AACF News Feed

Is it Time for an Arkansas Student Bill of Rights?

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:10:42 -0500

We think so. Check out the K-12 Education section (under "Issues") for take a look at the AR Voices blog to find out more.

What Do You Get for Paying In?

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:16:44 -0500

Nobody likes paying taxes. But our tax dollars fund important public services like schools, roads and highways, police protection, and a ton of other things we take for granted.

Take a look at our series on what you're getting for your tax dollars. We talk about Head Start early education programs, police protection, and public safety.

Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:05:37 -0500

Over 200,000 people in Arkansas are considered alcohol or drug dependent. Eighty percent of those suffering from addiction can't get access to treatment or recovery services. This creates huge costs down the road. What's being done about this in our state? Paul Kelly authored this report.

The Affordable Care Act is Working

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:12:24 -0500

It's been two years since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. We've got lots of good info on our AR Voices blog, including an interview with Clinton School of Public Service student Marc Peters on how the law has improved his life.

Child Poverty Rate Shows Slow, Steady Rise

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:32:07 -0500

New figures on child poverty compiled by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families show a disturbing upward trend that is likely to continue as our economy slowly recovers. The child poverty rate in Arkansas now stands at 26.8 percent, a number that is significantly higher than the national average of 20.1 percent.

According to the report, the "2012 Arkansas Child Poverty Update," the child poverty rate in Arkansas has grown by over two percent during the past ten years for which data is available. The economic well-being of our children is an important issue for obvious reasons, but child poverty has both short- and long-term impacts that are less apparent (i.e. it can create significant costs to our health and criminal justice systems and negatively impact the economy).

The data show minority children are much more likely to live in poverty, as are children from single-parent households. Children whose parents have a lower level of education are also at risk. The recession has also increased the number of children living in poverty.

"The numbers are bit discouraging," says AACF executive director Rich Huddleston. "Ideally, no child would live in poverty. The good news is that Arkansas has begun to make some public investments in our children that have the potential to reduce level of child poverty over time and those are things the state needs to continue to invest in. This really is an issue that affects all of us."

Poverty has both short- and long-term effects on children. Those who grow up in low-income families tend to be less healthy and also have a higher likelihood of experiencing chronic health problems as adults. These same children usually do not have the same level of educational success as their higher-income peers. Finally, poverty is not something children are likely to outgrow. Kids who live in poverty are more likely to be poor as adults.

There is no single solution to child poverty, but there are programs and policies that lessen its negative effects. For more information, take a look at AACF's 2010 report, "Child Poverty in Arkansas 2010: A Deepening Problem," and the 2010 final report from the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Reducing Poverty and Promoting Economic Opportunity.

The following programs and policies have been effective in fighting poverty.

• Promoting the healthy development of young children

o Greater access to ARKids First, a "medical home," and well-child check ups
o Expanded use of coordinated school health and wellness programs
o Improving child nutrition through summer meal, SNAP, and innovative anti-hunger programs

• Improving education outcomes by ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to learn (OTL)
o Ensuring every child reads at grade level by end of the 3rd grade
o Reducing class sizes in the early grades
o Promoting parental involvement in schools and their child's education
o Expanding access to quality out-of-school programs, including after school and summer programs
o Expanding access to quality early childhood programs for children birth to age five

• Making work pay for parents
o Greater utilization of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
o Creating a State EITC
o Ensuring access to quality child care that meets the needs of parents

• Promoting adult education and job preparation for low income adults through programs such as Career Pathways

More Arkansas kids insured, even in recession

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:31:59 -0600

Report outlines challenges remaining for covering kids

LITTLE ROCK - The number of uninsured children dropped in Arkansas even as families continued to feel the effects of the recent recession, according to a report today by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

The report, Crossing the Finish Line: The 2011 State of Children's Health Insurance in Arkansas, provides a detailed look at how the state's uninsured children fared in recent years and what the outlook is for their future. The report shows that the uninsured rate for kids dropped in Arkansas from 9.4 percent to 7.3 percent between 2008 and 2010.

"Despite a recession and a child poverty rate that climbed over 27 percent, there are fewer Arkansas kids going without health coverage than ever before," Anna Strong, AACF Health Policy Director. "But a challenge remains. That 7.3 percent represents a significant number - 54,000 children who remain uninsured."

More of these uninsured children would be covered if Arkansas had addressed some of the challenges it faces in covering more kids.

28,000 kids fell off ARKids First in 2010 because of red tape in the enrollment process. Implementing Act 771 would help streamline this process to keep these children insured through income fluctuations and address changes.
Families just above the income level for ARKids First have the highest rate of uninsured children in any income level. Thousands would benefit from expanding ARKids First coverage to 250 percent of poverty, which was called for in 2009 legislation.
New data shows that certain groups, such as Hispanic children and school-age children, still aren't getting covered. More targeted outreach efforts and policy changes could help these children stay insured.

The majority of those still uninsured are eligible for ARKids First, and the report outlines several ways of enrolling these children. In addition to red tape reduction, the expansion to 250 percent of poverty and improved outreach listed above, the state needs to work with state leaders to develop new payment options for health care services to help control rising costs and improve quality, and implement the federal Affordable Care Act to ensure no child falls through the cracks.

"These are positive signs for uninsured kids in Arkansas," said Rich Huddleston, AACF Executive Director. "But the fact remains that tens of thousands of children are going without the medical services they need because they are not insured. Is is our hope that this report will help in the efforts of Arkansas policymakers, advocates and families to better understand the challenges facing us and work to find solutions so that we may one day cross the finish line and ensure coverage for all of Arkansas' children and families."

Click here for a full copy of the report.

More Homes for Arkansas Foster Children Available

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:29:18 -0600

Subsidized guardianship program allows more children to find stable, loving homes with relatives who are licensed foster parents.

LITTLE ROCK - A new state program will help find more homes for foster children while maintaining important family connections by assisting relatives who are serving as foster parents, according to a new report from Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

The new subsidized guardianship program offered by the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services allows family members such as grandparents to care for a child when returning to their parents or adoption aren't possible. The financial support is similar to that given to adoptive families, but without permanently severing the legal rights of biological parents.

"Arkansas has a culture of helping children in times of need and we commend the state for looking for more homes for foster children," said Jennifer Ferguson, AACF Deputy Director and author of the report. "This new program gives children another chance at a stable home. It gives a trusted, qualified relative the ability to act as a legal guardian and receive a monthly payment to help with the cost of caring for a child."

Nearly 1,000 children were placed in relative foster homes during the 2011 state fiscal year. That is about a quarter of all children who entered the state's care that year.

A new federal law provides financial assistance to states offering subsidized guardianships. In Arkansas, a relative must undergo foster parent licensing and training. A child must be in the home for more than six months and not immediately eligible to be reunited with his or her parents or adopted. The guardian is eligible for monthly payments that are typically $410 to $500 a month. The child is able to leave the foster care system in the care of the relative. There would no longer be a caseworker assigned to the child, and the child wouldn't have any more court appearances.

"In many cases a grandparent or aunt is the most logical and loving home available for a child in the foster system," Ferguson said. "The child can stay connected with family, including the parent if appropriate. The relative gets help paying for additional costs and the biological parent doesn't have to have his or her rights reinstated if they eventually are able to fully care for the child."

Click here for a full copy of the report.

Partners in Progress: Affecting Policy and Programming

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:38:16 -0500

A new report from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation explores the challenges and lessons learned during the evolution of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families into an anchor institution in Arkansas. It tells the story of the tough issues that ACCF has taken on in the state and the ways the organization has influenced public policy that has improved the lives of children and families in Arkansas. The foundation says the report is an opportunity to document the work of AACF and to reflect together on our ability to impact, influence, and leverage resources for positive change in Arkansas.

The report, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families: Affecting Policy and Programming, is the second in a series of "Partners in Progress" publications, will be released in central Arkansas and northwest Arkansas as part of two events hosted by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in November.

Arkansas Losing $113 Million Each Year on Internet Sales

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:55:25 -0500

Even without federal laws, state can do more to collect online sales taxes.

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas is losing as much as $113 million each year in sales tax revenue from Internet purchases and other sales, according to new research by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

Although Arkansans are required to pay sales taxes on Internet and catalogue sales, few consumers pay these taxes because retailers are not forced to collect them at the point of sale. The lost revenue is significant as the state struggles to keep up with other declining revenue that supports public services, the report found. In addition, Arkansas-based and other local retailers are at a price disadvantage as shoppers search out the lowest prices online.

"This is a problem that is only going to get bigger as more and more commerce moves to the web," said Rich Huddleston, AACF Executive Director. "To create a level playing field for our Main Street businesses and support the public services that draw new jobs to Arkansas, the state needs to use every tool available to collect these taxes."

The report, "Add to Cart: How Arkansas Can Support Vital Services By Fully Taxing Internet Purchases" outlines several ways the state can collect lost Internet sales taxes, including:

Requiring out-of-state retailers to charge Arkansas sales tax when other businesses perform "market enhancing activities" here on their behalf, such as warranty services.
Requiring sellers to remind consumers about their sales tax obligations.
Requiring firms getting government contracts to collect sales taxes.
Encouraging taxpayers to "self-remit" sales and use taxes.
Taxing the downloading of software, music and other digital products.

Arkansas sales taxes range from 6 percent to 10 percent depending on local laws. Even though consumers owe these taxes on all products, out-of-state retailers aren't required to collect them unless they have a physical presence in the state. With consumers increasingly seeking out the best deals online, locally owned businesses are at a disadvantage to online retailers that don't add the same tax to their prices.

During the 2011 Arkansas General Assembly, legislators passed an "Amazon Law." It requires the Internet retailer Amazon.com to collect local sales taxes since it partners with Arkansas-based "affiliates." Amazon terminated affiliate programs in Arkansas and others states to avoid collecting the taxes and is fighting similar laws in other states.

Finally, Arkansas is one of 23 states that have aligned their laws with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. If Congress were to pass legislation such as the Main Street Fairness Act, all states already part of the agreement would have the power to tax Internet and other remote sales.

Child care losses in 37 states last year

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:09:26 -0500

National Women's Law Center report shows states scaling back support to families

WASHINGTON - Voices for America's Children, the nation's largest network of multi-issue child advocacy groups, today called for greater support for child care as a new report shows 37 states last year slashed their child care services. The report, released by the National Women's Law Center, forms the basis of a new infographic on child care in America by Voices.

"This new report on child care policies shows that most states are unable to keep up with demand for affordable, high-quality care rises," said Bill Bentley, president and CEO of Voices. "With waiting lists for child care growing nationwide, Congress needs to hear that workers and families need help."

Federal stimulus package dollars that expanded child care assistance are running out. With federal funding levels for the Child Care Development Block Grant remaining flat, states are being forced to make do with less support for families seeking high-quality, affordable child care so they can pursue work. State policy also plays a strong role, as states set eligibility requirements for child care assistance and determine provider reimbursement rates.

The four states profiled in the Voices infographic saw their waiting lists increase dramatically over the last year. The waiting lists for Arkansas and Colorado are reported at 14,000 and 5,205, respectively.

"Having high-quality, affordable care for children gives parents the flexibility to advance their careers," said Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a Voices member organization. "With unemployment still over 8 percent in Arkansas, it's vital that we maintain investments in our children and our families and help meet their economic needs."

"With over 5,000 eligible Colorado children now on the waiting list for child care subsidies, it's clear funding for child care has not kept pace with the growing need in Colorado," said Chris Watney, president and CEO of Colorado Children's Campaign, a Voices member organization. "The number of children living in poverty in our state has more than doubled since 2000 and access to affordable, safe child care is critical in order for these families to find and keep jobs that allow them to lift themselves out of poverty. For the sake of our children and our economy, Colorado cannot afford to lose any funding for child care services."