While we may be hearing that the economy is slowly recovering, The Great Recession continues to take a toll on America families. The unemployment rate still is nearly 10%; the nation is on track for one million foreclosures in 2010; and state finances are so dismal that California's budget crisis was featured in Time Magazine.
Amidst this backdrop, programs that serve children have once again reached a critical juncture. The Recovery Act passed in the Spring of 2009 temporarily increased federal funding for key children's services like Medicaid and education, preserving the safety net at a time when it was most needed. The increase in that rate (known as FMAP) is about to expire, with families across the nation still very much in dire straights. What will happen when FMAP expires? According to the Voices for America's Children blog:
The abstract process behind FMAP has very concrete results felt by children all over the country. Colorado is expected to eliminate full-day kindergarten for 35,000 children and preschool for an additional 21,000 children. Kansas is expected to make cuts to its education budget, including eliminating a Parents-as-Teachers home-based education program that serves 15,000 families. Mississippi was planning to use its expected FMAP funds to restore $100 million cut from its education budget.With the Senate set to recess on August 9, time is running out to enact federal support for these vital health and education programs for children. Here's what you can do:
Contact your senators and tell them:
- Support FMAP, because it supports health, education and other vital state services for children.
- Move quickly, before Congress recesses, so special aid to children and families doesn’t expire.

