The Arkansas Health Equity Collaboration held its final meeting at the Institute at the end of August 2024 and was a partnership between the Institute, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Delta Population Health Institute. The foundation for this program was the belief that all Arkansans deserve a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This group determined four areas to make these improvements: accessing resources, education, policies, and health and well-being in the workforce.
Paramount to this group’s work was understanding the problem, and during a meeting in April of 2023, the Arkansas Health Equity Collaboration developed a problem statement that guided their work:
“There is a lack of trust and sense of powerlessness around addressing health equity barriers within communities most affected. This disenfranchises communities and cultures and prevents everyone from fully contributing their perspectives to health equity initiatives and engaging with possible resolutions.”
Arkansa Health Equity Collaboration Problem Statement
Working groups were formed to further investigate projects to meet the needs of Arkansans expressed during focus groups held around the state. The working groups are as follows:
This group explored how to cultivate relationships with multi-sector partners and researched developing a resource hub similar to those in other states. This hub would provide resources for bridging the gaps in obtaining equitable health care related to mental/behavioral health, food security, transportation, insurance, and public health information.
We never truly stop learning about health and wellness, so this group focused on both formal and informal public health education. Projects included a community asset map highlighting existing public health education practices across the state and developing a toolkit for providing public health education to underrepresented communities.
This working group developed a survey for employers and employees to take that would help illuminate the gaps in health equity in Arkansas’s workforce. These surveys aim to help inform resources on addressing health equity gaps within the workplace and make a business case for health equity.
This group developed a set of public policy guiding principles to advocate for health in policies — not just health care policies. The goal is to ensure that health and well-being are considered in all aspects of public policy to create healthier Arkansans no matter who they are or where they live.
Creating the Arkansas Health Equity Collaboration
“Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2017
This program focuses on the social determinants of health. We are exploring significant factors impacting health disparities outside the health care setting. All of the following are driving forces of health outcomes in our communities:
- Where we live
- Where we learn
- Where we grow
- Where we play
In preparation, the Institute facilitated 10 focus groups across Central Arkansas and all four state quadrants, including in-person focus groups in North Little Rock, Fort Smith, Monticello, Camden, West Memphis, and Springdale (shown below).
Our Partners
Contact Person
For more information on how to get involved with the Arkansas Health Equity Collaboration’s continuing work, contact Dr. Brookshield Laurent at blaurent@nyit.edu.