Arkansas is slowly climbing the national rankings in child wellbeing, moving up one position from where it was last year in the 2021 Kids Count Data Book. However, this progress may have been impeded by the pandemic, which prevented the state from pursuing more opportunities for growth.

• Measuring success: The Data Book released by Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzes wellbeing indicators such as health, education, and economic opportunity. It was based on numbers from just before the pandemic, and the trends showed progress across the U.S.
• Healthcare struggles: Arkansas in particular struggled with providing families adequate access to healthcare throughout the pandemic, reflecting poor scores for child wellbeing in the state. Federal aid, however, has been helping many of these families meet their needs.

Find out more about Arkansas's child wellbeing ranking HERE.