Addressing the Childhood Mental Health Crisis in Arkansas
Between 2016 and 2020, Arkansas had the third-highest increase in childhood depression and anxiety, behind California and South Dakota.
Arkansas Legislature can choose not to tax student loan forgiveness
Our state Legislature needs to decide if we want to follow along and treat student loan forgiveness as tax-free.
Improving Health Outcomes for the Children of Arkansas
Arkansas still has a long way to go to get to number one in child health and well-being.
Arkansas has room for improvement in providing quality education
Educating the next generation of Arkansans is one of our greatest responsibilities.
Incremental Improvements in Economic Well-Being Fall Too Short for Arkansas’s Children
A state budget that puts more dollars toward programs to help children and families, like childcare for infants and toddlers, early childhood education, affordable housing, and health care for moms and babies would do more to help all Arkansans.
Arkansas Advocates 2022 Special Legislative Session Recap
We hope to carry this momentum into the 2023 Regular Legislative Session, as we can be sure there will be many bills to support and defend against that will affect the lives of Arkansas's children and families.
AACF Statement on School Safety Grants
On Thursday, the Arkansas Legislature passed SB2, and Gov. Hutchinson signed it into law. The new act will allow the Arkansas Department of Education to receive $50 million in general revenue funds to go toward school safety grants. And...
AACF Statement on 2022 Tax Cuts
The only way to help struggling Arkansans deal with higher prices using our income tax system is by enacting a fully refundable credit, ideally something like a state-level EITC.
Lack of Data Impacts BIPOC Children in Arkansas
The lack of disaggregated data is especially troubling for Arkansas as, according to research from the Census Bureau, Arkansas has the highest undercount in the 2020 Census of any state at 5%.
AACF Statement on Maternal Health Care Initiatives
The Governor's proposals are a step in the right direction, but they fall short of making policy changes that could make a significant difference in our dismal maternal and infant health outcomes.