Health Equity and Access

Community health workers are integral to clinical, public health, and social systems. They reduce barriers to health care and build capacity in historically underserved communities. We know that community health workers will be an essential part of transforming Arkansas into the healthiest state in the nation. We are supporting the development of the community health worker workforce through education, professional development, and advocacy.

Education: Since 2021, we have trained and deployed more than 230 community health workers in 40 counties throughout Arkansas. Our community health worker training program is the first of its kind in the state. The program offers training, assistance, and on-the-job mentoring opportunities to new and experienced community health workers, as well as apprenticeship opportunities for new community health workers.

Professional Development: We have partnered with the University of Arkansas Hope Texarkana to offer college credits to the community health workers in our training program, creating new opportunities for community health workers to further their careers. Our community health worker training program is one of two programs in the state that prepares community health workers for certification through the Arkansas Community Health Worker Association.

Advocacy: As of July 6, community health worker is officially a recognized state title in Arkansas. Our team at UAMS, partners, and leaders in Arkansas have long advocated for this designation, which will allow state employees filling this important role to be recognized for their work.

Our community health workers are available to support English, Spanish, and Marshallese-speaking community members in their preferred language.

We have deployed four mobile health units that can travel anywhere in the state. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, these mobile health units were dedicated to administering free COVID-19 vaccines, but quickly began incorporating health screenings to better serve communities and address health disparities across the state. Community health workers are present at every mobile health event to offer services like health navigation and language interpretation to community members. Community health workers also connect clients to important community resources like housing assistance and SNAP benefits.

Since 2021, we have participated in more than 1,700 mobile health events in Arkansas, reaching all 75 Arkansas counties.

Our mobile health clinics give us the ability to meet patients where they are – literally.

Kelly Conroy, Associate Director of Mobile Health