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Bentonville Program Shapes Arkansas' Next Health Care Helpers
UAMS partners with local schools to boost student mental health and connect teens with behavioral health careers.
Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:34am
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A community health worker program in Bentonville aims to connect local students with careers in behavioral health and improve mental health resources for rural Arkansas teens.Bentonville TodayA new $1.2 million initiative from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is expanding its efforts to improve student mental health, train community health workers, and connect teenagers in nearby rural districts with real-world behavioral health careers. This builds on an ongoing UAMS pilot program in Bentonville that gives local high school students hands-on doula training and a path to certification.
Why it matters
The program aims to address the shortage of mental health professionals and community health workers in Arkansas by providing students with valuable training and career opportunities in the growing field of behavioral health. It also seeks to improve access to mental health resources for students in rural areas.
The details
The UAMS initiative will partner with schools in Madison and Carroll counties to achieve better mental health for students. This includes training community health workers, connecting teens with behavioral health careers, and providing resources to support student well-being. The program builds on an existing UAMS pilot in Bentonville that gives local high school students hands-on doula training and a path to certification.
- UAMS launched the $1.2 million effort in nearby rural districts in 2026.
- The Bentonville doula program through Ignite Professional Studies is an ongoing pilot.
The players
UAMS
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a public university and academic health center that is leading the new $1.2 million initiative to improve student mental health and connect teens with behavioral health careers.
Ignite Professional Studies
A program in Bentonville that is partnering with UAMS on an ongoing pilot to give local high school students hands-on doula training and a path to certification.
The takeaway
This initiative highlights the important role that educational programs can play in addressing the shortage of mental health professionals and community health workers in Arkansas, particularly in rural areas. By providing students with hands-on training and career opportunities in the growing field of behavioral health, the program aims to build a pipeline of future health care providers and improve access to critical mental health resources for students.
