Working Together To Improve Health Outcomes for All Arkansans
The mission of the Arkansas Health Equity and Access Lab (HEAL) is to pioneer research, foster collaboration, and drive innovation to measurably reduce health disparities and increase access to care in Arkansas.
Current Projects
The Arkansas Health Survey
A representative, population-based survey of adult residents in Arkansas conducted through both online and mail participation. With nearly 10,000 responses collected from all 75 counties, the AHS is the largest representative health survey in the state’s history.
The Arkansas Crime, Public Safety, and Health Survey
A representative sample of approximately 2,300 Black and White adults residing in Arkansas. The goal of the ACPSHS is to consider whether and how exposure to the U.S. criminal legal system at the individual and community level jointly shape Black-White disparities in cardiovascular disease risk in Arkansas.
The Built Environment and Gun Violence in Dallas, Texas
HEAL is working with the Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL) and the City of Dallas to better understand how the build environment (i.e., where we work and live) shapes gun violence in Dallas, Texas. Results from our spatial data analysis are being used by city officials, community organizations and CPAL to formulate a set of initiatives aimed at tackling gun violence in the areas that are most affected.
Screening for Social Determinant of Health in Arkansas
HEAL worked in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Health, UAMS, and UA Little Rock to administer a statewide survey that assessed how healthcare organizations across Arkansas are screening for social needs such as food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation barriers, and how those screenings translate into referrals and services.
News
New Survey Shows Obesity Rates Exceed 45% in Rural Arkansas
Original article can be found on the University of Arkansas news website. Article also found on the KATV.com website. Arkansas already has one of the highest obesity rates in the nation, and now, results from the new Arkansas…
Nearly One in Three Arkansans Report Symptoms of Depression
Original article can be found on the University of Arkansas news website. Article also found on the Axios NW Arkansas website. In Arkansas, nearly one in three people, or 30.8%, suffer from clinically significant depressive symptoms, according…
Arkansas Researchers Present First Statewide Health Survey
Arkansas researchers combined efforts to conduct the inaugural Arkansas Health Survey, information that will help create tailored solutions to improve the health and well-being of Arkansans. Only one other state has a…
Survey: Arkansas tobacco use rates are 6% higher than U.S. average, but Benton County fares better than most in state
Northwest Arkansas health care providers say options for quitting are plentiful Original story can be found on the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette website. With Arkansas’ tobacco use rates above the national average,…