Village Public Health

02/05/2026

We asked a big question today…
What do you feel is the leading cause of young people struggling right now?

Is it pressure? Lack of safe spaces? Mental health support? Social media? Something deeper? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer and that’s exactly why prevention conversations matter.

Join the conversation and meet up in the comments share your thoughts. Your voice helps shape how we show up for youth, families, and communities through Vibe Safe.

02/05/2026

Vibe Safe Series: Inside Scoop 🧬 | Where We've Been

Prevention doesn’t stay in one place, it shows up in schools, community spaces, and youth programs across Arkansas.

Through the Vibe Check Tour, Village Public Health brought real conversations about healthy relationships, emotional wellness, and decision-making directly to the communities that needed it most. From Pulaski County to Independence County and beyond, every stop represents young people gaining tools, language, and support before crisis ever begins.

This is what prevention looks like in action, meeting youth where they are and building safer, stronger communities together.

Want Vibe Check to visit your school or organization?
Let’s start the conversation.

02/02/2026

Big thanks to

Gena Reavis - Trumble

for all your support! Congrats for being top fans on a streak 🔥!

02/02/2026

January Was for Manifesting. February Is for Building.

January was about vision, alignment, and planting seeds. It was about conversations, clarity, courage, and commitment.

And now, we’ve signed the partnership agreement.

That matters.

Because signed agreements represent more than paperwork. They represent alignment, trust, shared vision, and readiness to build.

January asked what are we building, who are we building with, and what impact are we committed to creating.

February answers now we build.

This month is about structure, systems, strategy, consistency, and implementation.

The quiet work. The focused work. The foundational work.

Not flashy. Not loud. But powerful.

Because sustainable impact is never rushed. It is constructed with care.

Stepping into February with gratitude for January’s clarity and excitement for what’s ahead. The vision is clear. The partnerships are aligned. The pathway is set.

Now it’s time to move intentionally and build boldly.

January, thank you for the vision. February, let’s build. ✨

01/30/2026

Vibe Safe Series: Inside Scoop 🧬 | Why It Matters

Let's talk about why this matters most in your community.

Prevention doesn’t start after a crisis. It starts before pressure, before misinformation, and before young people are forced to figure things out on their own.

Vibe Safe creates space for honest conversations about safety, boundaries, mental health, and decision-making in real time, not after harm has already happened. It equips youth with language, confidence, and tools they can actually use, and it brings parents, schools, and communities into the process instead of leaving them on the sidelines.

When young people are informed, supported, and heard early, outcomes change. Risk decreases. Confidence increases. And communities become safer, healthier places to grow.

This is prevention in action.
This is Vibe Safe.

Learn more at www.villagepublichealth.org/vibesafe
Share with someone who needs this.

01/29/2026

Your mental and emotional wellness matters just as much as your physical health. Checking in with yourself is not weakness. It is wisdom.

Mental Health America offers a free, confidential youth mental health screening tool that helps young people reflect on how they’re feeling and identify when extra support might be helpful. It only takes a few minutes, and it can open the door to clarity, understanding, and connection.

🧠 What this screening can support
• Emotional awareness
• Early identification of stress, anxiety, and depression
• Encouraging help-seeking behavior
• Building healthy coping strategies

💻 Take the youth screening here
https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/youth/?ref=citizens

For parents, caregivers, educators, and mentors, this is a powerful tool to share with the young people in your life. Creating spaces where youth feel safe to reflect, speak, and seek support is prevention in action.

Let’s continue building environments where young people feel seen, heard, and supported — today and always. 💛

The Youth Test is for young people (age 11-17) who are concerned that their emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

01/28/2026

👟 Miles of Impact: Shoe Fundraiser 👟

Our young people are leading with heart, purpose, and service — and I absolutely love to see it 💜💚

Little Rock Southwest High School is collecting 1,250 pairs of gently used shoes to support communities in need across the globe. Every pair donated helps fund their next community service project and reminds students that their actions truly matter.

✨ What I love most is that students will also vote on the organization they support, building leadership, compassion, and ownership in the process. This is what youth-centered service looks like.

📅 January 12 – March 9, 2026

If you would like to help, you can also deliver shoes directly to my office, and we’ll make sure they get to the students.

This is a beautiful reminder that small acts, when multiplied, create real impact. Let’s show our young people what community looks like in action 🤍

01/26/2026

Good bye to Winter Storm Fern and hello to the first event of the year at the Living Room Wellness Resource Center for 2026! Get ready for their "Love and Happiness Reloaded," activity featuring info, education, food, fun and games.

Plus wear your best "cupid look," and you might win a super swag bag from Arkansas RAPPS! I'm also excited that proceeds from this event will go to support our new House of Love project. Its so critical that we sow into efforts that will have a maximum impact in our community.

Of course you don't have to wait until then, you can make a donation at www.arrapps.org

01/26/2026

✨ PEP & PrEP: What Every Parent Should Know

When it comes to HIV prevention, science has given us powerful tools that many families still do not know about. Two of the most important are PEP and PrEP. Understanding them does not mean you expect risk. It means you are prepared, informed, and ready to support your child if they ever need it.

⸻

💊 What is PEP? (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)

PEP is emergency medication taken after a possible exposure to HIV.

Key things parents should know:
• PEP must be started within 72 hours of potential exposure. The sooner, the better
• It is taken daily for 28 days
• It can prevent HIV from taking hold in the body when started quickly
• It is available through emergency rooms, urgent care centers, some clinics, and health departments

When is PEP used?
• Sexual exposure without protection
• Sexual assault
• Condom failure
• Needle exposure
• Any situation where HIV exposure is possible

PEP is not something to be afraid of. It is a medical safety net designed to protect health, dignity, and future wellness.

⸻

🛡️ What is PrEP? (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)

PrEP is daily medication taken before exposure to prevent HIV.

Key things parents should know:
• When taken consistently, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by over 99% from sexual exposure
• It is safe for adolescents and adults
• It requires routine medical follow-ups and lab work
• It supports long-term prevention and protection

Who might benefit from PrEP?
• Sexually active teens and young adults
• LGBTQ+ youth
• Youth in communities with higher HIV rates
• Youth navigating new relationships
• Young people who may not always be able to control circumstances

PrEP is not about fear. It is about foresight, safety, and long-term wellness.

⸻

🧠 What Parents Often Worry About

Many parents fear that talking about PrEP or PEP will encourage risky behavior. Research shows the opposite.

Evidence tells us:
• Honest conversations increase responsible decision-making
• Youth who feel supported communicate sooner when they need help
• Prevention education builds health literacy, confidence, and self-awareness

Talking about PEP and PrEP does not change values. It strengthens safety.

⸻

❤️ Why These Conversations Matter

When young people know:
• What to do
• Where to go
• Who to trust

They move from panic to action, from fear to clarity, from silence to communication.

And that saves lives.

⸻

🧩 How Parents Can Start the Conversation

Here are simple ways to open the door:

• “I want you to always feel safe coming to me, no matter what.”
• “There are medications that can protect your health if something unexpected ever happens.”
• “If you or a friend ever need help fast, I want you to know what to do.”
• “We may not talk about this every day, but I want you to know I’m always in your corner.”

These conversations do not have to be heavy. They just have to be honest, loving, and ongoing.

⸻

🌱 The Bigger Picture

PEP and PrEP are part of a public health approach that centers prevention, compassion, and dignity.

They allow us to:
• Reduce HIV transmission
• Protect young lives
• Support informed decision-making
• Normalize proactive health care
• Build trust between parents and youth

This is what prevention looks like in real life.

⸻

✨ Parents

Preparing your child does not mean expecting harm.
It means creating safety, clarity, and peace of mind.

When families lead with information, care, and communication, young people learn to protect their health, their future, and their purpose.

And that is always a win. 💛

If you want resources, clinics, or youth-friendly education tools, I’m here. Let’s continue building spaces where young people recognize and utilize their power through knowledge, care, and community.

01/23/2026

Vibe Safe Series: Inside Scoop 🧬 | Who is Vibe Safe For?

Prevention doesn’t start in a crisis.
It starts in the conversations we choose to have before one ever happens. This initiative is about equipping youth, families, schools, and communities with the tools, language, and confidence to navigate real-life situations with clarity and care, not fear, silence, or shame.

When we invest in prevention:
✅ Families feel empowered
✅ Schools gain trusted support
✅ Communities grow stronger
✅ Young people are safer

If your organization is serious about prevention, education, and community care, Vibe Safe belongs in your programming.

Available for schools, churches, youth programs, and organizations across Arkansas and beyond
Learn more or request a visit: www.villagepublichealth.org/vibesafe