

Today’s News for Coconino County District 2 — COVID-19 Vaccine Update

In This Newsletter:

Quote of the Day
Happy Lunar New Year!
Coconino County Administrative Offices Closed for Presidents’ Day
Kim Musselman Named Director of Coconino County Health and Human Services
African Diaspora Advisory Council Accepting Entries for its Black History Month Essay Contest
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Get Tested for COVID-19
Additional COVID-19 Testing Options 
NEW COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
NEW COVID-19 Weekly Report
Have Questions? Call the COVID-19 Information Line
Stay Connected with Us!

Kim Musselman Named Director of Coconino County Health and Human Services

Coconino County has named Kim Musselman as Director of Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) effective immediately.

Musselman has led the County’s COVID-19 response since March 2020 as Incident Commander and has served as Interim Director of CCHHS since June 2020. 

Fort Tuthill County Park Closed Over Holiday Weekend

Only those with a vaccine appointment, Flagstaff Snow Park/Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course Ticket, or business at Luke Air Force Base may access Fort Tuthill.

Fort Tuthill County Park will be closed to the public this Friday, Feb. 12 through the end of the day Monday, Feb. 15, with the exception of those who have a scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointment, a valid Flagstaff Snow Park/Flagstaff Extreme ticket, or official business at Luke Air Force Base.  

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y’s ‘Igniting Collective Action: Moving Beyond ACEs’ free webinar now available

Imagine a community in which the effects of childhood trauma are clearly understood, the impact of inequitable experience is acknowledged, and people are aligned toward creating equitable access to assets and protective factors that support positive life outcomes. This hour-long free training — “Igniting Collective Action: Moving Beyond (Adverse Childhood Experiences)” — explores the roadmap to creating change at the community and system level by using the findings of both leadership research and today’s thought leaders.

Today’s News for Coconino County District 2 — Coconino County Supports the Outdoors and Trails

In This Newsletter:

Quote of the Day
Coconino County’s Statement on the Passing of Albert Hale
Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council Black History Month Essay Contest!
Coconino County Supports the Outdoors and Trails
AZ Court Help’s FREE Legal Talk Series
Boletín consular – Consulado De México
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Get Tested for COVID-19
NEW COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
COVID-19 Weekly Report
Have Questions? Call the COVID-19 Information Line
Stay Connected with Us!

Today’s News for Coconino County District 2

In This Newsletter:

Quote of the Day
African Diaspora Advisory Council Accepting Entries for its Black History Month Essay Contest
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Get Tested for COVID-19
Additional COVID-19 Testing Options 
NEW COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
COVID-19 Weekly Report
Have Questions? Call the COVID-19 Information Line
Stay Connected with Us!

Coconino County announces registration has opened for 1,100 COVID Vaccine Appointments for week of Feb. 12-16

Coconino County has opened registration for an additional 1,100 COVID-19 vaccination appointments for a special extended-hours vaccination event Feb. 12 – 16 at the Fort Tuthill County Park vaccination site. The County has been allocated these additional doses from the State of Arizona due to the high performance of Coconino County and partners at administering vaccine to the public. 

Those interested in scheduling an appointment can visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine and navigate to the SPECIAL REGISTRATION – Fort Tuthill, Flagstaff First Dose link. Individuals without internet access or those who require assistance can call the Coconino County COVID-19 Information Line at 928-679-7300. Seniors aged 65 and over who need scheduling assistance will be placed on the County’s senior assistance list. The Information Line hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Coconino Parks & Recreation — Winter recreation spots

Fort Tuthill County Park is open and free for passive slow play recreation. There is no dedicated sledding hill however.

Flagstaff Snow Park, which is located in Fort Tuthill County Park, makes snow in a dedicated area with tubing runs. Their website has more information and a link to purchase tickets, which are required to recreate in this area of the park.

For other sledding and snow play areas in and around Flagstaff, the City of Flagstaff publishes a winter recreation map and operates a winter snow play information line at 1-844-256-SNOW.

Today’s News for Coconino County District 2

In This Newsletter:

Quote of the Day
Coconino County Diversity Councils Elect Leaders
County Superintendent of Schools to host 2021 Spelling BEE
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Get Tested for COVID-19
NEW COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
NEW COVID-19 Weekly Report
Have Questions? Call the COVID-19 Information Line
Stay Connected with Us!

Coconino County announces additional COVID-19 vaccination appointments for week of Feb. 8-12

Coconino County has opened an additional 200 COVID-19 vaccination appointments for the week of Feb. 8 – 12 at the Fort Tuthill County Park vaccination site.

interested in scheduling an appointment can visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine and navigate to the SPECIAL REGISTRATION – Fort Tuthill, Flagstaff First Dose link. Individuals without internet access or those who require assistance can call the Coconino County COVID-19 Information Line at 928-679-7300. 

Statement on the Passing of former Navajo Nation President and Arizona State Legislator Albert Hale

Coconino County Vice-chairwoman Lena Fowler issued the following statement, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, regarding the passing of former Navajo Nation President and Arizona State Legislator Albert Hale.

“We are all deeply saddened and humbled by the passing of Albert Hale, former President of the Navajo Nation and Arizona State Legislator who represented much of Coconino County. Albert was a colleague and friend to many of us and his loss leaves a deep void in our hearts. Navajo people knew him simply as Ahbihay, his grandmother’s name for him. He believed in the Navajo traditions and championed the rights of Native people and tribal sovereignty.”

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Next CCC&Y Youth ‘Creativity Calling’ virtual showcase to be held on Feb. 7 and more news

This pandemic is challenging for all of us. CCC&Y has a weekly virtual meeting for parents and caregivers to connect and share resources. We have also launched “Creativity Calling,” specifically for youth! This monthly virtual opportunity provides youth a chance to share their thoughts and feelings through the arts. We are seeking youth to share their music, visual art, poetry, dance, theater, or cultural sharing!

Each month four youth will have a 10-minute spotlight.

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — February is Black History Month

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors proclaimed February as National Black History Month.

Coconino County recognizes the rich and diverse history of the African Diaspora, a people who shaped continents all over the world.

Coconino County takes pride in the diversity of its residents and recognizes the many contributions of the past generations of our African Diaspora to our lumber and sawmill industries, and notably in the present generation of entrepreneurs, educators, artists, authors, scientists, athletes, community leaders and public servants.

Fort Tuthill County Park Closed to All Without Vaccine Appointment or Flagstaff Snow Park Ticket

Fort Tuthill was closed effectively Jan. 30 to the general public with the exception of those who have a scheduled vaccine appointment, a valid Flagstaff Snow Park ticket, or official business at Luke Air Force Base. The public traffic on Jan. 30 for those wishing to use the park for non-ticketed snow play is severely disrupting vaccine administration and traffic flow. Those without a vaccine appointment, a valid Snow Park ticket, or business on the Air Force Base will not be allowed to enter the Park.

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — New Series: In the Coconi-KNOW

Coconino County is bringing you a new series, called the “In the Coconi-KNOW” on Facebook Live today at 12 noon.

Our team will discuss the latest County updates, news and of course, give you a look at the COVID situation in Coconino County. Tune in on the Coconino County Facebook page at noon today!

County Vaccination Efforts Hampered by Lack of Vaccine Doses

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors heard the message clearly at Tuesday’s board meeting: Coconino County’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts are hampered by the lack of available vaccine doses.

Coconino County Interim Health and Human Services Director Kim Musselman informed the Board that the County and medical partners have capacity to administer approximately 1,300 doses of vaccine daily but give fewer than 400 doses each day due to the lack of supply. 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y discusses overcoming childhood trauma on KAFF County’s Pete’s Community Cafe

Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, recently sat down with KAFF Country for a recent Pete’s Community Cafe interview on childhood trauma issues impacting youth and families in the region and the use of techniques to promote healing, growth and build resiliency.

During the interview, Watahomigie discussed how CCC&Y tackles the issue through a variety of online training programs on its https://coconinokids.org/prevention/ webpage.

Coconino County Announces COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Site Changes Due to Weather

Due to an increase in snowfall, vaccination appointments at Fort Tuthill in Flagstaff for today, January 25, from 1 p.m. and onward are cancelled.

Those with cancelled vaccine appointments will be contacted directly via email to reschedule. If you have a vaccination appointment scheduled up to and including 12 p.m. today, your appointment still stands and we are expecting you to arrive. Coconino County intends to operate the vaccination site tomorrow, Jan. 25, as usual. If additional weather conditions impact, the public will be notified and those with appointments will be provided rescheduling instructions.

PreventT2 Lifestyle Change Class in Spanish

Community members are preventing type 2 diabetes together with the FREE PreventT2 lifestyle change program offered by North Country HealthCare. Guided by a trained lifestyle coach, groups of participants are learning the skills they need to make lasting changes such as losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress.

City of Flagstaff Trash and Recycling collection suspended

Trash and recycling collections for both residential and commercial businesses is suspended for Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 due to worsening weather and road conditions. Solid Waste personnel will be redeployed to assist with snow operations. Trash and recycling collection will resume when conditions are safe.

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County Announcing COVID-19 Testing Site Changes

The Coconino County COVID-19 testing site located at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff will move to a new location effective Saturday, Jan. 23.

The move to the new site at Coconino Community College (CCC), 2800 S Lone Tree Rd. will allow the County to expand vaccine administration at Fort Tuthill County Park and at mobile sites throughout the County when additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available.  

Coconino County Announcing COVID-19 Testing Site Changes

The Coconino County COVID-19 testing site located at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff will move to a new location effective Saturday, Jan. 23.

The move to the new site at Coconino Community College (CCC), 2800 S Lone Tree Rd. will allow the County to expand vaccine administration at Fort Tuthill County Park and at mobile sites throughout the County when additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available.  

NAU News — ‘NAU-TGen study results show COVID-19 virus triggers antibodies from previous coronavirus infections’ and more news

The findings of the study, of which assistant professor Jason Ladner was a lead author, may also explain how previous exposure could partially account for differences in severity between old vs. young patients.

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — African Diaspora Advisory Council Begins Accepting Entries for its Black History Month Essay Contest

The Coconino County ADAC is now accepting entries for its Black History Month Essay Contest. The essay contest is open to all elementary through high school students in Coconino County.

Essays submissions will center around the theme of the Black family and must be received by Feb. 19.

“This is our ninth year holding the essay contest and it really is such a joy to read these beautifully crafted pieces from children of all ages. This year, our essay prompts center around the Black family, which has been described by some as a microcosm of the entire Black/African-American race. We are offering a number of prompts for students based on their level of school and are eager to hear from them about examples of the Black family and community,” said Khara House Chair of ADAC.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y on Jan. 27 to present ‘Igniting Collective Action: Moving Beyond ACEs’

The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth will present “Igniting Collective Action: Moving Beyond ACEs” at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 via Zoom. Click here to register.

Imagine a community in which the effects of childhood trauma are clearly understood, the impact of inequitable experience is acknowledged, and people are aligned toward creating equitable access to assets and protective factors that support positive life outcomes. This training will explore the roadmap to creating change at the community and system level by using the findings of both leadership research and today’s thought leaders.

*Recommended one-hour prerequisite available for community members with limited background about the research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is available at https://coconinokids.org/prevention/

County Board Reviews COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Ahead of Anticipated Increase in Vaccine Availability

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 19 reviewed plans from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Team to expand vaccine administration when additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available.

The plans call for expanded administration of the vaccine at Fort Tuthill County Park and at mobile sites throughout Coconino County, along with increased capacity for healthcare and private sector partners to administer the vaccine.

Coconino County, nation honors those lost to COVID-19

Coconino County will join the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s memorial to remember and honor the lives lost to COVID-19.

Starting at 3:30 p.m. Arizona Time, 5:30 p.m. E.T, Americans will come together for a national moment of unity and remembrance. To participate, individuals should light a candle in their window. They may also tune in at 5:30 p.m. ET for a ceremony with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, featuring the first-ever lighting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to honor those who have died.

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County Moves to Include Those 65 and Older in Phase 1b Following ADHS Announcement

The Trump administration announced on January 12, 2021 the plan to release additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to states to expand vaccinations to individuals age 65 and older.

Moments after sending a news release about the County awaiting guidance from Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) on this matter, ADHS announced the inclusion of those individuals as priority populations within Phase 1b.  

Coconino County Moves to Include Those 65 and Older in Phase 1b Following ADHS Announcement

The Trump administration announced on January 12, 2021 the plan to release additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to states to expand vaccinations to individuals age 65 and older.

Moments after sending a news release about the County awaiting guidance from Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) on this matter, ADHS announced the inclusion of those individuals as priority populations within Phase 1b.

Coconino County Sees High Demand for COVID-19 Vaccine

Approximately six hours after Coconino County moved to allowing priority populations within Phase 1b to make COVID-19 vaccination appointments at its Fort Tuthill vaccination site on Jan. 8, all 1,600 available appointments were booked.

Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) and vaccination partner organizations are working to ensure the swift administration of the available COVID-19 vaccine. The community continues to demonstrate a high level of interest in getting vaccinated; however, the available supply of COVID-19 vaccine remains limited. 

District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler — Coconino County Swears in Elected Officials in Virtual Ceremony

On the evening of Monday, Jan. 4, Coconino County swore in elected officials during a virtual ceremony. Elected officials taking a term in office after winning election in November of 2020 include the Board of Supervisors, the County Constitutional Officers and Superior Court Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols.

“It’s an honor for all of us to serve the residents of Coconino County. Together, we are ready to face 2021 with optimism and action from the most diverse set of leaders the County has ever had,” said Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to face our community and I know that together we will demonstrate the resilience and leadership our County is known for. The immense commitment of our elected officials to community and public service is something our County residents can be very proud of.”

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County Moves to Vaccinating Priority Populations Within Phase 1b

Seven days after opening its own COVID-19 vaccination site located at Fort Tuthill County Park to individuals in Phase 1a, Coconino County is opening vaccination appointments at select sites to priority populations within Phase 1b.

Priority populations within Phase 1b include education and childcare workers, law enforcement and protective services, and individuals aged 75 and older.

Vaccination opportunities will open at a later time for other populations in Phase 1b, including essential workers and adults with high-risk conditions in congregate settings.