Grand Canyon Institute

NON-PARTISAN THINK TANK TO PROVIDE FACT BASED RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TO DECISION MAKERS AND PUBLIC ON POLICIES THAT EFFECT THE ECONOMIC, FISCAL, AND SOCIAL FUTURE OF ARIZONA.

STARTING IN 2019, GCI RELEASED A SERIES OF RESEARCH PAPERS EXAMINING ARIZONA'S UI PROGRAM, ARGUING BEFORE COVID THAT ITS UI SYSTEM WAS NOT READY FOR A RECESSION AND THEN FINDING THE ECONOMIC LOSSES RESULTING FROM LOW BENEFIT LEVELS DURING THE SHUTDOWN. IN 2021, GCI WORKED WITH LAWMAKERS TO ENACT THE FIRST INCREASES TO UI BENEFIT LEVELS IN 17 YEARS.

PUBLIC SAFETY GCI IS PARTNERING WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE AND FREQUENCY OF POLICE RESPONSES TO SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT AIMS TO IDENTIFY IF, AND TO WHAT DEGREE, HUMAN-SERVICES BASED RESPONSE OPTIONS ARE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO REDUCE RELIANCE ON TRADITIONAL POLICE AND MEDICAL RESPONSES TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS.

ABOUT 1.5 MILLION ARIZONANS AGED 18-64 ARE ON MEDICAID AND ONLY RECEIVE COVERAGE FOR EMERGENCY DENTAL SERVICES BUT NOT FOR EXAMS, TEETH CLEANING, AND CAVITY FILLINGS. MANY CANNOT AFFORD TO REGULARLY VISIT THE DENTIST LEADING TO HIGHER INSTANCES OF GUM DISEASE AND TOOTH DECAY, IN MANY CASES PROMPTING VISITS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO SEEK CARE. PRELIMINARY RESEARCH BY GCI FINDS THAT DELAYING ORAL CARE UNTIL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ARE REQUIRED HAS SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC COSTS ALONG WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.