Message from the President

Katrina Betancourt, ArCOP President, DHEd, AGM, CPM

On behalf of the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention (ArCOP) family, I am pleased to introduce you to the only statewide obesity coalition working at the grass-roots level to increase access to healthy affordable foods and increase physical activity throughout communities in Arkansas. As of 2015, Arkansas was recognized as the most obese state in the nation. We have a real epidemic and ArCOP has a dedicated and determined team to make a positive change in the lives of all Arkansans. 

Our coalition, with many of our partners, is determined to change the culture of Arkansas through policy, system and environment changes. We provide resources so that a child is able to grow, pick and eat vegetables out of their school garden; an employee has healthy food vending options and is provided breaks for physical activity; families can walk or roll safely down a street; businesses and local government experience a positive economic impact on their community just to name a few. ArCOP strives to make our signature Growing Healthy Communities a healthy place to live, work, play, learn and worship. We welcome all communities in Arkansas to join us in our efforts to make our beautiful state a healthy state.