Arkansas
Project Period: 2004–2008
Year First Funded: 2004
Funding Stage: Capacity Building
Contact Person:
Becky Adams
Branch Unit Leader, Arkansas Lifestage Health
Arkansas Dept. of Health and Human Services
Telephone: 501-661-2334
Fax: 501-661-2055
E-mail: Becky.Adams2@arkansas.gov
Web site:
www.arkansas.gov/ha/home.html
State Program in Brief
A strategic collaboration of state representatives from obesity and
other chronic-disease fields has developed a state chronic disease plan,
Changing the Culture of Health in Arkansas. This group oversees
implementation of the plan and the monitoring of results. This effort
will also improve communication among the state’s chronic disease
programs and other stakeholders. The Arkansas obesity plan is part of
the state’s overall chronic-disease plan.
Recently, the state Department of Health:
- Implemented the Healthy Arkansas Healthy Restaurant Award.
- Completed its third annual Fitness Challenge with the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services and Blue Cross/Blue Shield (in 2006, 58 public and private organizations participated).
- Continued to develop a state master plan for healthy aging.
- Completed the Healthy Employees Lifestyle Program (HELP) pilot for approximately 10,000 state employees.
- Delivered training to Hometown Health Improvement Coalitions on worksite wellness and evidence-based nutrition and physical activity interventions.
- Worked through the Arkansas River Trail Headwaters Partnership to help complete the One Medical Mile trail, part of the 24-mile Arkansas River Trail system.
- Implemented the Pick a Better Snack pilot project, which promotes fruit and vegetable snacks in kindergarten and second-grade classes at two elementary schools.
- Partnered with Heifer International and several other organizations to create a state Food Policy Council.
The Department of Health also plans to:
- Expand and improve the evaluation process for Peer Exercise Program Promotes Independence (PEPPI), a physical activity intervention for older adults.
- Complete an inventory of state-plan activities implemented by partners across Arkansas.
- Develop a physical-activity database for older state residents.
- Implement a StairWELL to Better Health project at the main Department of Health worksite.
- Expand the Pick a Better Snack Program to additional grades and/or schools.
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Page last updated: May 22, 2007
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion