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John B. Wayne, PhD, UALR Health Services Administration and UAMS Health Policy and Management, UALR and UAMS, 2801 South University Avenue, 221 Ross Hall, Little Rock, AR 72204, (501)569-3385, jbwayne@ualr.edu, Holly Felix, MPA, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205, and Ruth L. Eudy, MSW, PhD, Graduate Program in Health Services Administration, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 205 Ross Hall, 2801 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204.
In 2000, Arkansas voters passed Initiated Act I which mandated that the legislature use the State’s Tobacco Settlement revenue for health related activities and called for the establishment of a College of Public Health (COPH) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The College was founded in 2001 and currently has 190 students.
The UAMS - COPH has established a new model for collaborative scholarship in public health, linking the University, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), and other major health affiliates. The ADH linkage is unique because in Arkansas all local public health services are the responsibility of the ADH. The COPH – ADH linkage has produced a strong commitment to development of the rural public health workforce and rural public health programs as reflected in the curriculum, research and service. First, the COPH has developed educational degree programs at multiple levels to encourage rural practitioners to pursue formal public health training. For example, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program is an 18-credit-hour introduction to the core areas of public health knowledge. Sixteen rural public health nurses will earn their Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in May 2004. Further, because these largely non-traditional students have demonstrated to themselves that they can perform well in graduate courses, many are considering the full MPH program. Second, the academic program is offered through distance education, on-line education, collaboration with other colleges and universities, and other methodologies to facilitate rural workforce participation. These efforts are reflected in the current student body (72% are from counties outside the Little Rock metropolitan area; 81% are part-time; 40% are minority; and 70% are over 30 years of age). Third, the College has adopted a number of policies to put Community Based Public Health (CBPH) at the center of its teaching, research and service activities. Examples include: 1) the establishment of an Office of CBPH to facilitate grass-roots community involvement; 2) the establishment of a COPH faculty committee to encourage community-campus partnerships, and 3) the adoption of CBPH principles to guide faculty, staff and students.
This presentation will elaborate on the items previously discussed and present information on evolving programs.
Learning Objectives: After this presentation participants will be able to
Keywords: Rural Health, Community-Based Public Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Public Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: grants, employment