Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network-ABHIN

08/14/2026

🎉 Our biggest cohort yet!

ABHIN welcomed 8 new MSW interns for two intensive days of Bootcamp at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock downtown campus—and 90% of this year’s students will be serving rural Arkansas communities!

Students prepared for their medical clinic placements through training in integrated care, psychopharmacology, brief interventions, su***de prevention, data collection, and more. They also left with an ABHIN-developed reference guide and harm reduction and safety resources to support their work with patients.

Thank you to our trainers Kim Shuler, Caitlyn Johnson, Chad Seivers, and Patty Gibson, and to Dr. Lindsay Ruhr, Latisha Young, and Ruth Fissel for their continued support of our students.

This program, along with continued LCSW supervision for previous participants, is made possible by the Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. 💙

We were especially glad to have Rebecca Pitillo with Blue & You join us for the first day of Bootcamp!

We’re excited for the year ahead. More exciting news to come, stay tuned!

08/10/2026

Getting back into a school routine can be tough for adolescents. Between academic pressure, changing schedules, friendships, and everything else they may be carrying, sometimes it helps to talk with someone their own age who understands.

Introducing the AR Teen Connect line, a new resource offering peer support for young people across Arkansas.

Learn more by reaching out to 479 558 9889 via text.

08/04/2026

We are grateful to have the opportunity to hang out with East Arkansas Family Health Center, Inc. for National Health Center Week. Today is patient appreciation day and they sure do love their patients! Stop by if you are in the area to check out the different vendors or just say hi to the friendly staff!

07/20/2026

Our former student, Curtis Harris Jr. PLMSW, was recently featured by The Blue and You Foundation where he shared about his journey to social work and his experience in the MSW BHI internship. Curtis is a great example of hard work and perseverance!

From orphan to medical social worker Jennifer Bridgeman In his youth, Curtis Harris Jr. grew to distrust the social workers he encountered in Michigan’s foster care system. But today, Harris hopes to create a better experience for those in the system and walk with people on their journeys toward b...

07/15/2026

There is something extra special about bringing this work home. We are so excited for Miste Trent, PLMSW, to lead an upcoming SBIRT training in her hometown of Mountain Home and give back to the community that helped shape her.

Miste brings passion, experience, and practical knowledge to every training, and we cannot wait to see her connect with local professionals and strengthen skills in screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment.

Register for this free training, worth 2 CEUs, here: https://www.midsouth.ualr.edu/wconnect/ace/coursestatus.awp?&Course=D26CE018

07/14/2026

We may have missed Chronic Disease Awareness Day on July 10th but in integrated healthcare, chronic conditions are part of the conversation every day.

Integrated care is not limited to treating anxiety or depression. Behavioral health professionals can also support patients managing conditions such as fibromyalgia, hypertension, and obesity by addressing chronic pain, stress, medication adherence, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and other factors that affect long-term health.

When physical and behavioral healthcare work together, patients receive more coordinated support for the whole picture, not just one diagnosis at a time. Thank you to all the medical teams out there taking care of their communities.

07/07/2026

It's going to be a scorcher tomorrow but conversations about youth substance use don't have to be. Come take some of the heat off by joining us for our Youth SBIRT Training in Jonesboro!

https://www.midsouth.ualr.edu/wconnect/ace/CourseStatus.awp?&course=D26CE017

07/04/2026

Wishing you a safe and Happy 4th of July! We would love to see your family celebrating- share with us in the comments!

06/29/2026

Another week, another conference! Thank you to ArSCA for allowing us to be a vendor at the 2026 School Counselor conference and for allowing us to provide the afternoon SBIRT session. Come by and say hi to Caitlyn if you’re here!

06/23/2026

ABHIN is excited to be attending the 2026 Arkansas Prevention Summit as a vendor for the next two days! If you’re around, come by and see Caitlyn for all the upcoming trainings and ABHIN goodies! Thank you to UALR / Midsouth for having us.