News & Insights

Teen Health Arkansas launches with new resources for teens, families and communities to support healthy youth development Released February 4, 2026 With the new Teen

“Simply put, Teen Health Arkansas is about having conversations in Arkansas without passing the lives of young people through the lens of adults or legislators,” Hope Crenshaw, PhD, said.

No one said having important health conversations with teenagers was going to be easy, but does it have to be so hard? With Teen Health Arkansas, it doesn’t have to be.

“What we know is that it’s the parent-child connection — or the parent, adult, trusted adult connection — that really pushes youth health outcomes forward in positive, proactive ways,” said Hope Crenshaw said.

In March 2026, KUAF host Kyle Kellams interviewed Teen Health Mississippi and Arkansas Executive Director Hope Crenshaw, PhD, and volunteer Ursula Weems for Ozarks at Large.

SiKia Brown, MPS, joined Teen Health Arkansas (THAR) as deputy director, where she will expand programming, operations and engagement in partnership with teens. Current growth includes hiring new full-time and contract positions, as well as programming scheduled to build health knowledge and skills with teens and the adults who care for them.