From Backpacks to Checkups, AZ Blue Health Choice Supports Arizona Students Beyond the Classroom

From school supplies and well-child visits to health screenings and classroom support, AZ Blue Health Choice is helping students thrive across Arizona.

PHOENIX, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice (AZ Blue Health Choice) is working alongside community partners to help Medicaid families access the school supplies, preventive healthcare, and support children need to succeed both in the classroom and beyond.

This year, AZ Blue Health Choice is investing in a backpack initiative with Equality Health Foundation that will provide approximately 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to children and families across Arizona. The backpacks include everyday classroom essentials such as notebooks, folders, pencils, crayons, rulers and glue sticks, helping ease the financial burden many families continue to face.

But the initiative is about more than school supplies.

The backpack distribution is tied to efforts to increase well-child visits and connect children with preventive care. By partnering with trusted pediatric and primary care practices, AZ Blue Health Choice and Equality Health Foundation are helping families access annual wellness visits that can identify health concerns early, support healthy development, and keep children ready to learn.

"Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school year feeling prepared, supported and healthy," said Heather Carter, CEO of AZ Blue Health Choice. "Something as simple as a backpack filled with supplies can make a real difference for families. When we pair that support with access to preventive care, we're helping children show up healthy, confident and ready to learn."

The backpack program is one of several ways AZ Blue and AZ Blue Health Choice are supporting students and families across Arizona.

This year, community health fairs in Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal and Yavapai counties helped connect 1,350 families with important health resources, including:

• 132 sports physicals
  
  
• 130 dental screenings
  
  
• 237 biometric and A1C screenings
  
  
• 700 fresh produce bags distributed
  
  
• 600 hygiene kits distributed
  
  
• 57 hearing and vision screenings

These efforts help address barriers that can impact a child's ability to learn, from access to healthcare and nutrition to basic school supplies and preventive services.

Through partnerships with schools, healthcare providers and community organizations, AZ Blue Health Choice continues to invest in programs that improve health, expand access to care, and strengthen communities across Arizona. To learn more, visit AZ Blue in Action.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona