UAMS researcher leads $2.2 million project addressing youth health in Arkansas

Ann Chou, professor for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, is leading a $2.2 million community-based study that addresses access to preventive health services for Arkansas’ youth.

The study, “Consortium for Advancement of Research and Evidence-Based Models for Kids: Enhancing Pediatric Care Delivery Through Data-Informed Research and Strategic Partnerships (CARE-Kids)” launched in September and will continue through August 2028.

CARE-Kids houses a research and analytics core and an implementation and community engagement core.

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau Research Consortium of the Health Resources and Services Administration is funding this cross-disciplinary project. CARE-Kids is one of the three consortia across the U.S. selected for funding and the only consortium focusing on pediatric health.

“We have challenges in our state, and the idea is to work toward improving the situation as a community,” Chou said. “Through education, partnerships, along with the community’s help, we’ll find solutions to address basic health needs. Our study will focus on discovering ways to make it easier for families to get preventive health services — such as screenings, immunizations, checkups or various exams — for their children.”

The College of Public Health’s faculty, staff, students and community partners will conduct research on how to best implement interventions for preventive care. They will also gauge how well the interventions improve access to preventive services. Additionally, faculty from the UAMS Department of Pediatrics and UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine will consult with the team on the interventions.

Maintaining existing community partnerships while creating new ones in settings such as school-based health clinics or federally qualified health centers is a key component of the study, said Chou, who’s also chair of the college’s Department of Health Policy and Management.

“It’s important to get the feedback from the community,” Chou said. “They can guide us on how to best implement an intervention. The community members know best on how to adapt something where it’s a better fit for their community.”

The widespread, extended impact of unhealthy youth is a big reason why Arkansans should care about and support this research, Chou said.

“It’s our collective interest to improve the health of Arkansas’ children,” she said. “Every Arkansan can contribute to this effort by learning about what the problems are and the possible solutions. If kids do not have a healthy start in life, as they become adults, it causes issues. This project is a long-term investment. The goal is to create a healthier environment and to encourage families to give their children a healthier start to life.”