Arkansas
Study: Disparities in Arkansas child health persist, especially for Black families – Arkansas Advocate
In the late 2000s, Andriana Dixon regularly drove an hour and a half one way from McGehee to Little Rock for her first child’s doctor’s appointments.
“There were no pediatricians in my area at the time, and I wonder how many parents are out there who are choosing to do that same thing,” she said.
Dixon’s experience is not unique, regarding both the shortage of health care providers in rural Arkansas and the fact that Black children and families face systemic barriers to care both statewide and nationwide.
Arkansas’ Black children consistently have worse health outcomes from birth onward than children of other races, according to a study published Wednesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The Race for Results report collected a decade’s worth of data on child health and wellbeing and found widespread disparities between white and nonwhite children nationwide. The study analyzed data by state and race, measuring health based on 12 indicators like birth weight and enrollment in early childhood education.
On a scale of 0 to 1,000, Arkansas had the following scores for child wellbeing in each racial group:
- 299 for Black children, ranking 42nd out of 46 states studied
- 397 for Latino children, ranking 45th out of all 50 states
- 597 for white children, ranking 47th out of all 50 states
- 562 for children of two or more races, ranking 30th out of all 50 states
- 616 for American Indian or Alaska Native children, ranking 5th out of 31 states
- 624 for Asian and Pacific Islander children, ranking 42nd out of 45 states
Black maternal mortality in Arkansas rose 110% in two decades, study shows
Nationally, Black children scored lower than any other group at 386, while Asian and Pacific Islander children and white children scored highest at 771 and 697, respectively.
Arkansas has the nation’s highest maternal mortality rate and the third highest infant mortality rate regardless of race, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, which launched a project in 2022 to raise awareness about the issue.
Additionally, the rate at which Black women in Arkansas die during childbirth or within a year of giving birth more than doubled from 1999 to 2019, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Dixon, who now lives in White Hall, has been a special education teacher for children from preschool to 12th grade since 2016, and she has been a doula since 2020, working with families from Little Rock to the Delta. The racial gaps in children’s health and education shown in the Race for Results report line up with what she has observed in both of her careers, she said.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital are working together to address racial disparities in health outcomes, said Dr. Eduardo Ochoa, vice chair of diversity and health equity with UAMS pediatrics.
“We know that there are other factors like food insecurity and care deserts [that determine health], so we try to address as many of those non-medical factors as we can,” Ochoa said.
AECF_2024RaceForResults_EMBARGOED
Addressing barriers to care
Some of Arkansas’ 75 counties do not have hospitals, according to the state Department of Health. Many had very few full-time primary care physicians per 10,000 residents in 2020, according to ACHI data, and medical professionals in specialized disciplines, like pediatrics, are few and far between outside populous areas.
Arkansas Children’s has the state’s only accredited neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the hospital’s Nursery Alliance brings neonatal care providers to hospitals throughout the state, both in person and virtually.
“Our tele-NICU program is kind of in its infancy, no pun intended, but we’re trying to build our telehealth system in Arkansas, which is really robust,” said Dr. Ashley Ross, the neonatology section chief at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s, who runs the Nursery Alliance.
Ross said one of the biggest barriers to neonatal care in rural Arkansas is reliable transportation, especially with great distances between homes and hospitals.
He added that the Alliance focuses on underserved regions and communities, such as South Arkansas, and works to ensure that Arkansans carry their pregnancies to term and deliver babies with healthy birth weights.
According to Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, 9.5% of all babies in Arkansas were born with low birth weights in 2021, and 17% of Black infants had low birth weights.
Being born at less than 5.5 pounds, often caused by premature birth, creates health risks for children not only in infancy but throughout childhood and even into adulthood, according to the Race for Results report.
“Between 2016 and 2021, the percentage of babies born at a healthy birth weight stayed the same for white children (93.0%) and declined slightly among other racial and ethnic groups, with the largest drops for Asian and Pacific Islander and Black babies,” the report states.
Those groups also saw the largest decreases in enrollment in early childhood education between 2007–11 and 2017–21, the report states.
It wasn’t a piecemeal approach that got us here. It was a full-on targeting of Black people, Indigenous people and other people of color.
– Maricella Garcia, Race Equity Director of Advocacy at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Access to education is one of the many social determinants of health, Ochoa said. His work includes making early childhood education more accessible for immigrant and non-English-speaking families in Southwest Little Rock, which has a large Hispanic and Latino population.
UAMS is the grantee for the federal Head Start program, and enrollment has only recently returned to where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2020, Ochoa said.
“Anything that can help children in the first three years of life is very important to their success in school and after school and employment and things like that, because the first three years are so important to brain development,” he said.
Policy solutions and public awareness
In the report, the Casey Foundation recommends several widespread policy measures to improve children’s health and wellbeing. The report acknowledges that “universal policies are important but insufficient for continued progress” and encourages states to create programs that specifically aid people of color.
The foundation’s proposed solutions include expanding the federal child tax credit and the earned income tax credit. Ochoa said implementing these policies on the state level “would really go a long way in improving the health of children” in Arkansas.
Arkansas Legislature saw wide range of maternal and reproductive health legislation in 2023
AACF supports requiring presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant Arkansans and extending postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months after birth. State Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, sponsored bills during the 2023 legislative session that would have created both policies.
Neither bill advanced because of cost concerns, Pilkington said last year, and he plans to reintroduce them in a future session.
These changes to state Medicaid policy would give mothers and babies more timely prenatal and postpartum care, which would reduce maternal and infant mortality, said Maricella Garcia, AACF’s Race Equity Director for Advocacy.
“Moms are going to put their kids and family first, and if they don’t have access to health care, they’re unlikely to go to the doctor because they can’t afford it, so they’ll push off whatever feelings they have that something is wrong with them,” she said.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data released in December shows 78,506 fewer Arkansas children were enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in September than in March of 2023, an 18% enrollment decrease.
Systemic barriers to health and education, as the Race for Results report outlined, must be addressed with systemic solutions, not piecemeal ones, Garcia said.
“It wasn’t a piecemeal approach that got us here,” she said. “It was a full-on targeting of Black people, Indigenous people and other people of color.”
Kentucky had a need at wide receiver entering the only transfer portal window of the offseason. The Wildcats addressed the position again on Day 10. UK has added a second transfer to the room. This is a familiar name to those who follow recruiting.
Arkansas transfer Ja’Kayden Ferguson committed to the Wildcats after his visit to Lexington over the weekend. The wide receiver was a former UK commit who flipped to the Hogs during the 2025 recruiting cycle. Now Ferguson has flipped back to the Big Blue.
Ja’Kayden Ferguson was a three-star recruit out of Metro Houston who picked Kentucky following a June official visit ahead of the 2024 season. However, Ferguson decided to open up his recruitment five months later and flipped to Arkansas. The 6-foot-2 receiver appeared in six games for the Razorbacks as a true freshman and burned his redshirt. Ferguson played just 20 offensive snaps.
The SEC transfer becomes the eighth current full-time scholarship player in Kentucky’s current wide receivers room. Some more additions are expected.
Kentucky transfer commits
| Player | Position | High School | Former School | Year |
| Olaus Alinen | G/T (6-6, 322) | Windson (Conn.) The Loomis Chaffee School | Alabama | Redshirt Junior |
| Jesse Anderson | S (6-0, 180) | Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons | Pittsburgh | Redshirt Junior |
| Max Anderson | iOL (6-5, 311) | Frisco (Texas) High | Tennessee | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Elijah “Bo” Barnes | LB (6-1, 244) | Dallas (Texas) Skyline | Texas | Redshirt Freshman |
| Jovantae Barnes | RB (6-0, 211) | Las Vegas (Nev.) Desert Pines | Oklahoma | Redshirt Senior |
| Ahmad Breaux | iDL (6-3, 278) | Ruston (La.) High | LSU | Junior |
| Jordan Castell | S (6-2, 213) | Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange | Florida | Senior |
| Xavier Daisy | WR (6-3, 210) | Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian School | UAB | Junior |
| Ja’Kayden Ferguson | WR (6-2, 187) | Missouri City (Texas) Thurgood Marshall | Arkansas | Sophomore |
| Aaron Gates | Nickel (6-0, 198) | Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian | Florida | Redshirt Junior |
| Jamarrion Harkless | iDL (6-3, 315) | Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass | Purdue | Redshirt Junior |
| Lance Heard | T (6-6, 330) | Monroe (La.) Neville | LSU | Tennessee | Senior |
| Mark Manfred III | CB (6-1, 175) | Marietta (Ga.) Sprayberry | Missouri | Redshirt Freshman |
| Kenny Minchey | QB (6-2, 208) | Hendersonville (Tenn.) Pope John Paul II | Notre Dame | Redshirt Junior |
| Antonio O’Berry | EDGE (6-6, 240) | Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne | Tiffin (D-II) | Gardner-Webb | 6th-Year Senior |
| Coleton Price | iOL (6-3, 318) | Bowie (Texas) High | Baylor | Redshirt Senior |
| Spencer Radnoti | LS (6-3, 230) | Canton (Ga.) Cherokee | Georgia State | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Cyrus Reyes | S (6-1, 200) | Taylor (Texas) High | Mississippi State | Junior |
| Hasaan Sykes | CB (6-0, 185) | Tuckert (Ga.) High | Western Carolina | Junior |
| Tavion Wallace | LB (6-1, 239) | Baxley (Ga.) Appling County | Arkansas | Sophomore |
| Dominic Wiseman | iDL (6-2, 300) | Davenport (Iowa) High | South Alabama | Redshirt Senior |
| Adam Zouagui | K (5-11, 188) | Herndon (Va.) High | Davidson | South Florida | Senior |
Arkansas
No. 20 Lady Vols Basketball vs. Arkansas: How to Watch, Prediction, More | Rocky Top Insider
Lady Vols basketball is back in Knoxville for a matchup with Arkansas after a two-game road stand. Tennessee is not only looking to stay perfect in SEC play, but is hosting its annual ‘We Back Pat’ game.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup, from broadcast details to a prediction.
More From RTI: Everything Lady Vols HC Kim Caldwell, PG Mia Pauldo Said After Road Win At Mississippi State
How to Watch — No. 20 Lady Vols (11-3, 3-0 SEC) vs. Arkansas (11-7, 0-3 SEC)
- Start Time: 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
- Location: Food City Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Watch: SECN+ | PxP: Andy Brock, Analyst: Kamera Harris
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Brian Rice, Studio Host: Jay Lifford
Betting Odds
None listed yet
ESPN Matchup Predictor
Lady Vols – 98.3%
Arkansas – 1.7%
What Kim Caldwell Said After Mississippi State
“Good to get a win on the road. We know it’s a tough environment and we know that we got to win on the road in the SEC. It was good to do that. I wasn’t really proud of the rebounding, but I thought we looked a lot better in a couple different categories so that was good.”
Last Five Games
Lady Vols:
- at Mississippi State, 90-90 W
- at Auburn, 73-56 W
- vs. Florida, 76-65 W
- vs. Southern Indiana, 89-44 W
- vs. Louisville (Brooklyn), 89-65 L
Arkansas:
- vs. South Carolina, 93-58 L
- at Alabama, 77-48 L
- vs. Vanderbilt, 88-71 L
- vs. Arkansas State, 81-72 L
- vs. Stephen F. Austin, 82-73 W
Where They Land In Rankings
Lady Vols:
AP Poll – No. 20
Coaches Poll – No. 22
Bart Torvik – No. 13
Arkansas:
AP Poll – Unranked
Coaches Poll – Unranked
Bart Torvik – No. 107
Stat Leaders
Lady Vols:
- Points: Talaysia Cooper – 14.9
- Rebounds: Zee Spearman – 7.3
- Assists: Talaysia Cooper – 4.3
Arkansas:
- Points: Taleyah Jones – 16.9
- Rebounds: Bonnie Deas – 9.7
- Assists: Bonnie Deas – 2.6
Prediction
It’s been a rough start for Arkansas’ new coach, Kelsi Musick. The team is 0-3 in SEC games, and though it’s been against three good teams, the Razorbacks haven’t been competitive in any.
While neither side has been strong, Arkansas’ defense has been the weakest point. Not only is it coming off a game in which it gave up 93 points to South Carolina, but Arkansas State hung 81 in its win over the Razorbacks on the road.
If the Lady Vols don’t get in their own way, then they should be fine. It hasn’t been perfect, and against three teams not necessarily in the mix to win the league, but Tennessee has looked much improved in the SEC slate compared to the lumps it took in the out-of-conference schedule.
I’d think UT jumps on Arkansas in the first quarter and takes a comfortable lead into the second quarter. From there, the lead should continue to grow behind forced turnovers in the press and easy baskets on the other end.
Lady Vols 85, Arkansas 61
Three Kings Festival brings business, big crowds to Little Havana
Boston Catholics offer mixed views on pope’s remarks following US operation in Venezuela – The Boston Globe
Broncos will face Chargers or Bills in divisional round (date coming soon)
49ers Set to Face the Seattle Seahawks in Divisional Round
Tom Krasovic: Josh Allen wows with his arms, legs and head in Bills’ playoff win
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from enforcing mail-in voting rules in executive order
Four killed, 20 injured in overnight Russian strikes across Ukraine
Nationwide anti-ICE protests call for accountability after Renee Good’s death
Trump says Venezuela has begun releasing political prisoners ‘in a BIG WAY’
Somali minister says Israel plans to displace Palestinians to Somaliland
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology5 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX3 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Delaware3 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX7 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Iowa5 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Health1 week agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Montana1 day agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says