The detailed guide Children’s Budget 2013 issued this week by First Focus shows a decline in total federal spending on children for three consecutive years and reports that less than 8 percent of the federal budget is invested in children. Current Congressional budget negotiations pose a real threat to sustaining even this low level of federal support, in spite of strong public support for children’s programs.
The analysis by the bipartisan children’s advocacy organization looks at the more than 180 specific federal investments in children, ranging from broad education programs to specific programs addressing child abuse. It includes the traditional child welfare programs as well as programs that impact children such as housing supports and Social Security. The report provides the funding history for federal spending on specific children’s programs from 2009-2013 and the Obama Administration’s budget proposal for each program in the 2014 Budget. It also includes the cumulative percentage increase or decrease in each program over the five-year period. Both mandatory spending programs such as Medicaid and discretionary programs such as the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative and other SAMHSA programs are included in the analysis.
Many of the programs have specific application for preventing and treating trauma in children as outlined in the Dear State Director letter issued by HHS on July 11 (See ACEsConnection post). The Children’s Budget 2013 helps us understand recent federal priorities and highlights where investments are being made. By the same token, the State Director letter shows how even limited resources can be leveraged to benefit children experiencing trauma. If you are aware of any specific responses to the State Director letter please share them with us. We will be providing additional information on the implications of this guidance soon.
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