LITTLE ROCK - According to a new report from Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF), 24.9 percent of Arkansas children, or nearly one in four, are currently living in poverty. Not only do these kids suffer financially, but their situation has lasting implications in a number of areas such as health, education and criminal activity. In essence, child poverty severely limits the potential of a child to grow into a successful, contributing adult, which in turn limits the growth of our state. And in our current economic recession, the problem is only getting worse.

AACF's report, Child Poverty in Arkansas 2010: A Deepening Problem, is the latest piece of a three decades long research project examining the well-being of Arkansas children. Its purpose is to educate the public and policymakers about the extent and causes of child poverty, as well as who it impacts and potential options for reducing it in the long-term. The report finds that in spite of the high rate, Arkansas has made progress. Initiatives such as ARKids First and quality Pre-K expansion have certainly helped stem the tide, however, poverty is a problem that spans generations and therefore cannot be solved in a few short years. It requires a comprehensive approach over the long-term that provides children with the resources and opportunities they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

Years of research have shown that there are successful methods of reducing the impacts of poverty on children, and it is simply a matter of taking action to implement them. Examples of such methods include encouraging quality early education and expanding after school and summer programs to help them gain a stronger foothold on their current and future schoolwork. These solutions have been proven, yet if they are going to have a great impact, they must be made accessible to all Arkansas kids, and when it comes to health insurance, accessibility remains the largest hurdle.

"We've known for quite some time that healthier children do better in school and have much more success in life," said Rich Huddleston, AACF's Executive Director. "We also know that when children have better access to health insurance they are more likely to stay healthy, that's why we must follow through on the promise made during the 2009 Legislative Session to expand ARKids First to those kids who desperately need it."

In addition to enacting solutions that directly benefit children, we must also address their parents. To improve the plight of Arkansas children in poverty, we must create an environment in which parents have the tools and ability to provide for themselves and their children. AACF's report addresses several initiatives aimed at reducing poverty among parents including improved quality childcare, work and income support for parents, adult education, and job training.

"Once a family is in the grips of poverty, it can be nearly impossible to get out," said Kim Reeve, AACF Senior Policy Analyst and report author. "Not having access to quality childcare means lost work time, little education or job training means they will likely remain in low-paying, benefit poor jobs, and unfair tax systems that are disproportionally weighted against the working poor means that there is very little, if any money left over at the end of the month. As the saying goes: you can't lift yourself up by your bootstraps if you don't have any bootstraps. This is why we must work to not only bring kids, but also their families, out of the grip of poverty."

"It is our hope that the Arkansas Legislative Taskforce on Reducing Poverty and Promoting Economic Opportunity will make children and child poverty a high priority in the plan they present Governor Beebe and the Legislature in November," said Huddleston.

AACF's report can be viewed by clicking here.