Press Releases

Title V originated as part of the Social Security Act in 1935 and is one of the largest federal block grant programs. This legislation was the origin of the federal government’s pledge of support to states in improving the health of mothers and children throughout the nation. Since the original authorization, Title V has been amended several times to reflect the increasing national interest in maternal and child health (MCH) and well-being. One of the first changes occurred when Title V was converted to a block grant program in 1981, resulting in the consolidation of seven categorical programs into a single block grant. These programs were: Over the past three

What is the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System? The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a standardized, random telephone health survey conducted by each of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BRFSS survey began in the 1980s after research showed that personal health behaviors play an important role in the existence of unnecessary deaths and illnesses. The survey allows individual states to collect data on personal behaviors (such as smoking, drinking, not getting exercise, being overweight, and not getting preventive medical care) that are linked to the leading causes of death (heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes,

Home Visiting Rule and Resources Legislation

The Arkansas Department of Health’s Women’s Health program promotes and provides family planning, prenatal and related preventive health clinical services. It offers community education and outreach that promote good health and reproductive responsibility. It also provides clients with information and services for women, men, couples, and families to enable them to space their pregnancies, and provides community education and outreach about issues related to family planning and the health of mothers and infants. The Women’s Right to Know information is a required material to be distributed to individuals seeking abortion services. These materials are provided in accordance with Act 1086 of 2015 and were developed to give a woman basic

The Arkansas Department of Health’s Family Health program promotes good health for the whole family from pre-conception through infancy, childhood, and adolescence to adulthood.  Women’s Health offers family planning and maternity services, outreach and educational resources targeted to improving reproductive health. Child & Adolescent Health serves children from infancy through their school years.  Health Connections The Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care – ConnectCare program assists Medicaid and ARKids First families in finding a medical home by linking them to a primary care physician (PCP) and dental care. The AFMC – ConnectCare program has two components: ConnectCare has 3 components: Toll-Free Telephone Helpline, Dental Coordinated Care Program and Health Promotion and Outreach.  The Toll-Free

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