Arkansas Department of Health

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Arkansas Barber & Beauty Shop Outreach Program

About

The Arkansas Barber & Beauty Shop Health Outreach Program (ArBHOP) is an initiative coordinated by the Office of Health Equity (OHE) at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) aimed at connecting individuals with care for hypertension, diabetes, and HIV. The major goals of this initiative are as follows: to increase the number of newly HIV diagnosed African American and Hispanic/Latino clients linked to medically appropriate care and treatment; to increase the number of referrals to the Diabetes Self-Management Education & Support Program and the Diabetes Prevention Program, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the ArBHOP.

Hypertension

Hypertension is a serious condition that affects millions of Americans every year. According to the CDC, nearly half of adults in the United States have hypertension or are taking medication for hypertension. Hypertension is more common among men than women and is more common in non-Hispanic Black adults than it is in non-Hispanic white adults, non-Hispanic Asian adults, or Hispanic adults. For more information about hypertension, please click here.

The ArBHOP works to identify those at risk of hypertension, especially within particularly at-risk communities, and to refer those individuals to primary care for diagnosis and treatment.

Prediabetes and the National DPP

Prediabetes relates to the indication of blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. According to the CDC, prediabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes. For more information about prediabetes, please click here.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program—or National DPP—is a partnership of public and private organizations working to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The partners work to make it easier for people with prediabetes or at risk for type 2 diabetes to participate in evidence-based, affordable, and high-quality lifestyle change programs to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and improve their overall health. The ArBHOP works to identify Arkansans at risk of prediabetes and refer them to National DPP programs. For more information about the National DPP, please click here. To find a DPP program near you, please click here. 

Diabetes and DSMES Services

There are two forms of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an immune reaction, and there is currently no prevention strategy for this type. ArBHOP focuses on type 2 diabetes, a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Approximately 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2. You may be at risk for type 2 diabetes if you: are 45 years or older, have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, are not physically active, are overweight, or have ever had gestational diabetes. In the United States, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes than their counterparts. For more information about diabetes, please click here.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services teach those living with diabetes to manage their condition and stay healthy. According to the CDC, DSMES services help those living with diabetes to make better decisions regarding their diabetes, work with their healthcare team to get the support they need, understand how to take care of themselves, and learn the skills necessary to eat healthily, be active, check their blood sugar, take their medicine, solve problems, cope with the emotional side of diabetes, and reduce the risk of other health problems. To find DSMES services near you, please click here.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus typically spread through vaginal or anal sex or sharing needles/syringes. This virus attacks the body’s immune system and can cause serious illness if not identified and treated properly. There is currently no cure for the virus but with proper medical treatment, persons living with HIV can live long, healthy lives and avoid spreading the virus to others. For more information about HIV, please click here. 

The ADH has robust and effective HIV prevention, testing, and treatment programs. The ArBHOP has partnered with the ADH’s HIV branch to offer HIV testing and counseling at our events. Participants who are identified as positive for HIV will be referred for follow-up testing and, upon confirmation of status, will be immediately connected to care. For more information about HIV testing with the ADH, please click here.

Upcoming Events:

• The Generator (435 S. Main St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601) on 4.23.22 from 10am - 2pm.

 

Contact 501-246-6151 or Danny.Baxter@arkansas.gov with any questions.