People from all over the state – who have interests as varied as the counties from which they come – routinely ask us how they can make a difference. This question has several answers, but every one of them contains a common theme: learn about the tax and budget system. Understanding these basics provides you with the tools you need to be a great advocate for Arkansas’s children and families.

Think of it this way: if you don’t know how much money you have – or how you got any of that money in the first place!– you can’t make good decisions about what groceries you can afford. If you don’t understand how programs are funded, lawmakers will patiently listen to you explain the importance of a policy change, then tell you there isn’t any money available to fund it. You need the tools to build strong arguments with lawmakers, and this guide will give you those tools.

This guide will teach you how to become a super-charged child advocate. Once you get the hang of it, you can then help others understand what you’ve learned. There’s power in numbers, and together we can make the case for why all of Arkansas’s children and families deserve the resources and opportunities they need to lead healthy, productive lives.