Arkansas State Profile

View Arkansas's state profile in PDF format.

Key Facts About

Children birth to 3 years, their families, and the child care system that serves them

2005 estimated population: 2,779,154
U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

2000 population: 2,673,400
U.S. Census 2000

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)-Child Care Bureau Data

• An average of 4,335 children 0-3 are served per month by the Child Care and Development Fund
  (FY 2005 ACF-801 data, Child Care Bureau)
• In Federal Fiscal Year 2004 the Infant/Toddler Child Care and Develpment Fund Set-Aside = $1,209,472
  (FY 2006 CCDF Allocations Based on Appropriations,U.S. Dept. of HHS, ACF)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Office of Head Start Data

• 692 children served by 10 grantees are in Early Head Start
  (2006 Early Head Start Funded Enrollment)
  (EHSNRC Database-September 2006)
• 53% of all the requests for child care to the child care resource and referral programs were for infant and toddler care
  (Child Care in America: 2006 State Fact Book, NACCRRA)

U.S. Department of Education (DOE) - IDEA, Part C Data

2,547 children under 3 receive early intervention services under IDEA, Part C
(U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Ed. Programs, Data Analysis System (DANS), 2005)

Special initiatives within the State/Territory

Infant/Toddler Caregiver Credential:	No
Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) *:	136 issued in 2005 115 issued in 2002 85 issued in 1998
Early Learning Guidelines for 0-3:	Arkansas Framework for Infant/Toddler Care
Infant/Toddler Specialist Network:	No

Child Care Licensing data - Staff to Child ratios

In Center-Based Care the staff-to-child ratios are

1:6 for birth to 18 months; 1:9 for 18 to 36 months; 1:12 for 2.5 to 3 years
(State Licensing Regulations)

In Family Child Care the staff-to-child ratios are

1:10, if none under 3 years; 1:9, if none under 2 years and no more than 3 between 2 and 3 years; 1:8, if no more than 1 under 2 years; 1:7, if no more than 2 under 2 years; 1:6, if no more than 3 under 2 years

Homes specializing in infant care must maintain a 1:3 ratio.
(State Licensing Regulations)

Children under the age of 3 data

186,133 Children Under the Age of 3 live in Alabama

Under 1	38,621
1-2 years	37,888
2-3 years	36,898

U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

Women with Children Under the Age of 3 in the Labor Force Data

64% of Arkansas Women with Children Under the Age of 3 Are in the Labor Force

Employed	64%
Not in the Labor Force	32%
Unemployed	4%

Current Population Survey, March 2001

Infant Child Care Fees data

Average annual fee for full-time child care for an infant in:

Center based care

$4,020

Cost As a percent of Income Data

Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for two-parent families	8%
Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for single parent families	26%

Child Care in America: State Facts, NACCRRA, 2006

State/Territory Lead Child Care Lead Agency Information

Arkansas Child Care Lead Agency
Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Child Care and Early Education
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S140
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437

Voice: 501-682-4891
Fax: 501-682-2317
Website: http://www.arkansas.gov/childcare/

For the CCDF Administrator's contact information go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccdf

For more information about Arkansas go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/statepro/display.cfm?state=Arkansas

^*Council on Professional Recognition Back