Family finances and economic issues are critical to the overall well being of children and their families. Many families are working, but earn incomes that are too low to meet all of their major daily living expenses, such as housing, food, child care and utilities. AACF studies issues affecting the financial state of families, such as the lack of access to jobs that pay sufficient wages, the high cost of credit for the poor, and tax policies that put a heavier burden on working poor families than wealthy people.

Current Issues

CENSUS DATA: Climb in Number of Poor Arkansans Slowing, But Levels Still High After Recession
September 22nd 2011

Arkansas 47th in National Child Well-Being Rankings
August 17th 2011

Please see our Poverty Task Force section for an update on progress made on the 2009 poverty recommendations

Poverty Task Force Releases Recommendations on Economic Security
November 29th 2010

Arkansas Child Poverty Rate Jumps to 26.9 Percent
September 28th 2010

Census Bureau: Poverty Rises Nationally and in Arkansas in 2009, Further Decline in Health Coverage
September 16th 2010

Ark. Drops to 48th in National Study of Child Well-Being
July 27th 2010

AACF Report Highlights Growing Child Poverty Rate
June 10th 2010

Arkansas Taxes Hit Poor Twice as Hard as Wealthy: National study of state tax systems finds Arkansas among 10 states with highest taxes on the poor (November 2009)

Arkansas and Its Working Families Miss Out on up to $110 Million a Year in Unclaimed Federal Tax Credits
November 2nd 2009

Unemployment Insurance and ARRA: An Overdue Win for Arkansas Families(July 2009)

AACF Report Highlights Growing Child Poverty Rate

The Impact of Government Programs on Family Finances (August 2010): An analysis of how assistance programs meant to help families lift themselves out of poverty leave them a step short. This report was prepared for the Legislative task force on poverty.

Past Publications

Press Release: Payday loans and the holidays: a very "unmerry" mix (December 2007)

Press Release: Newly Released Survey Shows Arkansas Kids Still Lacking (August 2007)

Press Release: Alternatives to High Interest Pay Day Loans are Viable; Operating Rent-a-Banks Help Lenders Skirt Arkansas Laws (Janurary 2006)

Press Release: Numbers Show Decrease in Poverty Rate but Needs Still Abound (August 2005)

Press Release: Arkansas Releases Food Stamp Report, Calls on Arkansas's Members of Congress to Protect Threatened Food Stamp Program (August 2005)

Food Stamps: Supporting Healthy Families and Communities in Arkansas (August 2005)

Rural Kids Count! Sharing the Stories and Statistics from Oklahoma and Arkansas (August 2004)
- Part One
- Part Two
- Part Three
- Part Four

The New and Improved Arkansas Family Income Standard: How Much Does It Really Cost to Raise a Family? (August 2003)
- FIS Study Methodology

Healthcare Experiences: Receiving and Leaving Welfare (February 2003)

Boom, Bust, and Beyond: The State of Working Arkansans (November 2002)