Dear Friends of the UAMS Research and Evaluation Division,

It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of our colleague, mentor, and friend, Leanne Whiteside-Mansell, Ed.D., on December 18, 2022.  

Dr. Whiteside-Mansell joined the UAMS faculty in 1999 and directed the Research and Evaluation Division (RED) in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine for 12 years. She was Principal or Co-Investigator on more than 40 grants or contracts and had more than 130 peer-reviewed publications.  Her many accomplishments include contributing to the first study of Early Head Start, a national study to explore the impact of childcare on children.  She led the development of the Family Map Inventories, an innovative tool to identify family strengths and needs in families of children ages birth to 5. She was also co-developer of Together We Inspire Smart Eating (WISE), an obesity prevention program for preschool children, and participated in research to reduce childhood unintentional injuries and adult HIV. The underlying motivation for all her professional pursuits was to improve the lives of vulnerable populations. This was evident in her career as well as her personal life.  

Most importantly, we will remember her as an unstoppable whirlwind of curiosity, statistical acumen, and compassion for others. These qualities fueled significant advancements in research on factors linked with the development of young children living in poverty.  The RED group will continue all the great works that Dr. Whiteside Mansell began and will honor her legacy by continuing to create valuable community partnerships to benefit Arkansans.

Full Post in UAMS’ In Memoriam

Researchers from Ohio State University and Appalachian State University recently published a pilot study that examined the feasibility of WISE in an intergenerational setting. The paper, entitled Extending the Together, We Inspire Smart Eating Curriculum to Intergenerational Nutrition Education: A Pilot Study offers a unique opportunity to have the results of DFPM-RED’s research-based work inform and inspire other researchers across the country.

We Inspire Smart Eating (WISE) was developed by a DFPM-RED team led by RED faculty members Taren Swindle, Ph.D. and RED Director Leanne Whiteside-Mansell Ph.D. Development from 2011 – 2016 was funded by a USDA grant and WISE was implemented statewide in Arkansas beginning in 2016. WISE was licensed for commercial distribution in other states in 2017. 

WISE has been implemented in various states throughout the U.S. and the newly published study examines WISE implementation over three years in Ohio and Virginia.

Link to article: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/15/8935

DFPM-RED’s Project PLAY developer Dr. Nicola Edge is featured in this new article on the Arkansas Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools (T R I S*).

“We also want to be able to assist children and families in accessing mental health services when they need them. We know mental health treatment works, and so part of the role of TRIS is to support children and families in accessing proven effective trauma treatment services.”

Link to article

*T R I S provides training, resources, and other support to all school personnel across the state. The initiative is a collaboration between UAMS, the Arkansas Department of Education (A D E) and other key stakeholders. It is funded by a generous behavioral health grant from the Blue and You Foundation.

DFPM-RED’s HIV Team was among 53 community-based organizations selected by the CDC Foundation to implement and expand HIV self-testing programs. The team will create a social media campaign targeting rural communities and those with substance use disorders. The campaign will be shared through websites, social media, and using print materials to advertise At-Home HIV testing.  UAMS will form collaborative partnerships with key agencies to assist with the distribution of At-Home HIV testing (kits), outreach efforts, and information sharing, to provide resources to 500 Arkansans. DFPM-RED Faculty member Latunja Sockwell will serve as PI on the project with HIV team Program Manager Courtney Hampton serving as Co-PI. The 10.5-month grant totals $100,000.

Link: CDC Foundation Supports 53 Community-Based Organizations to Implement and Expand HIV Self-Testing Programs

DFPM-RED’s Dr. Nikki Edge and other colleagues from around the state are featured in this new video from The Children’s Division – a project of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Children’s Social-Emotional Development and Mental Health: Why Does It Matter?

Early childhood experiences can strengthen or disrupt a young child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, with consequences that can last a lifetime. This video spotlights the importance of integrating support for the social-emotional development of young children and the well-being of their caregivers into all child- and family-serving programs.

(HHS video link is no longer online)

DFPM-RED’s Kanna Lewis, Ph.D., along with members of the CDC have published a report regarding the impact of mask-mandates in schools during COVID. The report was recently highlighted by the CDC and has drawn the attention of both local and national media outlets such as CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

The study found that in Arkansas during August–October 2021, districts with universal mask requirements had a 23% lower incidence of COVID-19 among staff members and students compared with districts without mask requirements. The study concluded that masks remain an important part of a multicomponent approach to prevent COVID-19 in K–12 settings, especially in communities with high levels of COVID-19.

UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Research and Evaluation Division (DFPM-RED) team member Elizabeth Waldrum was recently appointed to the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission/Early Head Start Governing Board. The board advises the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education in supporting the optimal and ongoing development of young children in Arkansas by:

• Providing technical assistance in the design of programs for early childhood professionals
• Assisting in long-range planning
• Promoting coordination among state agencies and advising state agencies on the development of early childhood standards;
• Reviewing and approving proposed rules for minimum licensing standards governing the granting, revocation, refusal, and suspension of child care licenses.

Ms. Waldrum will serve as Social-Emotional/Clinical Commissioner. Board members are appointed by the Arkansas Governor to 3-Year terms of service. Ms. Waldrum replaces former board member Kimberly Whitman, also of DFPM-RED.

DFPM-RED’s Dr. Nicola Edge, Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, and Dr. Sufna John, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, were appointed by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Blue Ribbon Task Force to End Child Abuse. Created during last year’s regular session of the Arkansas General Assembly, the task force will pursue a systematic and holistic approach to eliminating child abuse in the state. Dr. Edge and Dr. John are Co-Directors of the ARBEST (Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma) program, which works to improve outcomes for children and families who have experienced trauma through activities promoting excellence in child care, advocacy, training and evaluation.

More on ARBEST.