Joe A. Cloud, MD - State Representative

October is breast cancer awareness month. This is an opportunity to remind Arkansans of the importance of mammograms for early detection and lifestyle changes that could help prevent cancer.

Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early when it is easier to treat, and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms.

It is important to still get checked for breast cancer regularly, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. As long as you’re not feeling sick or having any COVID-19 symptoms, experts say it’s safe to get a mammogram.

In 2017, there were 2,163 new breast cancer cases and 414 cancer deaths in the state. However, Arkansas is ranked as one of the lowest states (37th) for breast cancer screening, according to the CDC Wonder (2018).

Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women.

In 2017, the General Assembly passed Act 708, which ensures that insurance policies cover annual mammograms for women over 40. It also ensures that 3D mammograms or ultrasounds are covered for women with dense breast tissue. While traditional mammograms are effective for many women, the ultrasound can detect changes in women with dense breast tissue.

Only about 5–10% of breast cancers are believed to be hereditary, meaning they’re caused by abnormal changes in certain genes passed from parent to child.

The vast majority of people who get breast cancer have no family history, suggesting that other factors must be at work, such as environment and lifestyle.

If you are uninsured or underinsured, you may qualify for a free or low-cost mammogram through the Arkansas BreastCare program.
BreastCare’s mission is to increase the rate of early detection of breast and cervical cancer and reduce the morbidity and mortality rates among women in Arkansas by lowering barriers to screening that result from lack of information, financial means, or access to quality services.
It is funded by the Arkansas Department of Health with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Arkansas Tobacco Excise Tax.

For more information, visit www.healthy.arkansas.gov. ... See MoreSee Less

Arkansas Department of Health

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Joe A. Cloud, MD - State Representative

Decisions regarding our state budget show the priorities we make as a state. The budget-making process has a direct impact on everything from classrooms to health care.

Budget hearings will begin Tuesday, October 13, 2020, and are scheduled to conclude November 12, 2020. The Joint Budget Committee sits with the Arkansas Legislative Committee as voting participants in the hearings, creating the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget Committee.

The hearings will begin with requests from licensing boards and commissions. The second week members will review recommendations from the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Public Safety.

On week 3, Higher Education Institutions, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Transformation and Shared Services will have proposals reviewed.

The courts, constitutional offices, and the Agriculture Department will be reviewed in the 4th week.

On November 10, members will be presented with the General Revenue Forecast and the Governor’s Balanced Budget Proposal. The latest revenue reports show general revenue is now $227.4 million or 15.0 percent above this time last year. The forecast provided at the budget hearings will tell us if we can expect continued growth in the months ahead.

The final week of hearings will then continue with proposals from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education.

Members can begin pre-filing legislation for the 2021 Regular Session on November 16.

The Regular Session begins January 11, 2020.

You can find a list of daily meetings and watch the proceedings live on our website at www.arkansashouse.org.

We will keep you updated on this process as it continues. ... See MoreSee Less

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Joe A. Cloud, MD - State Representative

There are now 529 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in Arkansas. Although this is a record high, the Governor said hospitals in the state currently have adequate space.

LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES

In an effort to enhance visitation opportunities, the Arkansas Department of Health has revised the directive for visitation in long-term care facilities.
The revision allows for expanded visitation if the facility has adequate PPE, meets staff requirements and has not had a new cases in 14 days.
The directive can be found here:
www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/ADH_LTC_Visitation_Directive_amended_10.6.pdf

HALLOWEEN GUIDANCE

The Arkansas Department of Health has released guidance for families for Halloween.
It states the following:
· A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
· Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask. Treat guidance.
· Parents should limit the number of houses children visit
· Only let children eat factory-wrapped candy that has been wiped off with a sanitary wipe
You can read the entire guidance here:
www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/HalloweenGuidance9.28.20.pdf

EDUCATION

The Arkansas Department of Education says 22 districts are currently making modifications to instruction. Statewide, 25% of all students are virtual learners.
To help districts re-engage students during this critical time, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is partnering with the state’s Education Renewal Zones and Graduation Alliance to launch the ENGAGE Arkansas attendance and re-engagement initiative at no cost to districts. The initiative’s support will greatly benefit districts by reducing the workload on identifying, locating, and re-engaging students, allowing them instead to focus on providing necessary educational supports to students both in-person and virtually.

This partnership, which also includes the Arkansas Department of Human Services, will provide additional wrap-around support for students and families. The partners will determine how the pandemic has affected student enrollment and create strategies to find “no show” students, identify “at risk” students who are disengaged, and help keep students continuously engaged in learning.

Read more here: dese.ade.arkansas.gov/divisions/special-projects/engage-arkansas. ... See MoreSee Less

Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

Joe A. Cloud, MD - State Representative

For every dollar of general revenue coming into the state, 41% is spent on K-12 public schools. Approximately, half of all school district revenues come from the state.

Our current process of determining the amount of state funding for our schools goes back to 2003. The Public School Funding Act of 2003 develops per-pupil funding amounts by assigning costs to various educational inputs.

Those inputs range from staff salaries to transportation needs. They are then compiled into a school district funding matrix used to produce a per-pupil foundation funding amount along with additional funding for programs for students with special needs, alternative learning environments, and professional development for instructional staff.

But the landscape of education has changed since 2003. That is why late last year, the House and Senate Education Committee agreed to hire a consulting firm, Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, to take an in-depth look at our K-12 education and make recommendations to our current model of funding.

The firm’s study has sought input from education officials around the state and reviewed academic research.

This week, the firm presented the committee with information showing the average counselor staffing ratio in Arkansas is 385:1, which is lower than the average for states in the southern region. However, the American School Counselor Association and the National Association of School Psychologist's recommended ratio is 250:1.

The consultants have also presented committee members with information on the effects of poverty on learning. Research shows academic performance correlates negatively with concentrations of poverty in schools. Higher concentrations of poverty seem to impact all students in a school, not only poor students. Some research suggests school effects could start at concentrations between 25% and 50%. The committee was presented with information on the possible strategies for improvement such as wrap around services and expanded learning programs.

Committee members are reviewing this information and previous presentations covering everything from college readiness to enrollment changes.

Over the next few weeks, they will be using this information to make recommendations for the 2021 Regular Session. They will present their recommendations to House and Senate leadership by November 1.

You can watch all House and Senate Education Committee meetings and review the reports at www.arkansashouse.org. ... See MoreSee Less

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