Wonks at Work

Latest Episode

  • Changes are on the way for community health workers in Arkansas with the introduction of a statewide certification process and the ability to bill insurance for their services. To learn how other states have navigated similar transitions, we’re joined on this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast by Colby Takeda of Pear Suite, a hub for thousands of community health workers across the country.

Latest Podcast Episodes

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Navigating: Colby Takeda 
Changes are on the way for community health workers in Arkansas with the introduction of a statewide certification process and the ability to bill insurance for their services. To learn how other states have navigated similar transitions, we’re joined on this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast by Colby Takeda of Pear Suite, a hub for thousands of community health workers across the country.
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Stickshifts and Safetybelts: Ellen Coulter
Faced with one of the highest roadway fatality rates in the nation, Arkansas is launching a new statewide safety curriculum for middle school students. On this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we learn more from Ellen Coulter with the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
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Seek Up: Tonya Johnson
Food insecurity is a significant challenge for our state, impacting nearly 1 in 5 Arkansans. On this episode of our Wonks at Work podcast, we’re joined by Tonya Johnson of CHI St. Vincent, who discusses how the hospital system is integrating food pantries into the workplace.
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Send Me on My Way: Ryan Hale
Developing a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure goes far beyond new bike paths and ideally allows residents to make active transportation part of their daily lives. In this episode of our Wonks at Work podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Hale of Rogers-based Laneshift, a firm that specializes in bicycle and pedestrian planning and design.
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Golden Years: Rachel Bunch 
An aging Arkansas populace means increased demands on our healthcare system and the need for a workforce that can provide long-term care and support. In this episode of our Wonks at Work podcast, we’re joined by Rachel Bunch, executive director of the Arkansas Health Care Association.
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Break on Through: Dr. Matt Deneke 
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can cause a wide range of health problems, from short-term infections to chronic and even life-threatening conditions. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we discuss hepatitis in Arkansas with Dr. Matt Deneke of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
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