Tobacco Prevention & Cessation

Mission To foster a tobacco-free society through the use of proven activities and partnerships among communities and the people of Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Health is leading the charge in tobacco control across the state of Arkansas. The Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program, launched in 2001, is aimed at reducing the burden of tobacco use by Arkansans. This program is charged with developing and implementing a statewide and comprehensive tobacco education, prevention, and cessation program. Each program component is developed and implemented based on evidence-based strategies outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Best Practices and Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease,

Engaging in quality improvement (QI) and performance management (PM) is not only essential for public health agency accreditation but also for improving performance at the individual, program, and organizational levels (Source: Public Health Foundation). The illustration below (source: PHF) depicts how performance standards, performance measurement, quality improvement, data tracking, and data reporting are interconnected. PM and QI Key Components The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is aligning its PM and QI efforts with the Strategic Plan to meet Public Health Accreditation (PHAB) national accreditation standards. Key measures have been selected from the Strategic Plan’s five focus areas (see below), each measure with defined target population and timeline for tracking health

The ADH Strategic Plan represents a roadmap aimed at addressing important public health challenges and promoting well-being across the state of Arkansas. The Plan outlines the roles, priorities, and direction of the ADH over the next five years. Grounded in stakeholder input, and thoughtful planning, the ADH Strategic Plan outlines comprehensive strategies to tackle five key health issues represented by the icons below. The Performance and Evaluation Services Office (PESO) led a structured process to develop the ADH Strategic Plan. Staff across the agency completed surveys to identify and prioritize key public health focus areas, with additional input from senior leadership and the Governor’s Office. Key ADH staff members formed

The Arkansas State Health Improvement Plan (AR-SHIP) is a comprehensive, agency-wide initiative developed by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) in partnership with a diverse network of organizations, agencies, and stakeholders across the state. This multi-year strategic plan is designed to enhance the overall health and well-being of all Arkansans by identifying and addressing key health priorities through targeted goals, evidence-based strategies, and measurable outcomes. Illustrated below are the five focus areas of plan represented by the icons, specifically developed for AR-SHIP. The foundation for the prioritization of AR-SHIP focus areas is the State Health Assessment, which is a collection of statewide health data that provides insight into the most

Mission Statement To protect and improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans. Vision Statement Optimal health for all Arkansans to achieve maximum personal, economic and social impact. What is public health? One definition – from a 1988 report by the Institute of Medicine’s “The Future of Public Health” – is this: “Public health is the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and organizing community efforts to do the following: keep the environment clean, control communicable infections, educate individuals in personal hygiene (like hand washing for example), organize medical and nursing services for the early diagnosis and treatment of disease, and develop the social machinery to ensure everyone a healthy

**The Coordinated School Health program received funding from the CDC titled (CDC)RFA-DP-23-0002 School-Based Interventions to Improve Health, Academic Achievement, and Well-Being of Students. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Health, are committed to bringing you school health content experts to implement health strategies that benefit students, school staff, and the community. We will continue to host quarterly CSH meetings with topics surrounding the WSCC Model and share relevant resources and funding opportunities as they arise. Arkansas has emerged as a leader in Coordinated School Health programs. Across the state, Coordinated School Health is growing and districts are advancing school wellness initiatives through their wellness committees. With the

School-Based Health Centers (SBHC) provide basic physical, mental, dental, or other services as needed. The health center provides more services than a school nurse and is not to replace the school nurse. The school-based health center is required to have a working relationship with the doctors of the child they see. Families can apply for ARKids and local resources connected to the health center for students’ and family convenience. The goal is for the center to be a resource center for wellness and prevention. Typical characteristics of an SBHC are as follows: The vision of Arkansas School-Based Health Centers is “Arkansas students will have quality, integrated school health services that

Act 1220 of 2003 created the role of the Act 1220 Coordinator/State School Health and Wellness Coordinator. The Act 1220 Coordinator (State School Health and Wellness Coordinator) works with the 1,102 schools in the 262 districts to ensure the requirements of Act 1220 of 2003 and related state and federal school health mandates are met. The main goal is to lower obesity rates by supporting best practices in food service, nutrition, physical, and health education. The State School Health and Wellness Coordinator work with school and district wellness committees to help ensure their annual School Health Index (SHI) and School Health and Wellness Improvement Plan are accurately completed and submitted