🏫 Back to School & Back to Session Before We Know It

While most of us are focused on back-to-school schedules and getting through the last stretch of summer, your American Heart Association advocacy team is looking ahead to the 2027 Arkansas legislative session which begins in January — and there’s a lot happening behind the scenes.

Here’s a quick look at the latest:

• Postpartum Medicaid Extension: We’re preparing to advocate for healthier moms across Arkansas by extending the current coverage from 2 to 12 months. Read more…
• Protecting Access to Care: Arkansas Medicaid expansion currently provides coverage to more than 200,00 Arkansans. We are working to protect that access and help ensure those Arkansans can keep the health care coverage they rely on.
• Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML): A critical health measure that helps families manage cardiovascular recoveries, postpartum care, and chronic illness without risking their financial stability or jobs.

• Taking advocacy to the district: Heart Powered Advocate Mandi Berry recently met with State Rep-Elect Dawn Creekmore for a hometown conversation. Would you be interested in meeting with your legislator in-district? Respond to this email and let us know!
• Recruiting the next generation of advocates: At this year’s Miss Arkansas competition, we trained more than 100 young women on the power of advocacy and how they can use their voices to help create a healthier Arkansas.

Miss Arkansas contestants pictured with State Representative-Elect Dawn Creekmore and American Heart Association Heart Powered Advocate, Ebony Mitchell.

And this is just the beginning. Over the next few months, we’ll bring you more information about the issues we’re preparing to tackle, opportunities to take action, and a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into getting ready for session.

If you know someone who might like to join us, share this blog and invite them to become an American Heart Association Heart Powered Advocate. It’s one of the easiest ways to stay informed about what’s happening at the Capitol and know when their voice can make a difference.

And before we dive headfirst into legislative session prep, we hope everyone has a smooth back-to-school transition! Whether you’re sending a little one off to kindergarten, a teenager back to the classroom, celebrating a college kid heading out on their next adventure or reminiscing over your own back-to-school memories, we want to see those back-to-school moments!

Send us your back-to-school photos! 📸 You might just see your photo featured in an upcoming American Heart Association social media post or blog! Share them HERE.

Happy back-to-school season, Arkansas! And stay tuned… there’s a lot more to come. ❤️