2018 Annual Report
The year 2018 was one of forward-thinking for AACF. A major focus for our organization was developing a new five-year strategic plan to guide our work in the future. Among the priorities in our new plan are a greater...
News
Arkansas should focus taxpayer dollars on improving public schools
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families opposes SB620, a bill to create a pilot K-12 education voucher program in Pulaski County. AACF believes that every child deserves a high-quality education. We also believe that efforts to improve educational outcomes...
Losing Coverage: State Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements Stripped 18,000 Arkansans of Health Insurance in 2018
Thousands of Arkansans who aren’t required to work to be eligible for Medicaid are losing their coverage because they failed to report or report adequately their exemption.
Arkansas Advocates 2019 Legislative Session Recap, Vol. 10
Despite being a three-day week at the Capitol, it was jam-packed! Several bills worked on by AACF staff cleared important hurdles, and we are gearing up for the sprint that comes in the last several weeks of the session....
Call NOW: Ask your Rep to vote NO on Restrictions on Food Assistance
Three bad bills that would limit access to food assistance programs are currently being considered by legislators. Please tell your Representative to oppose each of these efforts. HB1731 would make parents disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits during any month in which they...
Reducing smoking in Arkansas: part of the solution lies in the tax code
Arkansas has the chance to reduce the use of tobacco and tobacco-related products, while also reducing the financial burden placed on the state’s non-smokers, who help pay the health care costs associated with smoking. Arkansas’s adult smoking rate is...
Arkansas Advocates 2019 Legislative Session Recap, Vol. 9
It was a very exciting week at the Capitol! Week nine saw a lot of bills we’re watching advance out of committee or out of chamber this week. There’s a lot to pay attention to! Watch the press conference...
Arkansas Advocates 2019 Legislative Session Recap, Vol. 8
Week eight of the 92nd General Assembly has been an interesting one, to say the least. We had the great opportunity to attend the signing ceremony of Senate Bill 152, which is now Act 189. This law will bring...
Major Juvenile Justice Reform Signed into Law
Today was the bill signing ceremony for SB152 (now Act 189), landmark legislation that will begin the process of reforming the Arkansas juvenile justice system. The lead sponsors on the legislation were Senator Missy Irvin and Representative Charlene Fite....
Arkansas Advocates 2019 Legislative Session Recap, Vol. 7
We’re seven weeks into the 92nd General Assembly, and it’s anybody’s guess if we’re at the halfway point or not. A big change that took place this week was the House suspending its 48-hour rule. The House rules state that...