SNAP Error is Not SNAP Fraud
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, helps people with low incomes buy food. In FY2025, approximately 740,300 Alabamians, or about 14.3% of the population, received SNAP benefits. These figures include 300,000 children. Recipients receive an average of $6.31 per day. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest report indicates […]
How a Change in Federal Regulations Could Threaten Life-Saving Progress in Alabama’s Opioid Crisis
PARCA’s 2026 Annual Forum, “From Crisis to Collaboration: How Data, Policy, and Partnership Saved Lives in Alabama,” spotlighted the multiagency collaboration and bold policy decisions that underpinned a sharp decline in overdose deaths in 2024 and 2025 in Alabama. But an April 24 decision by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that severely limits […]
2026 PARCA Annual Forum Review
Deaths from drug overdose dropped sharply in 2024 and 2025, due in part to bold policy decisions, the deployment of overdose reversal treatments, and the strategic use of data to target addiction prevention and recovery outreach. The story of how that came about was the focus of PARCA’s 2026 Annual Forum – From Crisis to […]
PARCA Partners with VOICES on the 2025 Alabama Kids Count Data Book
VOICES for Alabama’s Children published the 2025 Alabama Kids Count Data Book yesterday. For the 10th year in a row, PARCA worked with VOICES as a data partner for the project. Since 1994, the Alabama Kids Count Data Book has documented and tracked the health, education, safety, and economic security of children at the state and county levels. […]
Data-informed Decision Making Helps Drive Down Overdose Deaths in 2024
The sharp drop in overdose deaths in 2024, both nationally and in Jefferson County, wasn’t an accident, according to members of the task force that works to combat the epidemic of drug-related deaths. Instead, it resulted from public policy changes and the geographically targeted deployment of resources. Figure 1. Trends in Accidental Drug and Opioid […]
PARCA Partners with VOICES on 30th Edition of Alabama Kids Count Data Book
VOICES for Alabama’s Children published the 2023 Alabama Kids Count Data Book today, marking the 30th edition of the book published by the nonprofit. For the 8th year in a row, PARCA worked with VOICES as a data partner for the project. Since 1994, the Alabama Kids Count Data Book has documented and tracked the health, education, safety, […]
Alabama’s Population Growth Accelerating
Alabama’s population increased by 34,000 last year to 5.1 million, driven by increased domestic migration and a decreasing number of deaths, according to the latest population estimates published by the U.S. Census Bureau, covering the period between July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023. That’s the 15th fastest rate of growth among U.S. states and […]
How Alabama Compares in the Percentage of the Population Lacking Health Insurance
The percentage of Alabamians without health insurance rose between 2019 and 2020, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2020, 11.8% of the population under 65 was uninsured, compared to 11.6% in 2019. Printable PDF available here. Nationally, the uninsured rate declined from 10.8% to 10.4%. Alabama ranks 39th among the […]
2021 Kids Count Data Book provides roadmap for helping Alabama children
VOICES for Alabama’s Children published the 2021 Alabama Kids Count Data Book this month. For the 6th year in a row, PARCA provided the data and analysis for the project. Since 1994, the Alabama Kids Count Data Book has documented and tracked the health, education, safety, and economic security of children at the state and […]
The Economic Impact of Expanding Medicaid in Alabama
Expanding Medicaid coverage in Alabama could save the state almost $400 million per year over the next six years – more than enough to cover the cost of expansion – and have an average positive economic impact of $1.89 billion per year over that same time frame. These findings are based on analysis conducted by […]