Village Public Health

12/27/2025

🚨 Only 2 Days Left to Join the January Cohort 🚨

The ModivCare class is FULL and no longer accepting agents.
Spots are still open for Agero Roadside Assistance, but the window is closing fast.

If you’ve been waiting, this is your sign.
Remote work. Real income. A pathway built for people who need flexibility and stability right now.

🗓 Training starts January 9
⏰ Enrollment closes in 2 days

👉 Visit register.arise.com
👉 Enter Service Partner ID: 88085

If January is your reset season, don’t miss this one.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from Dr. Mumford
and the Village Public Health Family

This season reminds us that health is more than the absence of illness. It's the presence of care, connection, and community. At Village Public Health, we believe prevention begins in everyday moments: checking in, slowing down, creating safe spaces, and choosing compassion for ourselves and one another.

As we gather with loved ones and reflect on the year behind us, may this season bring rest to weary hearts, hope for the days ahead, and renewed commitment to nurturing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

Prevention is not built in emergencies. It is built in moments of care, consistency, and community long before crisis ever arrives.

From our village to yours, may your home be filled with warmth, peace, and intentional wellness this Christmas season.

With gratitude and love,
Dr. Mumford & the Village Public Health Family

Igniting hope. Inspiring possibilities. Instilling confidence.

12/23/2025

🌟 Call Center Opportunity FAQ 🌟

💡 What is this opportunity?
This is a remote call center opportunity where individuals service client programs that support people during real-life moments.

Current projects include
• 🚗 Roadside Assistance helping drivers during breakdowns and emergencies
• 🚑 Medical Transportation Coordination supporting access to healthcare appointments

The work is structured, purposeful, and flexible after training is completed.

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🧠 Who is this for?
This opportunity may be a good fit if you
• ✅ Need flexible work that fits around real life
• 🗂️ Can follow detailed instructions and policies
• 🎧 Communicate calmly with people under stress
• 🏠 Want remote work without commuting
• 👩🏽‍👧‍👦 Are a parent, student, or caregiver
• 💼 Are seeking additional income or stability
• 📈 Are open to learning professional systems and processes

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🚫 Who this may NOT be for
This may not be the best fit if you
• ❌ Need immediate or same-day income
• ❌ Prefer informal or unstructured work
• ❌ Struggle with independent work
• ❌ Cannot maintain a quiet, private workspace
• ❌ Are uncomfortable speaking with people who may be upset or anxious

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🎓 What is the Workforce Pathway Program?
Our Workforce Pathway Program supports high school juniors and seniors and college students who want early exposure to professional work.

Students gain
• 📚 Workforce readiness skills
• 🧠 Communication and customer service experience
• 📄 Résumé-building experience
• 🪜 A clearer understanding of workplace expectations
• 🤝 Guided support through onboarding

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🏫 Can high school students participate?
Yes, through the Workforce Pathway Program if they
• 🧒 Meet age eligibility requirements
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Have parent or guardian awareness
• 🕒 Can meet scheduling expectations
• 🧭 Are ready to show professionalism and accountability

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🎓 Is this good for college students?
Yes. Many college students use this opportunity to
• 📖 Pay for books and fees
• 🏠 Contribute to housing costs
• 🚗 Cover transportation expenses
• 🧠 Reduce stress tied to finances
• 🎓 Stay enrolled and on track

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💻 What equipment is required?
You will need
• 🖥️ Laptop or desktop computer
• 💽 Windows or macOS operating system
• 🌐 High-speed wired internet connection
• 🎧 USB wired headset
• 🔇 Quiet, private workspace

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📋 Are there non-traditional or upfront requirements?
Yes. Transparency matters.

Some client programs may require
• 🧾 A background check paid by the individual
• 📝 Client-specific training and assessments
• 🧪 Simulations or knowledge checks
• ⏳ Completion of onboarding before servicing begins

All requirements are shared before you commit.

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💵 How does training work?
• 🧠 Training is required before servicing
• ⏱️ Length varies by client program
• 💰 Training pay may differ from servicing pay
• 🚀 Full servicing rates begin after training completion

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🧠 Why is preparation emphasized so much?
From a public health perspective
• 🧘🏽‍♀️ Clear expectations reduce stress
• 🛡️ Preparation prevents burnout
• 🤍 Transparency protects people from poor fit

This is about long-term stability, not quick fixes.

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🪜 How do I get started?
• 🌐 Visit register.arise.com
• 🔢 Enter Service Partner ID: 88085
• 📝 Complete onboarding steps
• 📆 Enroll in a training cohort
• 🎧 Prepare your workspace

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🤝 What support is provided?
• 📍 Guidance through onboarding
• 🧭 Help navigating training options
• 🗣️ Clear communication and expectations

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📣 Final Note
This opportunity isn’t for everyone—and that’s okay.

For some, it’s a bridge.
For others, it becomes a foundation.
For many, it creates breathing room.

If you’re ready to prepare, commit, and grow, this pathway may be for you

12/23/2025

12/21/2025

🍱 Public Health in Real Time: A Hibachi Table Lesson

Yesterday I took my littles to the hibachi spot for lunch. They know exactly what they like, even if they don’t yet have all the words to say it. I went in prepared to tip well because the mission was bigger than food.

✨ We were working on:
• 🍽️ Table etiquette
• 🥢 Using chopsticks
• 🌱 Exploring new foods
• 💬 Practicing patience and communication

They ordered their usuals and then asked me to order sushi. That’s where the stretch came in. I ordered what they love and added one new roll, just to see if curiosity would win.
• Phoenix leaned in and tried it ✔️
• Nova was absolutely not interested ❌
• And both responses were okay

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Another family with two older boys joined us. I named the moment right away.
“I want to apologize in advance—we’re learning.”

The mom looked at me and said, “Ours are older, and we’re still learning too.”
She gently coached her boys on:
• 👀 Making eye contact when ordering
• 🙏 Saying thank you when served
• 🍣 Trying something new, at least once

Then she said something that stayed with me:
“You’re safe. There’s no judgment here.”

Her husband laughed and added, “I’m still learning too.”

💛 In that space:
• My kids practiced their chopsticks
• They laughed and talked freely
• They showed up as kids learning how to be in the world

And my heart was full.

🧠 Why This Matters as a Public Health Mama

Public health doesn’t only live in clinics, policies, or data dashboards.
It lives in everyday moments like this.

It lives in:
• How children learn social skills
• How they regulate emotions
• How they practice communication
• How confidence is built safely over time

📚 Evidence shows that:
• Social and emotional learning
• Positive adult modeling
• Psychologically safe environments

are protective factors linked to long-term mental health, academic success, and overall well-being.

🌈 When children are allowed to:
• Try without pressure
• Hesitate without shame
• Say no and be respected
• Observe healthy adult behavior
• Practice in community

their nervous systems stay regulated, and trust grows—in themselves and in others.

🤝 What We Owe Each Other as a Society
• Slow down our judgment
• Widen our grace
• Normalize learning in public
• Model patience over perfection
• Remember that everyone is practicing something

🛡️ Creating spaces where people feel safe to learn is prevention.
It reduces anxiety.
It builds connection.
It strengthens community health in ways no single program ever could.

✨ Yesterday wasn’t just lunch.
It was public health in real time.

12/20/2025

Every little first grade girl should go see Junie B. Jones: Batman Smells.
Not because it’s perfect.
Not because Junie is polished, quiet, or well behaved.
But because she is real.

First grade is such a tender, powerful season of development. It is often the first year girls begin to receive clear social feedback about who they are “supposed” to be. This is where we see the early shaping of confidence, voice, self-expression, and belonging. From a public health lens, this is identity formation in real time.

Junie B. Jones shows up loud, curious, impulsive, imaginative, and unapologetically herself. She asks questions adults don’t always want to answer. She names what feels unfair. She messes up. She tries again. She laughs loudly. She feels deeply. That matters.

So many little girls, especially Black girls, girls who think fast, talk fast, move fast, or feel big feelings, start learning as early as first grade that parts of themselves are “too much.” Too loud. Too silly. Too emotional. Too curious. Too honest. Too different.

Junie disrupts that message.

Watching a first grader see Junie on stage is watching a mirror moment. It tells them, you are not broken because you are expressive. You are not wrong because you feel strongly. You are not bad because you are learning. You are allowed to take up space while you figure yourself out.

From a developmental and mental health perspective, representation like this supports healthy self-concept and emotional literacy. It normalizes mistakes as part of learning, not something to be ashamed of. It reinforces that growth does not require shrinking.

As a public health mama, I’m always watching how environments either nurture or suppress a child’s natural development. Theater like this creates a space where girls recognize and utilize their power without it being named as defiance or disruption. It models joy, resilience, humor, and humanity in ways lectures never could.

And let’s be clear, this isn’t just about entertainment. Exposure to the arts in early childhood is linked to improved emotional regulation, communication skills, empathy, and confidence. It builds language, imagination, and social awareness. These are protective factors. These are health factors.

First grade girls deserve to see characters who are still figuring it out. Who don’t have it all together. Who aren’t rewarded for silence. Who are allowed to be full humans in progress.

So yes, take them to see Junie B. Jones: Batman Smells. Sit beside them. Laugh with them. Watch their faces when they realize they’re allowed to be themselves right now, not later, not when they’re older, not when they’re quieter, but exactly as they are.

That’s prevention.
That’s wellness.
That’s public health in real life.

Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts

12/16/2025

12/15/2025

The door to PINKYED is closing soon.

PINKYED is our exclusive small group created specifically for 12 year old girls who are ready to grow with care, consistency, and community. This is not a drop in program or a large group experience. It is a thoughtfully held circle, and once enrollment closes, the door stays closed so trust and connection can form.

We are closing enrollment soon to honor the integrity of the space and the girls who have already said yes.

Why the name PINKYED

A pinky promise has always meant something serious. It represents trust, honesty, and showing up. PINKYED takes that familiar symbol and turns it into a practice.

Being PINKYED means learning how to keep promises to yourself. Promises to care for your mind and body. Promises to grow even when it feels uncomfortable. Promises to show up with honesty, curiosity, and respect for yourself and others.

Why this space was curated with Black and Brown girls in mind

PINKYED was intentionally designed with Black and Brown girls at the center because research and lived experience show that these girls are often expected to mature faster, navigate adult conversations earlier, and carry emotional weight without adequate space to process or be supported. Too often, their wellness needs are overlooked or addressed only after harm has occurred.

This space was created to offer prevention, affirmation, and culturally responsive care during a critical developmental stage. While PINKYED centers the experiences of Black and Brown girls, girls of all backgrounds who align with the values of care, respect, and growth are welcome in this space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is PINKYED for
PINKYED is designed for 12 year old girls. The age specific focus allows us to meet girls exactly where they are developmentally, socially, and emotionally.

What happens in PINKYED
Girls participate in monthly virtual group sessions, guided reflection, book studies, shared experiences, and a mix of group and individual health coaching. The work centers wellness, self awareness, confidence, and healthy relationships.

Is this therapy
PINKYED is not therapy. It is a prevention first wellness and coaching space facilitated by Village Public Health. The focus is education, reflection, and skill building in a supportive environment.

Does my child have to talk
No. Listening is participation. Girls are encouraged to engage at their comfort level. Over time, trust builds naturally.

Why is enrollment limited
Small groups allow for safety, connection, and consistency. We intentionally cap enrollment so every girl is seen and supported.

What happens when the door closes
Once enrollment closes, we move forward with the group as a committed circle. New participants will be invited during the next opening.

If you have been considering PINKYED for your daughter, now is the time to lean in. This is a beginning, a promise, and a space where girls are reminded that they belong exactly as they are.

12/13/2025

As we move into 2026, I want to share an important shift in how Village Public Health will deliver programming. We are intentionally pivoting from large-scale community events to smaller, cohort-based group experiences.

This decision is rooted in what we have learned through practice, data, and lived experience. While large events create awareness, small groups create connection. Cohort-based spaces allow for consistency, trust-building, deeper dialogue, and individualized support. They give young people the opportunity to be seen, heard, and engaged in ways that are not always possible in large rooms. 💬🤍

Small group cohorts allow us to respond more effectively to developmental needs, group dynamics, and real-time concerns. They support accountability, participation, and relationship-building, which are all protective factors linked to improved mental health, stronger decision-making skills, and increased confidence. From a public health perspective, these environments strengthen prevention by creating space for skill-building before crisis occurs. 🌱🧠

We are currently recruiting for two intentionally designed cohorts: our 8th-grade cohort and our 12-year-old girls cohort. The specificity is purposeful. Early adolescence is a critical developmental window marked by rapid cognitive, emotional, and social changes. Grouping young people by age and developmental stage allows conversations, activities, and skill-building to be relevant, relatable, and responsive to what they are experiencing right now. 🎯👧🏽📘

Age-specific cohorts also create psychological safety. Young people are more likely to participate, share, and practice new skills when they are surrounded by peers navigating similar milestones. This approach supports confidence, healthy identity development, and stronger peer connections while allowing facilitators to tailor content with greater precision. 🫶🏽✨

For families, this shift means clearer expectations and more meaningful communication. For participants, it means belonging to a group that feels safe, consistent, and invested in their growth. For the community, it means deeper impact through focused, relationship-centered prevention work. 🌟🏡

By moving smaller, we are moving deeper. And in doing so, we continue to build a village that shows up for young people with care, clarity, and intention.