Prairie Grove—At a press conference today, Health Department Director Dr. Fay Boozman announced the formation of a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) for Prairie Grove, Arkansas. 

The CAP is a group of volunteer residents that represents the community as a whole and is a forum for open dialogue about issues of mutual interest concerning the cancer investigation in the Prairie Grove area.  All CAP members are equal, and consensus is the method of operation.  The success of the CAP will depend on the commitment and participation of all its members.  

The CAP will assist the health department by sharing community concerns and health information.  The health department will assist the CAP and the community in understanding the health, environmental and technical information affecting the investigation.  The CAP will usually meet once a month—but meetings may be more or less often, as needed.  Meetings will generally last 1-3 hours.  The health department cannot pay members for participating.  All CAP meetings are open to the public, and everyone who comes to meetings will have an opportunity to speak.  Rick Johnson, Washington County Health Unit Administrator, will be the Arkansas Department of Health liaison to the CAP.

The health department is soliciting volunteers who:

###