Statement on the President’s Budget for FY24
President Biden released his spending request for fiscal year 2024. The President’s budget request recognizes that significant investments are needed to advance economic, health, and racial justice for all families – all priorities of importance to Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America). This blueprint lays out critical funding for children and families and moves us closer as a nation to ensure all families have the resources they need to thrive.
PCA America applauds the urgency in supporting parents, families, and communities that align with many of our federal priorities. When these opportunities are available to families, such as access to high-quality childcare, economic supports, and family-friendly workplace programs, the incidence of child abuse and neglect can be dramatically reduced. Poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing, and/or food insecurity can result in an overload of stress on parents, a significant risk factor for child abuse and neglect. These supports are proven to prevent child maltreatment and ensure children reach their full health and life potential. Specifically, the budget calls for:
- Restoration of the full Child Tax Credit enacted in the American Rescue Plan.
- New investments in childcare and pre-K to support children’s development, help families make ends meet, and boost the economy by helping more parents afford the care they need to work.
- A proposal for a national paid family and medical leave program that would help workers take time off to care for their families while staying connected to their jobs.
- Addresses the affordable housing crisis, strengthening federal nutrition assistance programs, and eliminates barriers to food assistance for vulnerable groups.
- Advances child and family well-being in the child welfare system and proposes to expand and incentivize the use of evidence-based foster care prevention services to keep families safely together and reduce the number of children entering foster care.
While Congress drafts their budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year, PCA America will work to advocate and to advance our priorities. In collaboration with our nationwide chapter network, we will continue to further our primary prevention priorities to ensure families get the support they need before they are in crisis, thereby preventing child welfare system involvement and the costly interventions needed at that point. Together we can help to lay the foundation for children and for the success of the entire family.
