Conference attendees will participate in engaging sessions, discussions, and networking opportunities with experts in the field while sharing experiences, the exchange ideas, and collaborating with like-minded professionals dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of students, creating a supportive learning environment, and promoting an overall community of wellness.

Arkansas CSH would like to acknowledge Dr. Betsy Kindall and Jamie McAfee of the Arkansas AWARE program, Michele Roberts, MITS Regional Advisor, and both School Health Services offices for their assistance in coordinating this conference.

Special appreciation to our co-sponsors the Arkansas School Nurses Association and SHAPE-Arkansas for allowing us to host their annual summer conferences with this special event. These professional organizations along with the support of Arkansas Children’s Hospital are invaluable to those who work in school health and wellness.

We would also like to recognize our evaluation team from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences-Northwest. Alex Jauregui-Dusseau has supported the evaluation of the program for the past 4 years and Stella Mutoni has recently joined to assist with the evaluation data.

Ariel, Cheria, and Lisa

The Arkansas Coordinated School Health Program (CSH) is rooted in a comprehensive framework designed to address the needs of the whole child within the school environment. The CHS program is a partnership between the Department of Education (DESE) and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), aimed at providing professional development and resources for school personnel. Schools are an ideal setting to address health, teach healthy behaviors, and provide students with opportunities to improve nutrition, physical activity, and manage chronic health conditions.