Early Childhood Focus

BENTONVILLE : Childcare Center Expands Facilities

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:29:31 PST

BENTONVILLE - Fewer than 20 percent of day-care providers in Northwest Arkansas meet the highest standards on a nationally recognized assessment scale that measures safety, adult-to-child ratio and a variety of other elements, said Michelle Stephens, executive director of the Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center of Northwest Arkansas.

Economic Downturn Affects Local Child Care

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:38:50 PST

JONESBORO -- Side effects of the struggling economy are making their way to Region 8. Families are taking a good long look at child care. Some parents are cutting back; others are actually looking for more. It's a sign of leaner times, shrinking paychecks and job layoffs.

Family Involvement is Important

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:39:24 PST

When parents and families get personally involved in education, their children do better in school and grow up to be more successful in life. Sounds like common sense, doesn't it?

Official: Child Care Improved After Kidnapping

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:54:10 PST

Mountain Home - A Mountain Home daycare where a woman abducted a 16-month-old boy last summer will not face any permanent state sanctions over the incident. Julie Munsell, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Human Services, says the Open Arms Learning Center will be put on normal state monitoring status by the end of October. The daycare is owned by state Representative Johnny Key and his wife Shannon.

List for Child Care Help Grows as Funds Fall Short

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:33:12 PST

A shortage of child-care assistance funds has prompted state administrators to place thousands of parents on a waiting list and to consider restricting eligibility.

Pilot program to improve access to low-income benefits

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:42:31 PST

Every year, Arkansans are passing up on about $280 million in state and federal benefits, Gov. Mike Beebe said Monday in announcing a $1.4 million pilot program aimed at helping low-income residents to receive all of the benefits for which they are eligible.