The recession continues to erode support for children’s programs around the country. At least 42 states cut programs last year that help children, and it may not get much better this year, a new report says.

The budget review found states cut everything from child care subsidies and pre-kindergarten spending to foster care and welfare payments. One state cut money for children’s hearing aids, another trimmed support for youth dental care and Washington State killed a vaccine program, according to the report by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, Voices for America’s Children and Every Child Matters Education Fund. (The analysis has a great state-by-state breakdown.)

It won’t get much easier this year because states face as much as $260 billion in budget deficits, NACCRRA reports.

Congress will need to make investments in children’s programs a priority in both the
jobs bill and the 2011 federal budget if children’s programs are not to be cut further. – “State Budget Cuts: America’s Kids Pay the Price.” 1/8/09.

Plus, aid from last year’s federal economic stimulus package is running out.

The federal stimulus passed earlier this year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), did a lot to protect and invest in children. It included more than $50 billion in state relief for education and Medicaid and tens of billions of dollars in nutrition, health, income stabilization, and tax relief for working families. Yet substantial cuts still were necessary in 2009, and the Medicaid assistance that states received is scheduled to end on December 31, 2010.

The assistance states received for education and other services also will be largely exhausted by then.

To deal with these shortfalls, the Virginia-based interest group offered Congress a list of suggestions that is striking in its variety.

For example, lawmakers should consider spending more on mentoring programs and Job Corps, as well as Head Start and child care.

The report arrives at a good time, with early learning legislation moving through Congress – the Early Learning Challenge Fund plan and provisions in the health care reform bill for home visiting. The national child care group also points out the Obama administration is finishing up its fiscal 2011 budget plan.