Pathways to Health

Love protects from the very beginning. 💛

We’re proud to launch , Vaccinate Your Family’s new bilingual campaign focused on infant and maternal immunization.

Through real stories, clear information, and trusted resources, this campaign will support parents and caregivers in understanding how immunization can help protect babies during their earliest and most vulnerable months of life. From pregnancy through baby’s first years, protection matters.

Because when families have the information they need, they can make informed choices that help give babies the strongest possible start.

Learn more at vaccinateyourfamily.org/formybaby

We are honored to share that the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service has been recognized with a 2026 Immunization Excellence Award by the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS)!

This national recognition highlights our EXCITE work connecting rural Arkansans to vaccine education and opportunities through trusted community partnerships and Extension outreach.

Through the Learn. Understand. Decide. framework and our “How to Talk to Your Doctor” program, county Extension agents worked alongside pharmacists, early childhood educators, and local partners to help individuals feel more confident discussing recommended vaccines with healthcare providers.

Across four Arkansas counties:
✔️ 15 educational sessions were delivered
✔️ 123 adults participated
✔️ 72% planned to speak with a provider about vaccines within six months
✔️ 62% intended to schedule a vaccination

From placing QR-coded educational materials in pharmacies and county fairs to rapidly responding during a measles outbreak with targeted MMR resources, this work demonstrates the power of local partnerships and trusted messengers in rural communities.

We are incredibly proud of our county agents, partners, and communities who made this work possible. Thank you for helping us move communities from awareness to action.

CDC recommends all adults be tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. Encourage your community to get tested! https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-awareness/about/index.html

Left untreated, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can damage your liver and even lead to liver cancer. This , learn more about prevention, testing, and treatment. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-awareness/about/index.html

Join us for the Your Health, Your Voice Summer Series — a set of short virtual programs designed to help you feel more confident talking with healthcare providers and making informed health decisions.

Sessions include:
⭐ How to Talk to Your Doctor
⭐ How to Talk to Your Child’s Doctor

These programs will share simple tools to help you prepare for appointments, ask questions, understand next steps, and feel more confident using your voice in healthcare conversations.

Choose the session that works best for you and register here:
https://www.facebook.com/UADAPathwaysToHealth/events

On let's raise awareness of hepatitis B and hepatitis C and encourage everyone to learn their status. Encourage hepatitis testing TODAY and beyond! https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-awareness/about/index.html

✨ Community Involvement & Coalition Building ✨
Strong communities don’t happen by chance—they are built through connection, collaboration, and shared purpose. 🤝
When we come together as partners, organizations, and residents, we create powerful coalitions that can address challenges, amplify voices, and drive meaningful change. Every conversation, every partnership, and every act of involvement matters.
💡 Community involvement means showing up, listening, and engaging.
💡 Coalition building means working together toward a common goal.
Together, we can:
✅ Strengthen local networks
✅ Support one another
✅ Create lasting, positive impact
Let’s continue building bridges and empowering our communities—because we are stronger together.

Have you been tested for hepatitis B? This Hepatitis Awareness Month, learn more about CDC's hepatitis B screening and testing recommendations. Check out our resources and find out why getting tested at least once in your lifetime is so important: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-awareness/about/index.html

👀 Looking for resources to support lactating employees?💡Check out this employer toolkit.

The USBC-affiliated Workplace Support Constellation is pleased to share the Workplace Lactation Accommodations: Employer Toolkit — a practical collection of resources, information, and templates to help employers comply with the federally-mandated PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The toolkit is freely available for organizations and individuals to use and share, making workplaces more supportive of lactating employees. Download it here: https://bit.ly/3Pv48eb

Healthy aging is about more than living longer. It’s about staying strong, active, &
independent. Regular movement, preventive care, & social connection all play a role in
maintaining quality of life. This National Women’s Health Week, make time for physicalactivity, routine check-ups, & activities that support your well-being. https://womenshealth.gov/nwhw

Shout out to Heather Wingo, AR–OK Extension Immunization Educator, on presenting at the 2026 National Health Outreach & Engagement Conference (NHOC) in St. George, Utah!

NHOC brings together Extension professionals, educators, researchers, and community leaders from across the country to share strategies and innovations that strengthen health and wellness in communities nationwide. This year’s conference theme was “Pathways to Peaks – Strengthening Health and Communities.”

Heather presented her session:

📍 Understanding Drivers of Adult Influenza Vaccination and Vaccine Confidence: A National Analysis with Implications for Southern Region Extension Programs

This was Heather’s first accepted workshop presentation at NHOC, and we are proud to see her representing Extension and contributing to national conversations around public health, prevention, and rural community engagement.