Read our statement on the House vote on the Congressional budget reconciliation bill:

#Little Rock! Join the Arkansas Kids Count Coalition for our Children’s Policy Summit on July 10. We will update you on how new laws will impact the children and families of our state. There will be a lot to cover, including the important work ahead!

Any claim that the reconciliation bill benefits all Arkansans is an exaggeration at best. The Senate-approved reconciliation bill is below average policy. Our elected representatives must do better.

If the federal budget bill passes, youth aging out of foster care will no longer be protected from harsh work requirements on #SNAP, putting them at risk of losing nutritional assistance during a vulnerable time. Learn more on our blog:

RT @camille_richoux: The U.S. Senate just passed the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" (BBB) with a 51–50 vote, using Vice President Vance as….

🚨House is voting soon on the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which will take health insurance away from millions and take food assistance away from hungry kids. Please take our action alert AND call your U.S. Congressional representatives NOW!

Critical programs are on the line in Arkansas. @RepWesterman, 225,000 of your constituents are counting on you to protect #Medicaid, and 39,000 will suffer if #SNAP is gutted. We urge you to vote NO on the #bigbeautifulbill

Critical programs are on the line in Arkansas. @rep_stevewomack, 162,000 of your constituents are counting on you to protect #Medicaid, and 18,000 will suffer if #SNAP is gutted. We urge you to vote NO on the #bigbeautifulbill

Critical programs are on the line in Arkansas. @RepFrenchHill, 195,000 of your constituents are counting on you to protect #Medicaid, and 23,000 will suffer if #SNAP is gutted. We urge you to vote NO on the #bigbeautifulbill

Critical programs are on the line in Arkansas. @RepRickCrawford, 235,000 of your constituents are counting on you to protect #Medicaid, and 46,000 will suffer if #SNAP is gutted. We urge you to vote NO on the #bigbeautifulbill

Read AACF Executive Director Keesa Smith-Brantley's statement on the Senate's passage of their budget proposal today:

🚨 🚨 🚨 The U.S. Senate just voted 51-50 to move forward with the "One Big Beautiful Bill." The negative effects this will have on Arkansas is profound. Please take our action alert AND call your U.S. Congressional representatives NOW!

Want to join a group of people & organizations around Arkansas dedicated to raising awareness about policy issues impacting kids? Join the Arkansas Kids Count Coalition today!

The Senate released a plan to gut SNAP. Taking away food assistance won't reduce the need — it will increase suffering. Lawmakers should raise taxes on the wealthy, not pull the rug out from under families. #ProtectSNAP

In Arkansas, people work hard but still struggle to afford healthcare. Gutting Medicaid means our communities from Siloam Springs to Little Rock suffer and lose access to care. We can’t let that happen. #ProtectMedicaid

RT @sarahL202: New Congressional Budget Office (CBO) numbers confirm what we already knew – the reconciliation bill is getting worse, not b….

Congress has entered into a pivotal stretch in the reconciliation process. According to estimates, the current version of the bill would lead to more uninsured people than even the House bill. In Arkansas, it would effectively end our Medicaid Expansion:

The congressional budget bill would require veterans, unhoused people, and youth aging out of foster care to meet a work requirement of 80 hours a month or risk losing food assistance. Learn more on our blog:

As technology transforms the economy, there’s a growing need for workers with strong math and science skills. Arkansas ranked 36th overall in the Education domain, with only 20% of eighth graders proficient in math. Download the 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book:

June is National Reunification Month. Reunification is the most common goal when a child enters foster care and in Arkansas, and 42% of children exited foster care to reunification in SFY 2024.