Arkansas State Assistance For Single Mothers

Help For Single Moms In Arkansas

Raising kids in a slow economy is tough, but when you are doing it without the aid of another income or another adult, sometimes making ends meet is nearly impossible. For single moms living in Arkansas, the state offers several programs to help cover that gap and make life a little more comfortable.

Childcare - Single moms who are in school full time or work for at least 30 hours a week may qualify for childcare assistance through the Department of Human Services (http://www.arkansas.gov/). Arkansas Better Chance is a program developed to help pay for childcare for families on Transitional Employee Assistance or who are in lower income brackets. Other options for affordable childcare include public preschool options and church-based daycare. In-home daycare is usually more affordable than care in a daycare center.

Healthcare – Whether you are in need of insurance for yourself or your kids, you might find a state based program to help. If your employer offers insurance, this is usually the best option, but if not, ARKids First is a state-sponsored health insurance program designed to ensure that all kids in Arkansas receive health care, even if they do not qualify for Medicaid. Contact ARKids at 1-888-474-8275 or see http://www.arkidsfirst.com/home.htm for more information. Low-income families may be able to get health care for the entire family through the state’s Medicaid program (https://www.medicaid.state.ar.us/).

Food and Supplies – The Arkansas Department of Health offers several programs to ensure that families of all income levels are eating nutritious foods. The state’s Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) program offers supplemental, nutritious foods to lower income pregnant mothers and families with children under the age of five. The Department of Human Services offers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps – Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program), which is available to people of all ages who meet certain income requirements. When you need temporary help buying food and household supplies to get through a tight month, look on the Arkansas Foodbank Network (http://www.arkansasfoodbank.org/) to see if there is a food bank in your area.

Transportation – Single moms who have been living on welfare but wish to transition to the work world can participate in the Transitional Employment Assistance Transportation program, which will arrange for transportation to work or school. Call 1-800-482-8988 for more information. If your family qualifies for Medicaid, call 1-888-987-1200 to find out about non-emergency Medicaid transportation to help you get access to medical care.

Rent Assistance – Single moms who need help putting a roof over their heads may qualify for the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program, which helps needy families find a way to buy a home. Some areas also have subsidized apartments offered through HUD, which give lower income families a place to live at a reduced rate (http://www.hud.gov/local/).

Educational Grants – After filling out the FAFSA and exploring your federal grant options, check out the Arkansas Department of Higher Education website (http://www.adhe.edu/Pages/home.aspx) to learn of any aid options for state schools. Also be sure to research school scholarships for more financial assistance options.