Maricopa County Public Health Awards Community Groups Nearly $6M to Address Health Disparities

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted many health disparities across the globe, and Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is supporting organizations who can address disparities that are occurring right here in Maricopa County.

MCDPH was awarded a grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address health disparities that were created or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. With those funds, MCDPH is allocating $5.7 million to community organizations who are already working with populations who are continuing to face inequities. These projects are also aligned with priorities determined through MCDPH’s most recent community health assessment, which identifies strengths and areas of need across Maricopa County.

“By funding existing work, we can put money directly into those communities that need it,” said Marcy Flanagan, executive director for MCDPH. “This adds momentum to organizations who already know their community and how to implement solutions with those who are most severely impacted.”


The 18 organizations who are becoming subcontractors with MCDPH under this grant went through a competitive bid process to show the need, their capability, and how their projects would address health disparities. Funds for projects range from $50,000 to $500,000, depending on the nature of the project, the size of the community served, and other factors as specified in the organizations’ proposals.

“One of the most common issues that will be addressed through these projects is mental health,” added Nina Lindsey, health disparities grant administrator at MCDPH. “We know that has been a major concern for people of all ages and backgrounds over the last few years, and these projects will help increase the availability of mental health resources to people across Maricopa County.”

Many of those projects will focus on specific audiences, such as children, adolescents, caregivers, and others. Other projects will address socioeconomic needs that impact health, such as access to healthy food, transportation, and education; the remainder will impact healthcare or healthcare support services related to COVID-19.

For more on the community health assessment and the priorities these projects align with, visit MaricopaHealthMatters.org.