Credits for 230,000 Arkansas children at risk if Congress doesn't act.

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families applauds Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's leadership in calling for an extension of the refundable Child Tax Credit. We are proud to see that he, Sheriff Doc Holladay and Police Chief Herman Hutton stepped forward today to call for this important extension.

Arkansas Better Chance pre-k program an example of state's nationally-ranked early childhood education efforts

LITTLE ROCK -U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan plans to tour one of Arkansas' lauded high-quality early education programs at Noble Elementary School in Hamburg on Thursday.

2010 KIDS COUNT Data Book shows some improvement, yet decline in other areas

Administrative Assistant - Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families is accepting resumes for a full-time Administrative Assistant. Requires general clerical skills, ability to handle multi-line phone system, strong communications skills, excellent skills in Microsoft Office products and database entry. 5+ years related experience required. Salary commensurate with experience. Full benefits package. Send cover letter, resume, and references to nleonhardt@aradvocates.org or 1400 West Markham St., Ste. 306, Little Rock, AR 72201. AACF is an equal opportunity employer. Minorities encouraged to apply.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) will be honored as a Champion for Children at a Children’s Budget Summit hosted by the bi-partisan children’s advocacy organization First Focus.

LITTLE ROCK - According to a new report from Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF), 24.9 percent of Arkansas children, or nearly one in four, are currently living in poverty. Not only do these kids suffer financially, but their situation has lasting implications in a number of areas such as health, education and criminal activity. In essence, child poverty severely limits the potential of a child to grow into a successful, contributing adult, which in turn limits the growth of our state. And in our current economic recession, the problem is only getting worse.

LITTLE ROCK – A new report from Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF) finds that a startling number of children in the state who are eligible for ARKids First are either unenrolled or are being dropped from the program because of enrollment barriers and red tape.

State rises in pack despite national economic woes.

Congress is poised to make fiscal decisions that could help thousands of working Arkansas families, reduce our federal deficit and strengthen our economy. By reviewing nearly a decade's worth of data on tax cuts and fiscal policies, members of Congress have clear evidence on what helps working families-and what utterly fails them.

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families offers these recommendations for helping our families not only weather this recession, but giving them the boost they need to help pull our state and national economies out of the downturn.

After decades of attempts and more than a year of debate in the current Congress, the final health reform package passed both chambers and has been signed by President Obama last week.  Details on the potential impacts of the original Senate bill and companion "fixes" bill continue to emerge, but child advocates should rest assured that the bill will offer much needed financial relief and improve the health of thousands of our state's children and families.