What is a rainy day fund? A rainy day or budget stabilization fund is similar to a savings account for a family. You put aside a little extra cash each month so that in an emergency you don’t have to use money that you need for basic expenses such as food or rent. This philosophy […]
The current Arkansas budget surplus, which is expected to be between $800 and $900 million, provides a unique opportunity to have a public debate about severance tax reform. Arkansas’ severance tax is the lowest in the country. Unlike most states which levy severance taxes based on market value, Arkansas’ severance tax on natural gas is […]
According to Dr. Belfield’s economic analysis, Arkansas’ pre-k investment to date will yield $2.32 for every $1 state leaders have allocated for the Arkansas Better Chance pre-k program for at-risk children. If the program were extended to all children, Arkansas would conservatively yield $1.58 in future cost savings. The analysis focused on the returns to […]
This brief looks at evaluations of 34 academically focused summer programs in order to distill challenges and compile promising strategies for creating quality summer programs. Arkansas-specific resources and information are available at the Arkansas Out-of-School Network site www.aosn.org.
Arkansas has consistently fallen below the national average of providing Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) screens to low-income children. The national average in 2004 was 39 percent and Arkansas’ rate was 27 percent. These screens can provide early detection and treatment for many childhood diseases. Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF) partnered […]
Over the past two decades, the benefits of economic growth have been skewed heavily in favor of Arkansas’ wealthiest families. Income inequality is shown by dividing the population into five categories by income level with 20 percent in each. By doing so, the research shows: From the early 1980s to the early 2000s, adjusted for […]
In August 2005 Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF) released a report on the Arkansas child welfare system entitled “More Than a Decade of Change – Yet Many Things Remain the Same.” The report examined performance data from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) from 2000 to 2004 on child safety indicators […]
Today, Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families (AACF) released an updated child welfare report examining performance data from the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)/Child Welfare System. The report, “A Long Road Ahead: An Update on the Arkansas Child Welfare System,” details research on child safety indicators and performance measures related to family […]
The average ($500) payday loan comes with an interest rate on the high side of 500 percent APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for 14 days. Comparatively, the average credit card cash advance from a bank-issued card carries an interest rate close to 100 percent APR for 14 days while a cash advance from a credit union […]
Whenever parents are gathered together at work, at church, in the grocery store, or at a family event you will likely hear the questions: What are you doing with your child after school? What is your child doing this summer? The growing number of families with primary caregivers employed full time has created widespread concern […]