The Record · AR
Arkansas
Arkansas: federal child-welfare figures and 52 pieces of KARA reporting, in full.
Federal child-welfare figures and KARA's reporting on Arkansas.
Child maltreatment victims
NCANDS, FFY2024
Entered foster care
AFCARS, FY2022
In foster care on Sept 30
AFCARS, FY2022
Sources: NCANDS Child Maltreatment 2024; AFCARS state tables. Full record — every metric, every year, gaps labeled — on KARA SIGNAL
KARA reporting on Arkansas
52 articles, newest first, republished in full.
June 19, 2026 · KARA Reporting
Child Abuse and Child Protection Stories & Statistics Arizona & Arkansas
Child Abuse and Child Protection Stories & Statistics Arizona & Arkansas
June 19, 2026 · KARA Reporting
Best & Worst States For America's Children
Where does your state rank in protecting children & what can you do to make improvements. These statistics tell the stories of our best and worst states around the nation
Arizona · Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Florida · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa · Louisiana · Maine · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Mississippi · Nevada · New Hampshire · New York · North Dakota · Oklahoma · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wyoming
June 12, 2026 · KARA Reporting
The Real Cost of Child Maltreatment, CPS, and Recidivism
Child maltreatment does not end when a CPS case is closed. The same children who enter child protection often show up later in juvenile justice and adult prison, driving recidivism rates of 70–80% and an estimated cost o
April 8, 2026 · KARA Reporting
Best and Worst Hospitals For U.S. Children (Beckers Hospital Review)
Which states give kids the best chance at a healthy life? This review ranks all 50 states and D.C. on children’s healthcare, nutrition, and oral health, and the gaps are stark.
Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Georgia · Hawaii · Iowa · Kentucky · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Mississippi · Montana · New Jersey · New York · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Texas · Vermont · Wyoming
March 8, 2026 · KARA Reporting
A Closer Look At Child Fatality and Egregious Incident Reporting
Child Fatality & Egregious Incident Reporting: A U.S. Overview America’s approach to exposing and understanding the gravest harms done to children(fatalities, near-deaths, torture, and catastrophic agency failures) reveal
Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Kentucky · Maryland · Minnesota · Missouri · New Hampshire · Ohio · Oregon · South Carolina · Texas · Wisconsin
February 26, 2026 · KARA Reporting
COVID + ICE RAIDS Impacting America's Schools
COVID school closures and ICE raids have combined to drive U.S. reading, math, history, and civics scores to historic lows. This post outlines national NAEP data, the states with the deepest learning loss, and what these
Alabama · Arkansas · Louisiana · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Mississippi · New Mexico · Oklahoma · West Virginia
November 29, 2025 · KARA Reporting
Why the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Organization Is So Successful (calling all volunteers)
Over 48 years, CASA/GAL (Guardian ad Litem) programs have grown into a national network of more than 900 organizations with 80,000–100,000 guardian ad litem volunteers serving close to a quarter‑million abused and neglec
Arkansas · California · New York · North Dakota · Virginia
September 18, 2025 · KARA Reporting
Domestic Violence to a Five Year Old (living in a house of terror)
Watching mom beaten or raped is terror. Homeless mothers and children are many times more likely to be assaulted and molested. Children of addicted and alcoholic moms and dads are beaten and raped more often too. Trauma
Arizona · Arkansas · Georgia · Hawaii · Minnesota · Mississippi · Tennessee
July 29, 2025 · KARA Reporting
A Closer Look At Child Fatality and Egregious Incident Reporting
Child Fatality & Egregious Incident Reporting: A U.S. Overview America’s approach to exposing and understanding the gravest harms done to children(fatalities, near-deaths, torture, and catastrophic agency failures) reveal
Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Kentucky · Maryland · Minnesota · Missouri · New Hampshire · Ohio · Oregon · South Carolina · Texas · Wisconsin
June 6, 2025 · KARA Reporting
Politics, Religion, and at risk Children
This is a dangerous time to be an abused child in America. Slash and burn politics and religious organizations are dismantling a large percentage of government and non governmental agencies keeping children safe. The COV
Arkansas · California · Minnesota · Mississippi · New Mexico · Oklahoma
August 11, 2024 · KARA Reporting
What Teachers Are Facing Today and Tomorrow
Teachers feel undervalued and overwhelmed. Turnover his high and a number of states are using unqualified people to fill positions.
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Florida · Idaho · Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri · Nebraska · Nevada · Oregon · Rhode Island · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont
February 10, 2023 · KARA Reporting
The Real World of Child Abuse (statistics)
There is more to child abuse than bruises, rape and starvation. 27 states allow withholding life saving medical treatment from children if you tell people your religion forbids it . Criminal and civil immunity means it i
December 12, 2021 · KARA Reporting
Children Living & Dying As Martyrs to a Parents Religion
Many American newborns remain untested and untreated for very treatable metabolic disorders, hearing, sight & blood lead level s. 48 States allow religious exemptions from vaccination. Some states allow religion to keep
October 4, 2021 · KARA Reporting
October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Watching your mother being beat up or raped is the same trauma as being beaten or raped to a five or nine year old. Untreated trauma lasts forever and it changes a person forever. The United Nation's-Secretary General An
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
March 1, 2021 · KARA Reporting
Child Protection/Unassigned CASA Guardian ad Litem Cases
Success Stories & Failure (unassigned child abuse cases) We all like a happy ending. Especially when kids are involved.
June 4, 2019 · KARA Reporting
Recent International Child Protection News
Often, we look to the government to provide support in order to protect our children; however, the following news stories point to a disturbing trend of a lack of state action in preventing or even intervening in child w
Alabama · Arkansas · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · North Carolina · South Carolina
August 16, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Medicating Very Young Children July 2018 (part 6)
6 to 12 million children a year are reported to child protection services and in many states, About 1/3 of foster children are required to take psychotropic medicines
Arkansas · California · Kentucky · Louisiana · West Virginia
July 1, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Trauma & Torture, May 2018, find your state here (6)
Iowa sees spike in confirmed child abuse cases Seattle Times DES MOINES, Iowa (AP). Officials say publicity around high-profile child abuse cases in Iowa has caused a surge in such reports. Confirmed child … Iowa sees s
Arkansas · California · Iowa · Michigan · Missouri · New Mexico · Pennsylvania
July 1, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Abuse & Child Protection May 2018 (5)
City's toughest neighborhoods also plagued with high instances of child abuse WBAL Baltimore Some of the city's toughest communities, those plagued by crime and drugs, are also notorious for another adverse distinction:
Arkansas · California · Iowa · Maryland · Michigan · Missouri · New Mexico · Pennsylvania
June 1, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Stealing Candy From Minnesota Babies (thank you Safe Passage for Children of MN)
If you live with, work with or know at risk children, you know how your community values children. Not much. Since 2004, America had remained 3rd from the bottom on spending for children among the developed nations. Not
Arizona · Arkansas · Louisiana · Minnesota · Mississippi · New Mexico
May 29, 2018 · KARA Reporting
Child Welfare by State (statistics & news April 2018 (5 - foster child)
American states are struggling to find answers for ending adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and saving at risk children by reversing the explosive growth of child abuse and neglect. Today, many state ward children are
Arizona · Arkansas · Massachusetts · Mississippi · North Dakota · Oregon
January 13, 2018 · KARA Reporting
MN At Risk Children's News July - September 2017 (IV)
Brandon Stahl Reporting KARA gathers news about Minnesota’s abused children to provide a snapshot of Child Protection and how our state values its children. Only a fraction of serious child abuse stories, statistics and
Arkansas · California · Florida · Illinois · Louisiana · Michigan · Minnesota · New York · North Dakota · Ohio · Texas
August 4, 2017 · KARA Reporting
July 2017 Sad Stories Part II
Kids At Risk Action tracks current news about child abuse & neglect bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. This is only a sampling of what should be reported – the majority of c
Arkansas · California · Colorado · District of Columbia · Florida
June 14, 2017 · KARA Reporting
CASA guardian ad-Litem News Feb -May 2017 Part I
FIND YOUR CASA here – CASA’s around the U.S. If you are not listed, send me your info and we will include it. More than 251,000 abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes, according to casaforchildren.org.
Arizona · Arkansas · California · Kentucky · Maryland · Michigan · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · New Jersey · New York · Oklahoma · Oregon · Texas
January 14, 2017 · KARA Reporting
January Sad Stories Part I (thru 1.13.17)
Sign Up Here For KARA’s Free Friday Morning Real Story KARA tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. Please note that what you see here
Arkansas · California · District of Columbia · Florida · Indiana · Kansas · Michigan · Ohio
January 4, 2017 · KARA Reporting
Minnesota 7 Year Old Dies as a Martyr to a Parents Religion
Adopted seven-year old Seth Johnson has suffered terribly for years and it appears has died a painful (avoidable) death at the hands of Tim and Sarah Johnson. Thank you Paul Walsh, Brandon Stahl & Star Tribune. The paren
November 19, 2016 · KARA Reporting
November 2016 Sad Stories Part I
IN: Child re-sentenced for murder: A sign of juvenile justice reform? Christian Science Monitor - October 31, 2016 Paul Gingerich was 12 years old when he helped fatally shoot a friend's stepfather in a small Indiana tow
Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Florida · Iowa · Maine · Michigan · New Jersey · North Dakota
November 1, 2016 · KARA Reporting
October Sad Stories Part II
WA: Can this tool fix our troubled foster care system? Crosscut Seattle - October 28, 2015 Anyone who has filed a tax return by hand knows that filling out bureaucratic forms can be a dreary, time-consuming enterprise. F
Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Georgia · Louisiana · New Hampshire
October 8, 2016 · KARA Reporting
CASA guardian ad-Litem News Around the Nation for September 2016
FIND YOUR CASA here – This page tells the stories of CASA’s around the U.S. If you are not listed, send me your info and we will include it. Thank you Sai Yang and Century College for your research and writing on this pa
Arkansas · California · Louisiana · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · New Jersey · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Tennessee · Texas
September 21, 2016 · KARA Reporting
September Sad Stories (part 1 through September 15)
Homeless woman accused of child neglect, children covered in filth, lice, suffering health problems Bennington Banner (subscription) BENNINGTON >> A homeless woman is facing charges after her children were found covered
Arkansas · California · Georgia · Illinois · Kentucky · Minnesota · Mississippi · Nebraska
January 30, 2016 · KARA Reporting
January Sad Stories (2016 KARA reporting)
Every month Kids At Risk Action draws attention to the plight of abused and neglected children by gathering the stories of at risk children from around the nation. You will find your community on this page. Please share
Arizona · Arkansas · California · Georgia · Indiana · Kansas · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana
October 31, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Sad Stories October 2015
Find information about child protection, child endangerment & child well-being in your state here. For past months, click here AR: Arkansas's child welfare system discriminates against relatives of neglectful or abusive
Arizona · Arkansas · California · Florida · Indiana · Kansas · Kentucky · Massachusetts · Minnesota
September 25, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Child Death and Child Abuse Articles (for September 2015 – find your state/country here)
Every month KARA publishes articles that go unnoticed outside of the community they occur. These stories are gathered from different sources all around the nation and some international stories. Please share this page wi
Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Florida · Idaho · Iowa · Massachusetts · Tennessee
April 4, 2015 · KARA Reporting
What's Wrong With Kansas Part II (how the state values its children)
No longer does Kansas promise its children a full school year . Several districts are closing early because Governor Brownback effectively eliminated 51 million dollars from school budgets (cut per pupil $950 from 2008 t
Arkansas · Kansas · Louisiana · Mississippi · New Mexico · South Carolina · Texas
March 27, 2015 · KARA Reporting
CASA News
Learn about CASA Minnesota here Support CASA in your state (below)Abused and neglected children need more help than the foster care system can provide.
Alabama · Alaska · Arkansas · California · Indiana · Louisiana · Maryland · Minnesota · Missouri · New Jersey · Ohio · Oklahoma · Texas · Washington
February 28, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Sad Children Stories From February
The following sad stories have been gathered from around the nation and give an indication of how different states are handling child abuse and child protection. Find your state here;
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New York · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Texas · Utah · Vermont · West Virginia · Wisconsin
February 28, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Important Points By Brandon Stahl (Star Tribune) Today On Pope County
The following quotes from Brandon Stahl's reporting today in the Star Tribune indicate the depth and scope of child protection troubles in MN. That Governor Dayton used "Colossal Failure" language and created a task forc
Alaska · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Illinois · Louisiana · Michigan · Minnesota · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Utah · Vermont
February 25, 2015 · KARA Reporting
1% of U.S. Family Courts Are Safe Baby Courts
This article from the ACEsTooHigh website is a comprehensive article about the difference between traditional family courts and emerging early childhood courts is striking and worth reading in its entirety. In safe baby
January 19, 2015 · KARA Reporting
Falling Through the Cracks (NYTimes) 786 Children Die While in Child Protective Services
This article in yesterday's NY Times, (from AP) shows how at least 786 children died awful deaths while in full view of child protection authorities. The numbers are most likely much higher
Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Florida · Georgia · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Texas · Wisconsin
November 18, 2014 · KARA Reporting
5 Worst States For Child Homelessness (35% of Mississippi Children Are Impoverished)
From the National Center On Family Homelessness; California has over 500,000 children children lacking stable housing. 35% of Mississippi's children live in poverty. Arkansas, Alabama, & New Mexico have the next highest
Alabama · Arkansas · California · Mississippi · New Mexico
November 17, 2014 · KARA Reporting
We’re Number One (America leads the world in the wrong things)
We are now number one in child homelessness; one in thirty kids – 2.5 million American children, experienced homelessness last year. Many states don’t offer children insurance, daycare, prenatal care, or healthcare and p
Arkansas · Louisiana · Mississippi · North Carolina · South Carolina
April 21, 2014 · KARA Reporting
Tip Of The Iceberg - Medicating Six Year Olds
We forget that before Prozac, there was Thorazine and the side effects were pronounced and obvious. These new drugs are much more insidious in how side effects manifest themselves. The underlying issues driving dangerous
Arkansas · Nevada · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania
December 11, 2013 · KARA Reporting
Punishing The Mentally Ill (Minnesota is not alone)
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune article supports a position I've held for years. By ignoring or under-serving people with mental health problems we are manufacturing state wards, preteen moms, and felons and this is mak
Alabama · Arkansas · Minnesota · Mississippi
October 3, 2013 · KARA Reporting
Tracking America's Most At Risk Children (through the media, the states & CASA)
Follow these pages to keep up with the most current stories about the people policies & programs working with and reporting on abused and neglected children; Connect to the most recent media stories Connect to CASAs (aro
Arkansas · California · Colorado · Florida · Louisiana · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · Nevada · New York
July 30, 2013 · KARA Reporting
Thank God For The Teaching Militia (arming Arkansas teachers)
To force Arkansas school teachers to weaponize is not much different than arming doctors or social workers. People who have chosen a profession that serve people are being trained to shoot them. How incongruous. How Daft
October 8, 2012 · KARA Reporting
Arkansas Politics; Death Penalty For Rebellious Children, Charlie Fuqua & His Bible
The maintenance of civil order in society rests on the foundation of family discipline. Therefore, a child who disrespects his parents must be permanently removed from society in a way that gives an example to all other
July 17, 2012 · KARA Reporting
The Holocaust of Innocence Tour and Documentary
The National Holocaust of Innocence Tour and Documentary/Research Project August 1, 2012, we will be kicking off from Shreveport, Louisiana and will end after May 25, 2013 Washington D.C. two day Rally and Million Surviv
Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Kansas · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Missouri · Nebraska · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Virginia · Washington · Wisconsin
December 20, 2010 · KARA Reporting
Child Abuse Death; Every Child Matters
While the child abuse/child neglect crisis is one of major national concern, it also is of particular significance in the top 12 states that are above the national average for child abuse/neglect deaths (2.33 per 100,000
Arkansas · Colorado · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Missouri · Nebraska · New Mexico · Ohio · Oklahoma · Tennessee · Texas
November 12, 2009 · KARA Reporting
Another State Abandons Children & A Most Effective Program
Abandoning programs that work well will not save states money. This example of bad politics will lead to higher costs and mores suffering as Arkansas creates more people unable to cope, more crisis, and a larger future d
November 9, 2008 · KARA Reporting
A Rough Day in the News
Eight year old boy shot and killed his father and another man…police have asked that the boy be tried as an adult.
June 30, 2006 · KARA Reporting
Call To Justice Forum June 28th
Only ten percent of the citations issued in Hennepin County to people of color are prosecuted (90% are dismissed). 44% of African American men living in Hennepin county were arrested in 2001 (without any duplicate arrest
Alabama · Arkansas · Minnesota · Mississippi · Wisconsin
February 3, 2006 · KARA Reporting
Worth Reprinting
State must make early childhood investments a priority KELLY DORAN During a speech in Hong Kong near the end of his China trade mission late last year, Gov. Tim Pawlenty expressed his amazement at the "scope" of China's