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Community Engagement
At Arkansas Children's, community engagement goes beyond outreach - it's about building strong, lasting connections that support child health where it begins: in our communities. By partnering with community organizations and investing in critical support networks, we expand access to resources, reduce social risks, and strengthen the safety net for families across Arkansas. Guided by our commitment to measurable improvements in child health, we aim to create a more connected, resilient community where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
The Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) between Legal Aid of Arkansas and Arkansas Children's works to combat the negative social determinants of health outside the hospital/clinical setting. This program is designed to offer representation, advice, and other legal services to eligible families in all 75 counties in Arkansas who have a child who is currently a patient at Arkansas Children's Hospital, Arkansas Northwest, or one of Arkansas Children's affiliate clinics.
MLP attorneys provide free legal services to low-income patients and patient families of Arkansas Children's, with civil, health-harming legal needs in many areas of law. This includes guardianships, wills, power of attorney, Medicaid, social security benefits, SNAP benefits, special education, housing, reasonable accommodations, and more. In addition to representing patients, we also train medical staff on legal needs and work creatively with medical providers to meet the needs of their patients; host patient training sessions on different areas of law so that patients can be empowered and educated on their rights; and provide legal education to private attorneys volunteering with the program.
The Natural Wonders Partnership Council seeks to improve child health in Arkansas through a collaborative of advocates working together to organize, mobilize and deliver on defined strategic child health interventions. Arkansas Children’s is the cornerstone organization for Natural Wonders.
The Natural Wonders Partnership Council (NWPC) is connected to the many areas of need identified in the Arkansas Children's Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA). Every 3 years, Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) and Arkansas Children's Northwest (ACNW) complete a CHNA, that is informed by focus groups, parent surveys, key informant interviews and an in-depth quantitative data review. These CHNAs frame the work of Natural Wonders.
Arkansas Children's seeks opportunities to develop and strengthen partnerships that focus on critical child health issues based on the Community Health Needs Assessments. Each year, organizations can apply for Community Health Funds to address these child health priority areas.
Arkansas Children’s Resource Connect connects families to free or low-cost services like health care, food, housing, job training, and more.