The Arkansas Department of Health is closing its Office of Health Disparities Elimination, which specialized in disease prevention and health education for underserved populations, including non-native English speakers, and laying off 30 employees. The shutdown is scheduled to go into full force on November 1.
Meg Mirivel, a health department spokesman, told the Arkansas Times that the layoffs are a part of a larger restructuring effort to better match our resources with the agency’s financial priorities and long-term goals. On August 5, the department informed the impacted staff. Those workers will remain on duty until November 1.
Among the 30 layoffs are:
- Thirteen from Hometown Health Support Services, which supports positive health outcomes in local communities by administering grants and through education and outreach
- Eight from Public Health Emergency Preparedness
- All six in the Office of Health Disparities Elimination
- Three in the Office of Performance, Management, Quality Improvement and Evaluation
During this 90-day transitional period and for up to 12 months after separation, employees affected by the reduction will be eligible for special employment consideration for other posts within the state government, according to Mirivel. We’re determined to help them get through this change.
Mirivel stated that in order to better match resources with agency priorities, the department is reorganizing and simplifying the Office of Performance Management, Quality Improvement, and Evaluation into a new Office of Evaluation Services. Additionally, the health disparities office is being eliminated.
Mirivel stated that the effort will go on even though the state is closing an office that was created to safeguard the health of underprivileged individuals.
Through its ongoing initiatives and the ongoing efforts of the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, ADH is dedicated to addressing communities that experience a disproportionate burden of disease and unfavorable health outcomes, Mirivel stated.
It’s unclear if the layoffs are connected to the new state employee pay plan that Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders unveiled last year. The plan, which costs about $142.7 million pulled from various pots of state funds, went into effect at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. According to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety website, it includes an average raise of 20.7% for Arkansas State Police, raising the starting wage for an ASP recruit to $67,675.
In a July 18 tweet, Sanders emphasized the 20.7% rise and the average raise for correctional officers of 38.9%.
We are keeping our pledge to support those who protect Arkansas safe.
Arkansas workers receive the rise they deserve under this wage proposal.Twitter: pic.twitter.com/8aqnxMKcN6
July 18, 2025, Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee)
The new pay plan will also result in significant, albeit modest, wage increases for nurses and state social services workers.
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