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Community
Support & Advisory Committees
 Community support is vital to the success of each Center on Aging. Thus far, the concept of a facility which offers comprehensive care to Seniors has been widely accepted and eagerly anticipated in the participating Arkansas communities. It is this support which enables the Arkansas Aging Initiative to grow and be of value to older rural Arkansans. Each committee is comprised of local leaders who have a special interest in the care of older persons.
Since its inception, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging has received marvelous support from a Statewide Community Advisory Committee. Members on this Committee are recognized leaders throughout the state of Arkansas. Dedicated to promoting the programs of the Institute, a sub-Committee for outreach has been established and is chaired by Jo Ellen Ford.
Realizing the necessity for each of the regions of the Arkansas Aging Initiative to have a community advisory committee, this sub-committee has worked closely with each regional center to establish their own Community Advisory Committee.
Specific objectives of the Regional Community Advisory Committee include:
- Fund-raising to assist with program development and construction/remodeling of an appropriate building to house each Center
- Formulation of strategies to expand public awareness about each Center
- Assistance with obtaining local and regional program support
To date, the following Regional Advisory Committees and their leadership have been developed.
- Center on Aging-North East - Jonesboro has an operational committee and is chaired by Kevin Hodges. This committee will work in close contact with the director of Development at St. Bernard's as they have made the COA-NE their highest priority for fund-raising.
- South Arkansas Center on Aging - El Dorado has one of the oldest established advisory committee and is chaired by Martha Murphy.
- South Central Center on Arkansas - Pine Bluff is in the process of forming a committee and Mrs Ann White has agreed to be the chair. It is a new committee and will soon begin to meet on a regular basis.
- Delta COA - due to the newness of this site, a committee has not been formed but is anticipated during early 2007.
- Texarkana Regional Center on Aging - Texarkana has a large committee in place that has recently been reactivated. Dr. Martin is the Chair, and Judge Carol Dalby is the Co-Chair.
- West Central Center on Aging - Fort Smith has an active committee with Jeannie Parham as chair. The first meeting was held in Jan. 2006 and the goal is to appoint 10 members initially.
- Schmieding Center - The Schmieding Center at Springdale is in the process of selecting a Chair and Committee members.
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