Tell Congress: These Cuts Won't Heal

Thank you for taking action. We sent your message to Congressional leadership, but unfortunately, the sequester cuts are being implemented. Last minute efforts to negotiate an alternative were unsuccessful. We will continue to follow developments closely, engage in efforts to replace the cuts, and provide analysis and information as they develop. Follow our blog posts on the budget battle and other policy issues on the Children's Monitor (http://childrensmonitor.wordpress.com/)  and check our These Cuts Won't Heal (http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/thesecutswontheal.htm) webpage for additional resources. Also, the CWLA national conference (https://netforum.avectra.com/eWeb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=CWLA&WebCode=2013NC) is taking place in Washington, April 14 to 17, and will be an excellent time to carry our message to Capitol Hill that we should not balance the budget on the backs of vulnerable children and families. Please join us as we urge Congress to make vulnerable children a priority in the ongoing budget debate.

Sample Social Media Posts:

FACEBOOK

Join me in opposing arbitrary cuts to programs that prevent maltreatment and promote healing. Sign this pledge to tell Congressional leadership that these cuts won't heal. http://bit.ly/13gzTnp

Child welfare services will be cut if the March 1 sequester isn't replaced. Join me in telling Congressional leadership, these cuts won't heal. http://bit.ly/13gzTnp

TWITTER

Look up your state in this chart: http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/March1SequestrationImpactOnStateCW.pdf and tell your network how much will be cut from important child welfare programs in your state. For example,

Sequester will cut $1,310,700 from Child Welfare Services in Texas.  Tell Congress these cuts won't heal. http://bit.ly/13gzTnp

Sequester will cut $902,700 from Promoting Safe & Stable Families in New York. Tell Congress these cuts won't heal. http://bit.ly/13gzTnp

Sequester will cut $1,696,000 from the Social Services Block Grant in Missouri. Tell Congress these cuts won't heal. http://bit.ly/13gzTnp

Sequester will cut $3,595,500 from Head Start in Oregon. Tell Congress these cuts won't heal. http://bit.ly/13gzTnp

Sequester will cut $4,743,000 from Child Care in Georgia. Tell Congress these cuts won't heal. http://bit.ly/13gzTnp

You can also direct these tweets to your Congressional delegation by replacing "Tell Congress" with their twitter handles. Use this website to find their twitter handles: http://www.govsm.com/w/Main_Page or direct tweets to Congressional leadership: 

Senator Harry Reid, Nevada, @SenatorReid

Senator Mitch McConnell, Kentucky, @McConnellPress

Representative John Boehner, Ohio, @JohnBoehner

Representative Nancy Pelosi, California, @NancyPelosi

Additional Information on the federal funding streams in jeopardy:

CHILD WELFARE SERVICES (CWS) and PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES (PSSF) are flexible funding streams that can fund a range of child welfare services, including family support to prevent maltreatment and alternatives to child removal for struggling families. For children who cannot safely remain with their families of origin, the funds support permanency solutions through reunification services, adoption, and kinship. Furthermore,  statute includes fundamental protections for children and service provision to address their needs and the needs of their families. These programs are instrumental in keeping all children safely thriving in permanent, loving families.

The SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (SSBG) is a flexible funding stream that plays a key role in Child Protective Services. Although states can use SSBG funds for an array of social services, such as child care or services for the aging, child welfare services receive more of these funds than any other service area. The block grant frequently serves as a link between government funding and private and charitable sources and helps build and fund a network of private agencies. The funds supplement local and charitable efforts by providing federal dollars to fill a gap these charities may not be able to meet. The breadth of services provided by SSBG funds can also cover shortfalls left by other federal social services programs.

CHILD CARE and HEAD START help at-risk families find stability through early learning opportunities for children and as a work or education support for parents.

HEAD START functions not just as a child care and education program for low-income families, but also as a comprehensive effort to promote child development. Head Start offers services that are unique and critical to children's development, addressing their social, emotional, physical, and health needs. Head Start recognizes that both families and communities are important to the program's success; consequently, partnerships serve as an important part of its structure.

Federal CHILD CARE funding gives states flexibility in setting child care eligibility standards and allocating funds. A state can designate any family earning up to 85% of the state median income (SMI) as eligible for a child care subsidy. Eligible children must also be younger than 13, and their parents must be working, receiving training, or in school. Children in the protective services system or in need of protective services are eligible, regardless of their parents' eligibility (work status). A child in foster care qualifies only if a state indicates in its child care plan that the foster care system is considered part of its child protection system. Overall, need for child care assistance far outpaces resources, with only 1 in 7 eligible children receiving a child care subsidy.