LITTLE ROCK, AR (January 22, 2025)—Arkansas teachers facing burnout and stress now have a new resource. AFMC has launched the Arkansas Teacher Support Helpline, a confidential service designed to provide teachers and school staff with a safe space to share their struggles, explore practical solutions, or vent.

In 2020, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) awarded AFMC the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Implementation II grant. Jerry Rushing, grant analyst, led efforts on the grant, with assistance from Alicia Neppl, supervisor of community projects, and Keiley Jenson, grant analyst.

Tiffany Holland (second from left) and Nicole Bonecutter (second from right) pose with ImmunizeAR staff after receiving the 2024 Outstanding Adult Immunization award.

ImmunizeAR is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving Arkansas vaccination rates through education, awareness, and statewide partnerships. Each year, they recognize the impactful work of healthcare professionals in preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Chris Spearn, Resilience Coordinator, Speaks at Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

Chris Spearn, an AFMC trauma-informed resilience coordinator, will present on the profound impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on both urban and rural communities. Notably, children in rural communities are at a higher risk of experiencing multiple ACEs compared to those in urban areas. This increased risk presents significant challenges, including poorer health outcomes, lower educational achievement, and increased mental health issues.

Data Sciences Manager Presents in REDCapCon Plenary Session

SEPT. 2024; ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Kent Thompson, manager of AFMC’s data sciences team, presented at the plenary session at this year’s REDCap annual conference. His presentation focused on AFMC’s naloxone reporting tool, which enables first responders to report naloxone administrations while collecting demographic, location, and administration data. The tool sends alerts when a certain number of administrations occur within a specific time period.

JULY 2024; SAN DIEGO, CA — In July, Sydney Lewis, MPH, AFMC’s data sciences supervisor, was selected to present her findings on a state-funded peer recovery support grant at the 2024 Esri User Conference. The conference is the world’s largest GIS conference, empowering individuals and organizations to make a difference in the world by showcasing the latest products and solutions that help transform complex data into actionable insights.