Arkansas: Giving a Voice to Children and Families
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families is an active member of the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Reducing Poverty and Promoting Economic Opportunities, a committee made up of 22 bipartisan state legislators, service agencies, and advocacy groups. This taskforce will be hosting six town hall meetings throughout Arkansas during the summer months to hear low-income families’ stories and struggles, and voice the views of community leaders, elected officials, and concerned citizens on how to end poverty in our state.
The task force is also working with community-based organizations to hold smaller focus groups with low-income citizens to hear personal struggles, identify major barriers to getting out of poverty, and discuss how we can work together to abolish poverty. The findings from these town hall meetings will help inform the analysis and recommendations included in the task force’s final report.
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families also continues to hold “Policy Cafés” throughout the state to share information about the Half in Ten campaign with local advocates and concerned citizens. Many participants take extra copies of the endorsement forms to pass out to elected officials, co-workers, and family members.
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families will also officially release its “Child Poverty in Arkansas 2010: A Deepening Problem” report on May 25, 2010. AACF is holding a luncheon for local advocates and elected officials to present the report. This report, along with Half in Ten resources, will be used to introduce newly elected lawmakers to AACF’s work in November. The materials will also be used during the summer months when AACF staff makes visits with lawmakers gearing up for the January session. This report and the Half in Ten resources will also be available to assist the Legislative Task Force on Reducing Poverty and Promoting Economic Opportunities’ town hall meetings.
Tags: Arkansas
