Just 38 percent of eligible Arkansas children are getting the regular, comprehensive doctor check-ups they need to stay healthy and avoid long-term problems, according to research by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. The federal standard is 80 percent of children eligible for Medicaid. “Arkansas children are getting many more health services than in previous […]
The Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program is a federal Medicaid requirement that ensures low-income children receive comprehensive preventive care. It is designed to identify and treat physical or mental health problems that could interfere with child growth or development. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) set 80 percent as the […]
Children covered by Medicaid in Arkansas are not receiving the level of preventive care they need to diagnose potential health problems. The Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program is a Medicaid requirement that ensures low-income children covered by Medicaid receive comprehensive preventive care. This helps identify and treat physical or mental health problems […]
Addressing student health in schools increases academic performance and health of children, report shows. SPRINGDALE – A growing movement to address the health needs of students on school campuses has the potential to improve the health and educational ability of more Arkansas children, according to a new report from Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. […]
Advocates and lawmakers focused on cutting poverty in Arkansas in half by 2020 helped pass several pieces of legislation during the 2011 session of the Arkansas General Assembly. These new laws and others show that the partners, community leaders and citizens who contributed to the work of the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Reducing Poverty […]
The Arkansas economy continues to strain under the recession that has swept the nation. The Great Recession’s toll on Arkansas workers has been particularly heavy for those who started behind during better times, including minority and low-income families. For them, jobs are still scarce, wages are low, the cost of living is rising and vital […]
The Arkansas Finish Line Coalition was pleased to see Senate Bill 65 signed by Gov. Mike Beebe Wednesday. It will ensure as many as 20,000 children eligible for ARKids First health insurance aren’t pushed out of coverage because of paper work errors. The “Red Tape” bill, sponsored by Senator Jimmy Jeffress and championed in the […]
Every other year we spend months gearing up for the regular session of the Arkansas General Assembly with a flurry of research, reports and outreach. That work in 2010 was some of our most challenging yet as we prepared to serve as the voice for low-income children and families during tight financial times and a […]
A joint report by AACF, The Arkansas Public Policy Panel, and The Arkansas Education Association. An analysis of Arkansas benchmark test scores from the 2008‐09 academic year shows that open enrollment charter schools score better than their peer public schools on standardized tests, but that this success is driven by the distinct demographic characteristics of […]
Arkansas lawmakers in the 2011 session were able to improve the health, economic security and education opportunities for many children and families, despite the continuing effects of The Great Recession.