Policy Pick: Budget Threats at the Federal Level

Early Education

• A reduction in the funding level for Head Start that, according to National Association for the Education of Young Children, would not provide the funds needed to implement new requirements detailed in the Head Start Reauthorization Act. (Source)
• The eighth straight year of freezes to the Child Care & Development Block Grant, according to Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. This funding stream provides child care assistance to low income, working families. As a result, 200,000 fewer families would have child care assistance in 2009. (Source)
• Even Start family literacy, which integrates educational and literacy programs for adults and children, would be eliminated, and other teacher quality and early literacy programs would be frozen or cut.

Health

• An addition of $19.7 billion to SCHIP over five years, which will still leave the program $1.8 billion short of what is needed for states to simply maintain their current SCHIP programs. (Source)
• Cuts of $200 billion-plus in Medicare and Medicaid over five years, according to the Child Welfare League of America. Known as Medi-Cal in California, Medicaid provides a vital health care safety net in every state. It is a lifeline to health care for children, low-income parents, and people with disabilities. (Source)
• Significant cuts in mental health and substance abuse programs serving both children and parents. According to the Children's Defense Fund, while the Children's Mental Health Services Program budget was increased by $12 million, other programs that provide mental health services for children and adults was cut by $144 million; a reduction of close to 50 percent of their combined budget. These cuts offset any increases provided in other mental health programs. (Source)

• Projected cuts of more than 25 percent to Department of Justice's programs to combat violence against women, which provide funding to service organizations, police, prosecutors and judges. Funding for related services in the Department of Health and Human Services, such as the domestic violence hotline, shelters, and prevention services, would be frozen. (Source)