We've been talking about local child care issues lately here on Activistas, but now it's time to go national, mamas. Moms Rising has out the word out about potential federal budget cuts for 2009 that would reduce a bunch of key programs, including child care. Ugh. Haven't we been saying we need more childcare, mamas? Gives me the feeling someone's not listening. We either need to talk louder or change the ears. Likely both!
Anyway. The National Women's Law Center has an excellent summary of the effects of the proposed cuts, including these:
With no increase in funding proposed for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the Administration estimates that 200,000 low-income children and their families will lose child care assistance between FY 2007 and FY 2009.
The small increase for Head Start proposed by the Administration-$149 million-is not even sufficient to cover inflation. This is on top of a cut of $11 million in the FY 2008 budget. As a result, 13,000 fewer low-income infants, toddlers, and preschoolers will be able to enroll in this comprehensive child development program in FY 2009 compared to FY 2007.
The Even Start program [promotes family literacy] would be eliminated. This is the fourth straight year that the Administration has proposed to eliminate Even Start, which already absorbed a funding cut of over 50 percent in 2006.
Here's the Moms Rising pitch - get ready to send that e-mail, mamas:
Why are so many organizations working on this together? Frankly, quality childcare is out of reach for many American families without these programs. One quarter of families with kids under age 6 earned less than $25,000 in 2001. But childcare costs can range from $4,000 to $10,000 per year per child. If after hearing about the proposed after-school cuts last week, you think you're beginning to see a pattern of cutting kids programs, then you're right. For all the rhetoric, kids and families just aren't a priority for politicians… yet.
They need to hear our voices to make these important issues a priority. Join us by telling your Representative that moms need these programs, support increasing funding for childcare, and certainly don't want to see funding cuts.
Took a mere 15 seconds to send this one, mamas. Easy way to speak your mind in the little extra time you have.
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