Rogers, AR—April 9, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) hosted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy Cohen to Northwest Arkansas on Monday, April 8, to visit various partner organizations in the area, share the importance of strong investments in community health, and see the partnership between the CDC and local health care in action.

Congressman Womack said, “I was honored to welcome Dr. Cohen to Northwest Arkansas to showcase the excellence happening in our corner of the Natural State. As a senior appropriator, I see how federal investments through CDC grants foster economic growth, promote health, and enhance quality of life. I’m grateful Dr. Cohen had the opportunity to witness the incredible work of our local health providers in action.”

Dr. Cohen said, “CDC’s mission is to protect health and improve lives, and that requires a team. My visit to Northwest Arkansas highlighted partnerships across education, health care, local government, and private industry that can help us protect health. We need the resources and authorities to continue to sustain and build our team across the country and abroad, and I thank Representative Womack for his work here in Northwest Arkansas and in Congress to work with us to make that possible.”

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen toured the Bentonville Head Start and Early Head Start facility and engaged with UAMS Northwest and NWA Head Start staff involved in the implementation of REACH grant funding, which supported child nutrition initiatives, vaccine clinics, physical activity training, and breastfeeding rooms at Bentonville Head Start.

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen were welcomed by Bentonville Schools’ staff and students and toured the Ignite Professional Studies facility. Following the tour, they engaged with 100 junior and senior students participating in the Ignite Professional Studies Program.

At Community Clinic NWA, Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen led a roundtable discussion on how CDC funding has been utilized in Northwest Arkansas by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and partner organizations. Rep. Womack, Dr. Cohen, Community Clinic CEO Judd Semingson, and Division Director of Community Programs (UAMS Northwest) Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., M.B.A. provided opening remarks. Healthcare organizations and members of Our Healthy Alliance also participated in the roundtable discussion.

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen also visited members of the Walmart Health team and toured the Walmart Emergency Operations Center and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

CDC’s funded work in Arkansas’ Third District:

• CDC’s REACH grant program provided funding to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for the 2023-2028 program cycle to continue implementing evidence-based strategies to improve health, prevent chronic disease, and reduce health disparities among priority populations.
  • Partnerships funded through this program were previously used to reach Marshallese and Hispanic communities with health and vaccination information.
  • This program also supports work in education and early childhood programs to promote healthy environments, healthy eating, physical activity, and health education to prevent obesity and chronic disease.
• Arkansas Maternal and Perinatal Quality Outcomes Quality Review Committee—Perinatal Quality Collaboratives provide the infrastructure that supports quality improvement efforts addressing obstetric and newborn care and outcomes in a state or region. CDC currently funds 36 state PQCs, including Arkansas.