Meet the Members

Karen Baker

Karen Baker is a mother to three adult children and a grandmother of two. She lives in North Little Rock (Area Six). Karen earned an associate’s degree in accounting from Pulaski Technical College and a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Phoenix University.

Despite being legally blind, Karen says reading is her top hobby.

She accepted an invitation to join the Medicaid Client Voice Council because she wants to improve Medicaid policies and programs.   Karen has guardianship of two nieces who utilize Medicaid services, making her involvement with the Council very personal

Jacqueline Bettis

Jacqueline Bettis is a graduate of UA-Fayetteville and has a deep love for northwest Arkansas, but she now calls Little Rock (Area Six) home. In addition to earning degrees from both the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville and the University of Central Arkansas, she is also a former Ms. Arkansas Wheelchair. Jacqueline’s most recent accomplishment was being named self-advocate of the year for Arkansas. Her hobbies include art, writing, outdoor events, and adaptive water sports. Medicaid-funded programs have helped her achieve many life goals and maintain her independence.

Amanda Clark

Amanda Clark serves as a family resource navigator for a children’s therapy team in Fayetteville (Area One). She and her husband Jimmie have three adult children. All three are in their mid-twenties, were adopted from Ukraine, and have cerebral palsy. Amanda earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Missouri Southern State University. For fun she enjoys long walks, watercolor, reading, and spending time with her family. Both her career and her family have taught her a lot about Medicaid programs. She hopes to use that knowledge to help improve the system.

Amy Cobb

Amy Cobb and her five children call the city of Malvern (Area Four) home. Amy’s 26-year career working with individuals with disabilities (most recently with Empower Healthcare Solutions) serves her well as she advocates for her own kids. All of them were adopted from foster care or special needs adoption agencies, and all of them have challenges like autism, epilepsy, intellectual delays, traumatic brain injury, and/or partial blindness. Amy earned a doctorate degree from Mississippi State University in clinical counseling and has a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.   

Shannon Long

Shannon Long spoke before the Medicaid Client Voice Council in 2024 and later decided to apply to join. Shannon shares a home in Conway (Area Three) with her husband and their dog and two cats. She is employed by Sources, Inc. and enjoys helping people who receive SSI and SSDI understand their employment options. When she’s not spoiling her nephew, she enjoys spending time outdoors and finding new places to eat (she’s a huge foodie!). She has earned degrees from both the University of Central Arkansas (BS Sociology) and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (MA Rehabilitation Counseling).

Kathryn May

A Sherwood native, Kathryn May and her husband now call Hot Springs (Area Four) home. They have two sets of twins (ages 18 and 22), and three of them are diagnosed with autism, so Kathryn is a full-time stay at home mom. She will be able to serve on the Council with the support of her mother keeping grandchildren on schedule. Kathryn has an associate’s degree from UA-Pulaski Tech, and she looks forward to learning more about adult Medicaid services. Her hobbies include watching TV, listening to music and podcasts, reading, and prioritizing the needs of her family.

Jennifer Prunty

Jennifer Prunty lives in Jonesboro (Area 2), where she is working on her master’s degree in healthcare administration. While she currently works with autistic children, she has partnered with DHS a couple of times in the past. Jennifer worked as a Senior Outreach Counselor for the elderly and people with disabilities. She has also served on the DCFS Parent Advisory Board. Jennifer has a beautiful 11-year-old son, who she calls “my strength.” They enjoy traveling to historic areas and learning about those places together.

Noel Rodriguez

Noel Rodriguez and his family live in Springdale (Area One). Noel has some vocational training and is a young man in search of employment. In the meantime, he takes advantage of public speaking opportunities. You might find Noel enjoying one of his many hobbies, like bike riding, making friends, drinking coffee, and spending time with his family. Noel is an advocate for the disabled, particularly for the rights of waiver recipients. Noel believes that the quality of life for people who are disabled increases as their independence increases. That is why he is a big supporter of home and community-based services

Corrie Rowe

Corrie Rowe, a native Arkansan, lives in Cabot (Area Three) with her husband, their two children, and two rescue dogs. Their oldest son is autistic, and they have more than a decade of experience utilizing Medicaid/TEFRA. His needs inspired Corrie to return to school at the University of Central Arkansas and earn her master’s in occupational therapy. Corrie enjoys puzzles, crafts, and is an avid reader (she knocked out 127 books in 2024). And, with her son’s help, she knows all the songs from the series Yo Gabba Gabba!

Gerelisa Swanigan

Gerelisa Swanigan lives in Brinkley (Area 5), where she is an elected school board member, active community leader, and most importantly she’s a devoted mother of four.

Gerelisa founded “Designed to Serve,” a youth and family service agency that provides services like mentoring, workforce development, life skills training, and judicial diversion. As if that weren’t enough, she is also a member of the Brinkley Chamber of Commerce.

Driven by faith, purpose, and a deep love for her community, Gerelisa continues to be a voice for progress, a bridge for opportunity, and a light for those in need.

Lakeshia Swanigan

Lakeshia Swanigan is a Brinkley native but has called Little Rock (Area Six) home for nearly two decades. She attended East Arkansas Community College and is the proud mother of three beautiful children. Lakeshia is an Administrative Specialist at the Arkansas Post-Prison Transfer Board. She enjoys spending time with her children, traveling, taking nature walks, thrifting, painting, and baking. Lakeshia is dedicated to advocating for equitable healthcare access. Having utilized and benefited from Medicaid-funded services, she is eager to work with the MCVC to improve programs and services for all Arkansans in need.

Janette Williams-Smith

Janette Williams-Smith is a licensed social worker who has deep roots in Little Rock but presently resides in Cabot (Area Three). Janette holds a Bachelor of Science in Education (Special Education) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She and her husband, Leroy Smith, are the parents of adult twin sons who rely on Medicaid and Medicaid waiver services. Janette has devoted her career to public service and advocacy, helping individuals and families navigate complex systems of care.  

Jennifer Yeager

Jennifer Yeager hails from Gentry (Area One), where she is a single parent to a teenage daughter and a pre-teen son. Over the years, the trio has welcomed many foster children into their homes…kids with different abilities. Three adults with special needs have also lived with the Yeager family, so Jennifer says she is quite familiar with waiver programs. With a degree in kinesiology and a master’s in special education P-12, Jennifer is a highly qualified teacher of both middle and high schoolers. The Yeagers love sports and racing, so get in their way at your own risk!