One of the most comprehensive reports on state and local finances is produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. State and Local Revenue in FY 2024 (the most recent report) allows an apples-to-apples comparison of the revenue available to each...
Last week, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and the six Feeding America Arkansas food banks released results from a survey they recently commissioned showing that about 37% of Arkansans did not have enough food to meet their needs in...
Location: Springdale, AR Commitment: Part-time, Fall 2026– March 2027 (with evening availability required for committee meetings) About Our Organization Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families has worked for almost 50 years to ensure that every child and family in...
Medicaid is the largest insurer in the United States, and in 2025, around 48% of the program’s enrollees were children. More than 409,000 children in Arkansas are enrolled in Medicaid (known as ARKids First), and thousands of those children...
A new federal rule is likely to have a chilling effect on Arkansas families applying for essential services for which they’re eligible, likely resulting in higher uninsured rates, fewer families seeking help for food and housing benefits, and more....
Every three months, Arkansas publishes a report tracking what happens to women after pregnancy Medicaid ends. Every three months, we hope to see any signs that the state’s transition numbers are improving. Instead, each report tells the same story:...
Medicaid is the single largest provider of health insurance for individuals and families across the nation. Across all Medicaid programs in our state, more than 850,000 Arkansans receive services covered by Medicaid. In a deeply rural state, Medicaid plays...
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration recently announced a final general revenue budget surplus for Fiscal Year 2026 — the state government year that ended on June 30 — of $655 million. The debate concerning what to do...
Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming birthright citizenship is a landmark ruling for American equality, rejecting the Trump administration’s policy that would have created a segregated underclass in America. In 2023, an estimated 36,000 Arkansas children had at least...
Arkansas state law authorizes courts to assess a wide variety of fees and fines to system-involved youth and their families. Many juvenile judges actively assess fees and fines, citing their role in holding youth accountable and funding underresourced, especially...