New Census data: poverty numbers have improved, but work is far from over
We all have a stake in making sure that Arkansas kids grow up in households that can afford the basics, like a nutritious diet, a decent place to live, and […]
Arkansas’s $100K wild goose chase
The first four months of the Arkansas program that screens welfare recipients for drugs has been just as successful as it has been in other states: that is, not at […]
Research justifies bipartisan support of Arkansas preK
Arkansas needs quality pre-K if we’re serious about making advances in education and workforce development in a relatively poor state. Thankfully, we have that with our very popular and well-regarded […]
Statement from Paul Kelly on Juvenile Justice Information Exchange story
I was recently interviewed by Dick Mendel for an article by the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange on the state of the juvenile justice system reform in Arkansas, “Analysis: What’s the […]
AACF’s New Special Education Report and Next Steps for the Taskforce
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families firmly believes that all children deserve a quality education, regardless of income, geography, or disability. It is our state’s constitutional obligation to give every […]
What do end-of-year revenue numbers really tell us?
We ended up with more revenue than we spent this fiscal year, but don’t let the surplus fool you. No one should be proud of the surplus at the end […]
Becoming Your Brain’s CEO
Many of you probably remember the book All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, which, when I read it, took me back to a time in life when […]
Children living in poverty is decreasing, but we’re still in the bottom 10 states
A new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation gives Arkansas some reason to be hopeful: 2014 data shows more young workers are on track to a stable career, many […]
Arkansas climbs eight spots in national child economic well-being rankings
For the first time in six years, the number of Arkansas children living in poverty decreased, according to the 2016 Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT® Data Book. Last year the […]
Unequal wage growth hurts average families
There will always be some people who make more than their neighbors, but when wage growth is concentrated at the top, many lower income families will never get the boost […]