Arkansas health department to lay off dozens of workers, eliminate unfilled positions

The Arkansas Department of Health will lay off more than three dozen people and eliminate unfilled positions in November, a spokesperson confirmed on Monday.

In total, 71 positions within the 2,100-person department will be eliminated. Thirty-eight of those positions are currently filled, while the rest are unfilled.

The reduction in force will align the department’s resources with “budget priorities and long-term goals,” said department spokesperson Sarah Morris in a statement.

The health department is responsible for programs such as food safety inspections at restaurants and illness surveillance. It is also in charge of issuing birth certificates and licensing healthcare professionals.

The reduction will go into effect on Nov. 1 and will affect various divisions within the department. Morris said the reductions won’t affect services offered by its health units or other department services. The Division of Health Advancement will lose the most people, with 14 filled positions set to be eliminated.

Eliminated positions

• Office of Administration — Eight filled positions and five vacant positions eliminated
• Division of Health Advancement — 14 filled, two vacant
• Division of Health Protection — Six filled, five vacant
• Division of Public Health Practice — Eight filled and nine vacant
• Division of Local Public Health — Two filled and 10 vacant
• Public Health Laboratory — Two vacant