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Reflection from our Pastors
Thursday, January 8, 2025
Colorado faces federal funding freeze for child care and social services
Five Democratic states, California, Minnesota, New York, Illinois and Colorado will not receive their federal safety net money which supports needy families with children.
In a pair of letters addressed to Gov. Jared Polis, the Administration for Children and Families said it is concerned by “the potential for extensive and systemic fraud” in the programs, which rely on federal funding. The programs addressed in the letters include the Social Services Block Grant programs and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families services. In Colorado, TANF is known as Colorado Works.
Colorado Works/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) is a federal program that provides cash assistance to qualifying families of at least one parent and one child while they are preparing for, looking for and/or maintaining employment. Grandparents or other relatives may qualify to receive TANF cash assistance for children under their care. In 2024, a Colorado family of three received a maximum monthly TANF benefit of $585, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty. if you're on TANF, you are often automatically eligible for food stamps (SNAP) and Medicaid because your eligibility for one program usually means you meet the income requirements for the others, Colorado receives about $136 million in block funding for TANF every year, according to Colorado Department of Human Services spokesperson Haysel Hernandez.
Colorado was also allocated $140 million in federal funds for child care programs last year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. That money pays for care for children in low-income families. Shelby Wieman, a spokesperson for Gov. Jared Polis, wrote in an email, “These resources support families in need and help them access food and much more. It would be awful to see the federal government targeting the
most needy families and children this way.”
In a statement made by U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat and member of the House Litigation Task Force, she said, “I am exploring legal action to reverse these unlawful cuts. This devastating freeze will take food
from families across the state, in both red and blue areas. Therefore, I urge my Republican colleagues to leverage their relationships with the administration to end this blatantly political attack against the most vulnerable families in Colorado.”
As a former social worker for 30 years, I know the devastating effects of cuts such as these. Our shelters and food distribution centers will be stretched to the breaking point trying to meet the needs created by the lack of funding. Families will suffer greatly.
Calling this general number to reach members of congress, (1-202-224-3121) allows you to ask for your senator or representative and voice your concerns about the withholding of federal funding for needy families in Colorado. Using the same words that Tom Moos used to end his social justice reflection on Sunday… How do we respond? What are the implications of remaining silent?
In peace,
Mother Rosean
Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
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