Full-Tuition Nursing Scholarships Awarded to Baptist Health Employees in 2022

A nursing scholarship program that started in Dallas five years ago to reward current health care employees with a full ride to nursing school expanded to Arkansas in 2022—and Baptist Health employees were the first in the state with the chance to attend nursing school with tuition paid and advance their careers in health care.

Called the Reach for the Stars nursing scholarship program, it awarded Baptist Health employees who want to pursue a career in nursing with full scholarships including tuition, books, and reimbursement for a stethoscope, two pairs of shoes, and three uniforms!

The Reach for the Stars program was established with the sole intent to assist those already working in health care to become registered nurses and help to provide the means for more people to become part of the essential resource of nursing for communities and health care systems.

The Reach for the Stars scholarship program at Baptist Health was fully funded by an anonymous donor through the Baptist Health Foundation.

The scholarship program aims to reach people already working in health care with the idea that the program success rates would be higher because the recipients would largely already understand the true scope of the nursing profession.

In addition to the Reach for the Stars scholarship to help Baptist Health employees reach their career goals in nursing and other health care professions, Baptist Health College Little Rock implemented additional initiatives that included a 25 percent discount for spouses and children of employees and a $1,500 Baptist Health Workforce Grant.

Here is what some Baptist Health employees had to say after being awarded these amazing full-tuition nursing scholarships…

“This scholarship means the world to me and my family. It’s going to change all of our lives for the better. I could not be any more grateful for this opportunity given to me by Baptist Health! I cannot wait until I become an RN! Thank you, Baptist Health!”

“This scholarship will allow me to prove to my children that you can do anything you set your mind to! I cannot wait to show them just what their momma can do! My family and I thank Baptist Health from the bottom of our hearts for allowing me to further my education for the better. RN here I come!”

“Receiving this scholarship lets me know that dreams do come true. This scholarship will help to reduce the debt that I have already accrued in my pursuit of obtaining a degree. It’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders and has really allowed me to put more focus on my studies as opposed to how I will be paying for it! This opportunity will not be in vain! I am forever GRATEFUL!”

Employee Assistance Program Helps Through Stressful Times of Health Care

The COVID-19 pandemic was difficult on everyone—and was especially difficult to the health care heroes there to serve people in their times of need. But in times of crisis and all the stresses for health care even on normal days, sometimes employees could use a little extra help making it through.

That’s where Baptist Health’s employee assistance program comes in.

SWEAP Connections, the employee assistance program that has partnered with Baptist Health, strives to improve the well-being of Baptist Health employees by helping them and their families stay connected to resources that support them and manage the changes and stress that come with life.

As Baptist Health has grown, SWEAP has also grown to adapt and innovate to meet the organization and employee needs in new ways.

SWEAP has developed programs to specifically address needs within the system (such as group coaching, targeted department analysis, and virtual rounding programs).

For employees, SWEAP provides access to short-term counseling, coaching, and expert behavioral health services. Help is easy to access, free, and completely confidential. Employees have access to up to four free sessions per person, per issue, per year that includes counseling with a licensed therapist.

For managers and supervisors, SWEAP Connections provides additional services and support including confidential consultations for handling employee issues and conflict; supervisor training in leadership, working with employee issues, and new manager training and self-paced online courses for building management skills and knowledge.

Drive-Thru Food Pantry Helping Employees With Food Insecurity

Baptist Health’s Community Outreach team piloted a new food pantry in 2022 specifically for employees who may be in need.

The drive-thru food pantry allowed Baptist Health employees in need of food to pick up groceries on select days of the month.

The food pantry for employees is an extension of the Community Outreach team’s Food Rx program that started nearly two years ago to assist patients facing food insecurity issues upon discharge.

Food-insecure households strive to eliminate hunger but due to a lack of finances and resources are unable to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

While food insecurity is typically associated with lower income, it can affect households with a range of economic backgrounds due to other factors such as older age, disability, and other social conditions.

Arkansas has the second-worst overall food insecurity rate in the nation with 17 percent of the state’s population facing hunger and food insecurity issues.

Diversity and Inclusion Efforts Continue

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace— especially in health care—has been a focus of organizations across the country in the last several years, and Baptist Health’s diversity and inclusion committee that launched in 2021 continued its work in 2022 communicating to employees across the system and asking them to join in the conversation through a survey.

The goal of the diversity and inclusion initiative is to develop a culture of trust that builds on basic fundamentals of inclusion including respect, belonging, recognition, and personal development.

Baptist Health wants every single employee to feel respected, valued, and seen for who they are so that they can do their best work both individually and collectively.

Working in an environment that promotes diversity and inclusion results in employees being happier to be at work, which in turn helps them do their best work and makes their work teams stronger.

Having a diverse workforce with varied skills, experiences, and knowledge increases innovation and fosters creative ideas. Employees also feel more comfortable sharing those ideas in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Employee diversity and inclusion are also essential in Baptist Health’s mission to serve all communities of people with varied backgrounds and cultures.

Supporting the Healing Ministry in 2022

Our Mission

Driven By Purpose, Led By Compassion

Baptist Health Foundation was established almost 60 years ago to provide financial support to advance the healing ministry of Baptist Health. We strategically strive to connect philanthropy to purpose and strengthen Baptist Health’s ability to provide lifesaving care.

Our Philanthropic Partnerships

We cannot achieve our mission alone… Charitable contributors join Baptist Health’s calling to give Compassionate Care to those who are not able to afford life-changing care.

Dedicated donors help Baptist Health deliver Comprehensive Care for the changing health care needs of our state.

Philanthropic partners invest in Baptist Health’s vision to cultivate Committed Caregivers for our community.

Our 2022 Philanthropic Priorities

In collaboration with Baptist Health leadership, the Foundation chose philanthropic priorities to help advance transformative goals across our health system.

COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR OUR SENIORS | OLDER ADULT CARE

Driven to Change the Lives of Seniors

The Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a comprehensive care model that enables seniors to live as independently as possible in their own homes. These individuals must be age 55 and over and certified by the state as eligible for nursing-home level of care. Baptist Health PACE currently meets this need for about 3% of the eligible Arkansans in our four-county service area.

Utilizing interdisciplinary teams to meet both medical and non-medical needs, PACE ensures better care, safety, and dignity for seniors allowing them to remain in their home environment as long as possible.

While Baptist Health is serving nearly 100 participants in the PACE program, there are many more that need our services. More than 4,000 individuals are eligible in our service area and yet we are not currently able to meet their needs.

The national average is 10% participation within a community, and we want to meet that average as soon as possible. Over the next five years, our goal will be reached by expanding to two Baptist Health PACE centers, increasing our ability to serve our elderly Arkansans.

The Foundation has been seeking contributions to advance Baptist Health’s goal to offer compassionate care to more participants so more seniors can live safely with dignity and joy.

COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR OUR FAMILIES | WOMEN & CHILDREN’S HEALTH

Driven to Deliver Healthy Babies

Baptist Health is the leader in quality comprehensive obstetrics (OB) services to Central Arkansas and outlying areas. For many years, Baptist Health has delivered more babies than any other hospital in the state. A number of health care systems in the state have discontinued deliveries creating a greater need to expand Baptist Health’s maternal and infant services. Baptist Health is delivering more than 7,000 babies each year in six of our medical centers.

We are delivering more babies than other hospitals by a 30% margin and more than 30% are on Medicaid, under insured, or uninsured.

With Arkansas ranking 49th in infant mortality and ranking 39th in adequate health care during pregnancy, we need to do even more.

Our NICU currently only has 55 beds for babies, but we typically need 68 to 72. Renovating our existing space will allow 80 infants and their families to bond in a private, family-focused setting.

The Foundation has been working to secure donations to help our healing ministry provide comprehensive care through expanding our services for expectant mothers and adding NICU beds for babies. We need to ensure more mothers and infants live healthy lives, including those in undeserved communities.

COMMITTED CAREGIVERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY | BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Driven to Improve Behavioral Health in Arkansas

Arkansas ranks 46th in the nation for the availability of inpatient beds for psychiatric patients. Where the national standard is 50 beds per 100,000 people, Arkansas only has 7.5. More than 150,000 Arkansans are suffering from serious mental illness and less than 50% are receiving treatment.

Baptist Health is increasing its capacity to provide both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services to care for people within their communities and bring additional practitioners to Arkansas. We provide mental health care for anyone, regardless of their ability to pay or the severity of their mental health needs. Behavioral health services are provided in eight Baptist Health locations. With increased capacity, Baptist Health will provide pediatric psychiatric outpatient care.

The Foundation has been pursuing partners to join our efforts to address the shortage in psychiatric physicians in Arkansas. Together, we must invest in training and cultivating committed caregivers to provide hope and healing to Arkansans throughout the state.