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The 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation Data Book ranked Arkansas 37th in the nation for education, and said 56% of young children were not in preschool programs to help get them ready for school. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 19, 2024

Program gives AR early education workers 'Career Pathways'

The need for child care and early learning is critical, especially in rural Arkansas. One nonprofit is working to fill those gaps by giving providers …

More than 400,000 people live in poverty in Arkansas, according to the Center for American Progress. (W.Scott McGill/AdobeStock)<br />

'Day on the Hill' in Arkansas calls for investment in families

Family advocates are at the State Capital for a "Day on the Hill" rally today, to voice their concerns to lawmakers about issues affecting Arkansans' …

In Arkansas, an estimated 467,550 people do not always have enough nutritious food for regular meals. Almost 135,000 of them are children. (Allistair F/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas expands summer food access to combat childhood hunger

Arkansas wants to tackle childhood hunger this summer, by opting into a summer food program for kids. One in five children in the Natural State …

Arkansas ranked low in such measures as the percentage of rural, school-aged children who lack health insurance, which was nearly 6.5%. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)<br />

Rural Arkansas schools see challenges in education compared with nation

The National Rural Education Association's latest report, "Why Rural Matters 2023," finds Arkansas is a critical state - due mostly to funding for …

Black children in immigrant families are more than twice as likely to live in two-parent families <br />than Black children in U.S.-born families (69% vs. 33%, respectively). (Adobe Stock)

Report: Black births more likely to be premature in AR

Arkansas ranks near the bottom among states in the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation report on children's well-being. "Race for Results" focuses on …

In the Natural State, 33% of children from birth to age 6 are eligible for a Child Care & Development Block Grant subsidy under federal rules, on average, each month. (Bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)<br />

AR Adds 260 Child Care Providers, But Funding Crisis Looms

Across the country and in Arkansas, some day care providers face the threat of closure when federal government aid initiated during the pandemic …

Arkansas is the 32nd largest school system in the U.S., serving more than a half million students between public and private schools. (Nina/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Navigating Back-to-School Challenges in Rural Arkansas

More than a half million Arkansas kids are back at school for the fall, and districts across the state face different challenges. For some in rural …

In Arkansas, sale and distribution of vapor products, e-liquids or any component thereof are prohibited to be sold to persons younger than age 21, unless the person is an active-duty member of the military. (And.one/AdobeStock)

Report Calls for Ending Disposable Vape Sales in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, disposable vapes are posing a growing environmental threat, according to a recent report. The U.S. Public …

In an average year, 549 people die by guns in Arkansas. With a rate of 18.1 deaths per 100,000 people. (AndriiKoval/AdobeStock)

Survey: Young Arkansans Want Stricter Gun Laws

In Arkansas and across the country, 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and 60% want to see stricter gun laws…

The Kids Count Data Book reports in 2020-21, 15% of children from birth to age 5 in Arkansas lived in families in which someone quit, changed, or refused a job because of problems finding or affording child care. (ShunTerra/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Ranks 43rd in Child Well-Being

A new report found Arkansas consistently ranks toward the lowest 10 states for child well-being. The annual Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

At the end of 2022, there were 4,524 Arkansas children in foster care, a decrease of 7% from the previous year, according to the State of Arkansas House of Representatives.<br />(Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

Helping Arkansas Foster Youth Succeed as Adults

May is National Foster Care Month and in Arkansas, the number of foster youths near adulthood has dropped slightly, according to a new report…

More than 470,000 students are enrolled in K-12 schools in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Education Data Center. (Kawee/AdobeStock)

Group Urges Arkansas Schools Districts To Focus On Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a national education advocacy group wants school districts in Arkansas to continue focusing on and investing …

The EPA said the spread of Lyme disease, carried by black-legged ticks, is influenced by changing temperatures and rainfall patterns. (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/AdobeStock).

Report: EPA Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

In Arkansas, more than 400,000 people face hunger, and 138,410 are children, according to Feeding America. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

March is 'School Breakfast Month' in Arkansas

Better health and educational outcomes are being touted as Arkansans recognize March as School Breakfast Month. Research has proven providing …

A new study from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families notes continuous coverage protection nearly eliminated churn, protecting children from gaps in health coverage. <br />(Robert Kneschke/AdobeStock)

Arkansas Children's Uninsured Rate Could Rise if Health Emergency Ends

A pandemic-era law to help keep children and families continuously covered is set to expire this spring, and advocates are worried the state's …

According to the Georgetown University report, children in low-wage working families with annual incomes between $30,305 and $54,900 (for a family of three) saw the biggest reductions in their uninsured rates during the pandemic. (NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR Rate of Uninsured Kids Held Steady in Pandemic

A new report finds during the pandemic, the number of children without health insurance in Arkansas stayed about the same. The report, by the …

It's estimated 19 million children under 17 who do not receive the full Child Tax Credit are disproportionately Black, Latino and American Indian or Alaska Native, due to their families' incomes being too low, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

AR Group Urges Congress to Reinstate Expanded Child Tax Credit

An Arkansas nonprofit is adding its voice to the calls for Congress to bring back the expanded Child Tax Credit for families in place during the pande…

In Arkansas, foster parents and adoptive parents must be at least 21 years of age. In adoptions, an age difference of no more than 45 years between the child and adoptive applicant is preferred.(Gajus/Adobe Stock)

'Project Zero' Aims to Get More Arkansas Foster Kids Adopted

National Adoption Month comes to an end today, but in Arkansas, almost 300 children are waiting to be adopted. Project Zero is a nonprofit …

Arkansas ranks fifth for the per capita number of households with children that reported not having enough food in their homes this past year, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

Group Develops Ways to Combat Rural Child Hunger

Save the Children's Rural Child Hunger Research and Innovation Lab aims to help communities design and test new, creative ways to reduce rural child …

22% of Arkansans live in poverty, compared with the national average of 17%. (Presha Photography/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR Child Poverty Rate Improves, But Remains High

Arkansas ranks in the bottom ten of states in a new report on child well-being across the nation. The annual KIDS COUNT report from the Annie E…

Arkansas' CHIP program is called ARKids First. There's no charge for children's participation in ARKids-A. For ARKids-B, there are copayments required for some services. (Anatta_Tan Adobe/Stock)

'ARKids First' Coverage Helps Arkansas Children Thrive

A program that ensures that thousands of Arkansas children have health coverage turns 25 this week. The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) …

There are an estimated 18 million kids under age 5 in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Arkansas Children's Prepares for Kids' Vaccine Questions

The Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines were cleared this weekend for use in children under age five by both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a…

If you use powdered infant formula, be aware certain Similac, Alimentum and EleCare products have been recalled and should not be used, the FDA warns. (Adobe Stock)

AR Social Worker Creates Resource for Finding Baby Formula Amid Shortage

The baby-formula shortage has hit families in Arkansas hard, and one Little Rock resident aims to alleviate the stress on parents by creating an …

Households with children in Arkansas are more likely to rely on SNAP benefits, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Worried More Rural AR Kids May Go Hungry This Summer

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

The Treasury Department reported that in December, the final month of the expanded Child Tax Credit, payments went to 350,000 families in Arkansas. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Guaranteed Income Can Help Improve Child Brain Development

By Katie Fleischer Broadcast version by Emily Scott Reporting for the Ms. Magazine -Arkansas News Service Collaboration It's no secret that extra …

Arkansas researchers say face masks, combined with vaccinations and proper handwashing, can help keep COVID cases down in school settings. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Face Masks in AR Schools Meant Fewer COVID Infections

As school districts and local governments lift COVID mask mandates amid waning case numbers, a new study found the masks have been effective in …

Due to the adoption of the child-nutrition waivers, an estimated 90% of Arkansas school districts were able to continue to provide meals to kids during the pandemic shutdown, according to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Extend Child-Nutrition Waivers Past June 30

Children's advocates are sounding the alarm about the expiration of a program they say has been key to keeping low-income children fed during the pand…

Books that some Jonesboro Public Library board members have previously attempted to remove from the children's section include

Proposal to Move LGBTQ Kids' Book Sparks Censorship Fears

Efforts to move children's and young adult books with LGBTQ content to the adult section of a Northeast Arkansas public library have some local reside…

Eye-health experts recommend parents look out for

Too Much Screen Time Poses Eye-Health Risks for Young People

Spending more time on the computer or phone has become a big issue during the pandemic, both for adults and children - and eye-care specialists are …

Foster youth advocates also recommend helping them send homemade gifts or holiday cards to their relatives they'd like to stay connected with. (Adobe Stock)

Group Aims to Make Holiday Season Special for AR Foster Youth

The holiday season can be a difficult time for anyone away from home, especially for kids in foster care. Volunteers in Arkansas have been working …

Nearly 100,000 children in Arkansas have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to state Department of Health data. (Adobe Stock)

AR Leads Multistate Research on Kids' Long-Haul COVID Cases

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas will lead a 14-state study of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on children, with the hopes of finding effective …

Statewide, Arkansas' vaccination rate in residents age 12 and older is 55%. (Adobe Stock)

AR Community Health Centers Breaking Down Barriers to COVID Vaccine

MARIANNA, Ark. -- With last week's announcement the Pfizer vaccine was approved for use in children ages 5-11, community health centers in Arkansas …

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families says more children would have health insurance if the state provided 12-month continuous eligibility for kids on Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Number of Uninsured Arkansas Children is Rising

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- With the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace open-enrollment period just around the corner, advocacy groups are gearing up to …

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families is also asking the Arkansas Legislature to reconsider Act 977, which bans state and local officials from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Ask AR Lawmakers to Lift Mask-Mandate Ban in Schools

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- COVID-19 has given a whole new meaning to the term "Extraordinary Session," as state lawmakers are in Little Rock again today to …

In a survey of young people who have experienced foster care, nearly 20% reported they ran out of food. (Maya Kruchancova/Adobe Stock)

AR Youth in Foster Care Eligible for Pandemic Relief Payments

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansans ages 16 to 26 who are or have been in the foster-care system now are eligible for one-time payments of at least $750…

The newest edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book explores how America's child population fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of Health Insurance Continues to Increase Among Arkansas Kids

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - New survey data offers a clear picture of how Arkansas kids and families are faring. The state ranks 39th in the nation when it …

Among working families with children younger than age 5 that pay for child care, average child-care spending amounts to nearly 10% of the average family income, or 40% higher than the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' definition of affordability. (Adobe Stock)

Child-Care Wages Called Key to Boosting Early-Education Access

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Early-childhood educators in the state say they support President Joe Biden's American Families Plan, which would include an …

Most American students will take, on average, 112 standardized tests from kindergarten to 12th grade. (Adobe Stock)

Should Schools Hit Pause on Standardized Testing?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Critics of standardized testing say the federal government should reduce or pause these tests, since the pandemic has upended so …

Nationwide, more kids tell researchers they are struggling with loneliness and isolation one year into the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)<br />

One Year After COVID Hits, Poverty On Rise in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas families are facing greater levels of food insecurity and economic instability one year into the coronavirus pandemic…

Food insecurity and child hunger both have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic across the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Child Hunger Climbs in Rural AR, as Groups Work to Deliver Food Boxes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Child hunger is on the rise across Arkansas, and advocates warn families are struggling to access resources in communities far …

Nearly a quarter of Arkansas families with children have reported feeling

More Arkansas Families at Risk of Homelessness

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas is falling short in housing security during the COVID-19 crisis, according to a new report based on the latest Census …

Children with access to healthcare are more likely to succeed in school, graduate from high school, attend college, earn higher wages, and become healthy adults. (Adobe Stock)

More Arkansas Kids are Losing Health Coverage

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Despite a strong economy and job growth between 2016 and 2019, the number of uninsured children in Arkansas jumped by 43%…

More than one-fifth of Arkansas children live in poverty, and 14% of households report sometimes not having enough to eat.<br />

AR Survey Finds Declines in Poverty Reversed By Pandemic

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas's poverty rate has trended downward over the past few years, but since the pandemic there's been a sharp rise in …

According to 2018 data from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 26% of Arkansas children live in households with a high housing cost burden. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Even Before Pandemic, AR Child Poverty On the Rise

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Childhood poverty in Arkansas is on the rise, according to data recently released by The Annie E. Casey Foundation. Rich …

More than 23% of children in Arkansas live in families that face hunger on a regular basis. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Trails Much of Nation for Children's Well-Being

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Being a kid is a very different experience depending on where you live in Arkansas. Saline County is the top-ranked county in …

Researchers estimate more than 1 million children were missed in the U.S. population count for the 2010 Census. (Adobe Stock)

Counting Kids in Census Critical to Combat Effects of Pandemic

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas households can fill out their 2020 Census form online or by phone; that's the message children's advocacy groups want …

Juvenile court officials say school closures as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have contributed to a nationwide drop in youth arrests and detention. (Adobe Stock)

Virus-Related School Closures Linked to Drop in Youth Arrests

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arrests of young people are down across the country, and a new analysis by the Annie E. Casey Foundation suggests the …

Scientists have determined that around 90% of a child's brain is developed by age 5. (Adobe Stock)

AR Lawmakers Focus on State's Youngest Children

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- A group of lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle agree Arkansas needs to invest more in its youngest residents…

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