E.I.T.C. Spells LOVE for Kids and Families in Arkansas

Many people in our state work at low-paying jobs. Arkansans who work hard for little money pay a much higher share of their income to state and local taxes compared to the wealthiest. That’s not the way it should be. Fortunately, there is a great option for Arkansas (just ask the 29 other states that are already […]

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Winning the Race to Coverage: Two Decades of Progress on Kids’ Health in Arkansas

The annual Finish Line report provides a look at the status of health coverage for Arkansas children and their families. The report unveils key data on the progress we’ve made over the years and recommends additional solutions to ensure every child in Arkansas has a healthy start. This past year marked a significant milestone in children’s health […]

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2018 Voters’ Guide

This November, Arkansas voters will elect candidates to important public offices, including seats in the U.S. Congress and the Arkansas General Assembly. The winners of these elections will be in a unique position to make public policy that will impact the future well-being and success of Arkansas’s children and families. Making children our top priority […]

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What Do Our Littlest Learners Need to Be School-Ready?

When do children begin to learn? Believe it or not, school readiness begins in the womb. Decades of research show the first few years of life, including the prenatal months, are the most important for healthy brain development and success in school. Unfortunately, too many of our kids aren’t getting the boost they need for […]

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Unemployment Insurance Pays Off

The Arkansas legislature has repeatedly reduced the amount of unemployment insurance available to Arkansas workers, lowering both the duration of coverage and the dollar amount of benefits. This puts us well below national averages for unemployment benefits, and puts families and our economy at risk. This might not seem like a big problem given our current […]

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Watch this video to find out more about AACF

Find out more about Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families by watching this brief video. In it, we talk about our history, our work, and what has made Advocates what it is today.

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Arkansas Advocates’ Statement Opposing Issue 1

October 11, 2018

Even if an upcoming Arkansas Supreme Court ruling keeps Issue 1 off the November ballot, it’s doubtful this issue will be going away anytime soon. We will see future efforts to pass so-called “tort reform,” just as we will...

Children Would Suffer Under Proposed Federal Rule

October 10, 2018

It’s time to chime in with your comments on a federal policy change that would negatively affect many of Arkansas’s children. The Trump administration wants to change the federal policy under which immigrants are deemed a “public charge.” The unintended...

AACF Seeks Health Policy Director

October 5, 2018

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a nonprofit advocacy organization in Little Rock, is looking for a driven individual to lead our efforts to improve health care coverage, access, and quality for Arkansas’s low and middle-income children and families....

Arkansas Missing Opportunities for Young Parents and Their Kids

September 25, 2018

New Casey Foundation report illuminates needs and barriers facing Arkansas’s young parents and their children LITTLE ROCK — With limited access to opportunities to advance their education and find family-sustaining jobs, Arkansas’s 34,000 young adult parents face hurdles...

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Reducing Chronic Absenteeism for Children in Foster Care and FINS

September 17, 2018

Too many children in Arkansas are missing too much school to make academic progress. In 2014-15, 13 percent of K-12 students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 18 or more days of school (or 10 percent of the school...

Child Poverty in Northwest Arkansas: Policy Solutions to Build a Stronger Community

September 13, 2018

Statewide, many people think of Northwest Arkansas as a place where poverty is rare, where families and communities thrive in a booming economy. But as our updated Northwest Arkansas Child Poverty report explains, thousands of families struggle to get...

Breaking Down the Barriers for Arkansas’s Black Men and Boys: Part III (education)

August 1, 2018

As we’ve demonstrated over the past few months with the release of our data snapshot series, black men and boys in Arkansas encounter significant barriers. They face a higher rate of infant mortality, child poverty, and incarceration than their...

Infographic: A How-To for Reporting Work Activities and Exemptions in Arkansas Works

July 10, 2018

In June 2018, Arkansas became the first state to officially implement a requirement to work in a Medicaid expansion program – known here in Arkansas as Arkansas Works. Some Arkansas Works enrollees began reporting work activities or exemptions in June....

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