Child poverty in Arkansas has risen to **14%**, surpassing the national average of **13%** according to the latest data from the **Annie E. Casey Foundation**. This increase, noted in the foundation’s **KIDS COUNT Data Snapshot**, reflects a troubling trend as the rate climbed from **8.9%** during the period of **2019 to 2021**. The report, titled **Measuring Access to Opportunity in the United States: A 10-Year Update**, emphasizes the impact of government assistance programs and the broader economic landscape affecting families.
The **Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)**, which the report utilizes, takes into account various household expenses, including housing, health care, and child care. It also considers the influence of government support programs such as the **Child Tax Credit**, **Earned Income Tax Credit**, **Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)**, **Social Security**, and housing subsidies. The foundation highlights that without these supportive policies, the child poverty rate in Arkansas could have soared to **30%**, affecting approximately **104,000 children**.
Pete Gess, the economic policy director at **Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families**, pointed out that the state lacks a state-level earned income tax credit or child tax credit, both of which have proven effective in reducing child poverty in other regions. Gess emphasized in an October **22** statement that implementing these tax credits could significantly benefit children in Arkansas.
Regional Challenges and Economic Impact
The South region, which includes Arkansas, continues to grapple with the highest child poverty rates in the country. Between **2019–2021** and **2022–2024**, the region experienced a **5-percentage-point** increase in child poverty. This poignant statistic underscores the pressing need for effective policy solutions to address the systemic issues contributing to this crisis.
The economic ramifications of child poverty are substantial. The report estimates that child poverty costs the United States up to **$1 trillion** annually due to lost productivity, diminished lifetime earnings, and increased expenditures on health care, crime, and public assistance programs. These figures reveal the far-reaching consequences of child poverty, extending beyond individual families to impact the national economy.
Moreover, the report indicates that many children living in poverty are in households with at least one employed parent. In **2024**, **61%** of children in poverty were part of families with a working adult. This statistic challenges the narrative that poverty is solely linked to unemployment, highlighting the complexities of economic stability for working families.
As Arkansas confronts these challenges, the need for comprehensive policies and community support systems becomes increasingly clear. The findings from the Annie E. Casey Foundation serve as a call to action for policymakers and advocates alike to address the root causes of child poverty and implement effective strategies to improve the lives of vulnerable children and their families.