Supports for workers are at risk
This Labor Day is a good time to think about the hundreds of thousands workers in Arkansas who could lose important tax credits soon. Parts of the two best anti-poverty tools in the nation are set to expire if...
All you need to know about the Arkansas economy
Arkansas’s economy is gaining speed. However, low-income groups, minorities, and less-educated workers are being left behind. The new jobs and pay raises mostly benefit people who are already well-off. And recent policy changes have made unemployment insurance less accessible....
4 things you should know about pre-K and the economy
From our latest publication, The Business Case for Pre-K: The importance of pre-K rises as the number of children living in poverty goes up. In Arkansas that is 29 percent of our children. Nationally it’s 23 percent. Pre-K enables...
Statement on Medicaid and Private Option renewals
The following is a statement from Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families: AACF is pleased with today’s announcement that the state of Arkansas must give Medicaid and Private Option clients 30 days to respond to notices...
Poverty line wages are too low
People who earn wages at the poverty line can’t afford essentials like safe housing, food, child care, transportation, taxes and healthcare. The cost of living varies across our state, but one thing remains the same: poverty line wages don’t...
#KeepARCoverage
As a legislative Task Force decides the fate of the Private Option and the larger Medicaid program in Arkansas, we’re gearing up our #KeepARCoverage campaign yet again. Check out all of our videos and find out how to contact...
Statement on Threats to Medicaid
Statement from Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families on recent threats to the Arkansas Medicaid program: Medicaid is a critical program that helps Arkansans provide affordable health coverage for their families. Recent steps taken...
Arkansas leads nation in reducing uninsured, but coverage terminations threaten progress
This week, Gallup released survey findings that show Arkansas continues to lead the nation in reducing the number of adults without health insurance. Since 2013, rates in Arkansas have sharply dropped from 22.5 percent to just 9.1 percent. This...
Get the full story on minimum wage news
Recent articles that claim minimum wage increases hurt low-wage workers all have something in common; they look at small areas over short periods of time instead of the big picture. If they took into account changes across the country...
Thousands of Arkansans may lose health coverage
The Private Option has been a huge success providing coverage to 250,000 Arkansans. But thousands of enrollees are at risk of losing coverage if they don’t provide proof of income in a very short window of time. In most...